Today I’m addressing two spaces and two design dilemmas. The first reader has an entryway with an awkward beam that’s making styling difficult. I have a temporary fix and a long-term solution. The second reader wants guidance on how to make her living room feel complete and pulled together. With the foundational pieces in place, I have a list of styling suggestions and inspiration.
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Dear danica,
Help me make my entry more functional and balanced! I have an odd entry with a beam that has been difficult to design around. We use this space to take on and off shoes, hang 2 backpacks, and a mirror to check oneself before leaving the house. What would you suggest we do here? I’m out of ideas and don’t have the budget to install built-ins.
– Bianca
I see two options here. One is a temporary fix, and the other is a long-term solution.
THE TEMPORARY FIX: Replace the bench and baskets with an antique wood cabinet or chest. Something waist high with doors that you can tuck backpacks and shoes in. You’ll likely have better luck finding something in budget at your local antique store, but this or this can serve as your inspiration. Style the chest top with flowers, a lamp, a change tray, or whatever you please. Then you can hang a larger mirror above the chest.
THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION: The beam and the change of ceiling height are making this entryway difficult to style. They look like two different spaces, but aren’t defined as such. For a proper fix, I’d recommend creating a slight division where the beam currently is. Adding a wide cased opening between the black cabinet and bench would visually clarify and define the two spaces, creating more balance. You could still style the spaces as recommended above, but with a cased opening, you won’t have any awkward distractions.
Dear danica,
Hi Danica! I’m hoping to get your design eye on my living room. I feel like the space needs a little more, especially the wall across from the Frame TV. I can’t figure out what would work well there. Also, the area further back by the cat tree feels kind of empty and unfinished. Do you have any suggestions to make the whole room feel more pulled together?
– Kristina
I like the direction you’re headed, and you have great foundational pieces; it’s just missing the styling elements. Artwork would be my biggest suggestion. A large piece above the sofa, with either a picture light above or a pair of sconces on either side, would fill out that space nicely. Hang a smaller painting with a chunky antique frame between the two windows on the far wall for a charming moment of pause. Throw a small wood cabinet below just for fun! Hang a sconce (or candle sconce) next to the cased opening where your cat tree is. In the far right corner, I envision a round wood table with one or two antique chairs for reading, puzzling, and game nights. Perhaps a lamp on the table to illuminate the corner and a pair of mismatched paintings above to fill the blank space.
On the mantel, style the empty wall space with a vase and large stems. (Like this, for example.) Fill up the shelves below with books, vases, and pictures. Load up the sofa with throw pillows and drape a neatly folded throw blanket over the ottomans. Style your coffee table with books, trays, candles, and at least one unusual object.
And my final suggestion, consider fabric window treatments. This would have a big impact on completing the living room. I see that you have baseboard heaters, so you could hang curtains that stop at the window sill, like so.
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