We’re getting down to the last of the wall decor questions I started several weeks ago. These are kind of all over the board, not really relating to each other, but I’m tossing them all in to this post for a melange of ways to fill awkward wall spaces.
The last ones are really challenging!
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Awkward Wall Space #1
This is a really cool house, an open barn-like structure. I love everything about it except for one problem……there’s a thermostat square in the middle of that nice tall wall there! :-(
Boooooo to this builder!!!!
Tall open space in barn-style home with thermostat in the middle of the tall wall. :-(
I actually emailed this reader back and told her to see if they could move it, as it would be soooo worth it to me. Maybe even just flipping it to the back side of that wall, if that space was open too. (I couldn’t tell from the pics.)
Anyway, if none of these options can be done, then here’s what I’d do.
I’d arrange a gallery wall of all different sizes, this can be art, photos, architectural remnants, anything really. Here’s what I sketched up for her.
Tall wall with thermostat right in the middle of the wall :-(
Gallery wall climbing up the wall, allowing room for thermostat. Better to move the thermostat, but if not possible, this will minimize the visibility of the thermostat.
I probably would not do something with all matching black or dark frames, as the thermostat area there would stand out in the midst of that kind of grid.
Even if the thermostat CAN be moved, I kind of like this arrangement. It sort of matches the casual feel of the home and looks a bit collected.
Awkward Wall Space #2
Here’s a corner of a living room with a doorbell box up high on the wall. It’s tall and narrow otherwise, but there is depth available in this corner.
In this instance, because of the depth, I would lean toward a piece of furniture rather than artwork or wall decor only. Some kind of case piece, like tall-ish cabinet would fit nicely there.
It would even kind of hide the doorbell, if some decor was atop the cabinet.
Tall cabinet to fill vacant corner adds height and works well.
Here are a couple of pieces that would work there.
Awkward Wall Space #3
This one isn’t so awkward, as it is just something the homeowner wanted a recommendation for. She was wanting to move her family photos and do something else in this corner, above the sectional, in her media room/game room.
What wall decor arrangement to put above a large corner sectional sofa?
Media room with large sectional sofa - What wall decor work here?
I’d put a single piece on the short side of the sectional there. Something big and colorful.
Then, I’d do a grid of eight framed pieces on the long side, to cover that whole length of the wall.
Wall decor over sectional can be different on the two walls. One large piece over the short end and a grid of framed pieces over the long end works well.
Awkward Wall Space #4
Well, I have only seen this design dilemma about 100 thousand times in our area. :-)
I get that builders were trying to “create interest” perhaps here. Along about the time these features were commonly put in houses, people were hanging tapestries in these in their Tuscan style homes.
You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? I’m talking about big niches in big wall spaces.
This niche was from a tall entry hall in a project I walked a long time ago.
These are kind of up there with “Oddly Shaped Kitchen Islands” in my book. I just shake my head and wonder, “Why?”
It’s just that when there’s a decorative niche in the wall, people feel like they need to decorate it.
I mean, I do too!
Oftentimes, however, it is high up on the wall in a two story space which can lead to clutter and a sometimes contrived look.
In this house, there are several niches in the entry hall. Two big ones up high and a lower one, that has the console with a mirror tucked into it.
I like that these are shallow at least. In this post I wrote awhile back on some of the wall niches I’ve run into before, most were really deep. That’s just more of a problem to deal with.
Here’s what I’d recommend:
In the lower one, I’d probably do something even more than the contrasting soft paint color that is there. I think a grasscloth would be nice to really accent that space and give it some texture.
In the upper areas, since tearing those out would be a big mess and fuss, I’d probably go in with something like Tableaux, in a tone on tone look.
What is Tableaux?
Tableaux is a faux ironwork material that is very lightweight and molded to many different patterns. Customization with the pattern is even possible. All pieces are made to fit whatever space you specify with finished or unfinished edges if you will be installing within a window or frame of some kind or just have an outside mount situation.
They got started in the “curly ironwork craze” and mostly had those options available. These days, they have some more modern looks too, which are nice and worth considering. I definitely like the light colorways, especially for this situation.
You can get them in a paintable version too, so in this case, I’d just match the wall color so they wouldn’t stand out so much and feel so heavy.
With regard to the pattern, I love something like this one below.
Tableaux - A lightweight, faux iron grille can be made in custom shapes and design styles.
However, there is already an ironwork pattern there on the door in a curvilinear shape. That is something I wouldn’t want to duplicate, as I feel like it would be heavy and leaning the home back to a more Tuscan style, something I don’t think the homeowner wants.
However, I’d not ignore that and I would simplify and enlarge that pattern, so that it would give a nod to the front door without duplicating that design. I actually think I’d take a cue from the quatrefoil mirror at the console and repeat that pattern in a larger format. It gets the curvy shape of the door, but without the curliques. :-)
And I’d do that in a color that would match the wall, so it be a very faint pattern that wouldn’t feel heavy or overwhelm what is going on below.
Tall entry hall with niches high on the wall. Proposed tone on tone quatrefoil design with Tableaux, faux iron product, is proposed for the high niches.
If you are looking for Tableaux in your area, most interior designers or window treatment workrooms have access to this product. It does need to be ordered custom.
She also wanted to know what to do with this wall, just opposite this view above. I’m thinking a gallery style look would be good here and something she could add on to over time.
Blank wall space in tall entry hall
A gallery style wall decor look would work on this entry hall’s wall.
Awkward Wall Space #5
Well, this one is definitely a challenge! It’s a sliver of a space, a narrow stair with blank walls on both sides, all the way up.
I can tell you what I wouldn’t do here, a wall collage or decor on either side.
Since this is a rather hidden space, I don’t feel the need to decorate it. However, I do feel the need to create some kind of spectacular, wow moment, that plays up the confined and vertical nature of this space.
Here are the pics. It’s so hard to read in the photograph, I’ve actually outlined the wall edges in the second photo for you to see where the walls stop and start.
Can you see what is going there? There is a lower, ceiling height at the landing, with a small ceiling mount light on that ceiling off to the right. Then the stair turns and goes down an additional 3-4 steps.
First of all, there needs to be a railing on that landing going down to the first floor. That’s a building code no-no, I’m sure, no matter where they live.
Back to this tall, narrow space.
This homeowner had just done some remodeling, so I assume the last thing they want to do is more of it. I’m going to try to give some recs here that wouldn’t take too much to carry out.
However, putting wall decor on those side walls will just make that space feel tighter and more confined. I want to make to feel wider, more spacious, and special. :-)
It’s not just all about wall decor.
One of the ways to get a big impact here is with lighting. I know the fixtures here would have to be moved, but I’m just sharing what I’d do if this were my situation.
I would drop a nice pendant in the very tall space there and then do a ceiling mount that would relate to it, moved to line up with it in the central part of the main stair.
I’d use fixtures that would create a pattern of light on those blank walls, when on. It could be a real surprise and a rather magical moment, I think.
Faceted pendant light fixture
Faceted ceiling mount light fixture
Not sure if these fixtures would create the wall pattern I’m thinking of, but I like the size and geometry of these from Pottery Barn.
Here’s the concept that I’m thinking about, sans the curly iron look.
Pattern of light created by light fixture on ceiling and walls in stairwell.
I have no idea if access to this area is available for electrical work or anything, but I’m pretty sure they could at least move the ceiling mount there. They’d have to patch the ceiling, but that would be worth it to me to get that centered between the two stairway walls.
I don’t think they have a light fixture over the stair except at the very top landing, so a pendant would have to be added, but in an ideal world, that’s what I’d do.
Then I’d do some painting, aligning with those ceiling changes, to create some interest. I know both of these walls end at the top of the stairs, so we don’t have to worry about how the color would end up there.
I’d keep the lower section the color of the lounge space below, then do the next section in a slightly darker color and the top section in something darker. It could be a color or neutrals.
I think this would serve to widen this space, overall and make it much more interesting.
Would I love the idea of getting up on a ladder or scaffolding to paint that wall? Nope. :-) I’m just proposing what I think would be the best design situation for this awkward space.
So, we’re done! I’m all caught up with these wall situations to date.
Thanks so much to my readers for sending these in to be published here on my blog.
I’ve compiled all these design dilemmas and included all the tips and tricks I use to solve homeowners big blank wall situations. Find the comprehensive wall decorating guide right here!
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Click through to see 5 different awkward wall spaces and how to fill them to be beautifully designed! These common problems to wall decor do have a solution! #walldecor