Bare space unusable???

9 years ago

Hi all. I have this section of wall and floor space in our open plan living area. Our lounge, dining and office nook are all in this area. I have sectioned off the lounge with couch and rug etc but this 3-4 metre section is next to it and is left bare because I just don't know what to put there. I don't like clutter but still want a lived in but modern/industrial family area. I need artwork to go on the wall above aswell but the wall height is about 6-7 metres. I have experimented with an occasional chair, lamp and a small table to see how it looks, which I quite like but then think,"No one would EVER actually sit there!!??" Per photo these are just things I already had in the house just to try out.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Featured Answer

hayley

9 years ago

Although you dont like clutter, do you think a console table could work? just leave it pretty bare (unlike this photo but i do like the shape of this one)

North Coogee · More Info

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Comments (25)

boundsgreener
9 years ago
A modern, classic chaise longue with a floor lamp behind would look the best, but might not be practical if you don't think anyone will really use it. If it is just going to end up being a place where you dump things, go for the occasional chair and small table. Without photos of the rest of the room it is a bit difficult to tell, but if you put the chair near the TV stand and the table closer to the doorway (so you break up the hard surfaces with fabric in the middle), then conceivably someone could sit there while talking to people on the couch. Put felt feet on the chair to protect your floor and you can also then just slide it over to near the couch if you need extra seating while watching TV or a more intimate conversation. I'd choose a comfy armchair that looks inviting. Here are a couple of ideas.

Pause day bed · More Info

Barcelona Day Bed by Knoll · More Info

Day Bed One - grey · More Info

Zanotta Lama Chaise Longue · More Info

CH Furniture Japanese Tweed Armchair · More Info

Barcelona Chair in white · More Info

Fireside Easy Oak Chair, Kvadrat CodaYellow · More Info

Era Lounge Chair Low Walnut Breeze Fusion · More Info
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hayley
9 years ago
Get the grey daybed! LOVE!
User
9 years ago
Have you thought of writing an inspirational quote on the wall.
jayvall
Original Author
9 years ago
Yay, I have some ideas!!! Thanks so much everyone. I love these ideas. I Have considered the wall quote actually or even a tramscroll, still think it needs something underneath aswell. Love the chaise idea but not sure the expense would be justified. I'll try to show the rest of the room. I had thought of the idea of dragging the chair over to lounge if needed, good idea.
jayvall
Original Author
9 years ago
@Misshayley, I love that console table, maybe with a long print above it or a wall quote or tramscroll as mentioned above. Would it look weird with 2 different "table/units" next to each other along that wall though???
jayvall
Original Author
9 years ago
Facing back the other way, so it's kind of a thorough fare but plenty wide enough to make a feature of something!!??
elinitha_au
9 years ago
Mind if I ask what type of wood has been used on your floors?
mldesign0401
9 years ago
This wall is a thoroughfare, so I would build a custom modern bookcase. Floor to ceiling, with internal configurations to house not only books, but objects you love. Housing them all within one contained unit will decongest all the other pieces of furniture, and create a real family friendly focal point. And as opposed to over dressed side tables or hall stands, contemporary catch phrase 'less is more doesn't apply here. Bookcases look better the more they hold, EVEN in a contemporary context!
haephestus
9 years ago
Is there anything you *need* in the room? A dog/cat bed for a pet? More storage for DVDs, video games, books or kids toys? A way to display souvenirs from your travels, family heirlooms, momentos, photos or some other collectibles? I think if you can identify something that is missing from the room that you would use and appreciate, then that might help to narrow down what should occupy that space. Given the scale of the room, especially the high ceilings, if all else fails, I'd be inclined to go with an over-sized artwork. You could have a go at buying a blank canvas and doing a DIY abstract painting (perhaps similar to the two above the sofa) before you incur the expense of paying for a framed painting from a store.
jayvall
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks again everyone. The flooring is Tasmanian oak.
That's a good idea to think of what I need, because I think that's the problem, I don't Really NEED anything from the area so I just am feeling like everything is just not practical. I really want it to be useable & I'm a very classic indecisive libran!!! I'm getting pretty set on an oversized art work of some sort( I'm not artistic at all).
caroandlee
9 years ago
Wow, those are tall ceilings! I tend to agree with mldesign, a bookcase would be lovely in your room. Hate to be wasteful, but you could consider tall bookcase joinery incorporating your tv in lieu of the low console, which would give you some height balance, then in your question area an oversize piece of artwork would really cosy the room a bit. The room could easily also carry a nice big floor lamp. Check out some photos of bookcase joinery for extra visuals.
Heath Westbury
9 years ago
What about a set of niches in between the studs with or without the lights, similar to these;
http://media-cache-cd0.pinimg.com/236x/86/2c/eb/862ceb7fdf25b2fa9ad865f6f62a7010.jpg

I would angle the top set of niches to match the angle of the ceiling if any (a bit hard too tell from the photos). They could be varying sizes to accommodate different things. If you did this, think about lifting the TV slightly and recessing this into the wall as well to give you an overall more streamlined look.
anniau
9 years ago
Here's something from left field. I think the furniture needs to be flipped 180 degrees around to open up the room. Try the the large modular unit against the wall and coming out into the open space.switch the TV to where the paintings are and you will not have the glare problem on the screen. Move the paintings to over the newly positioned sofa.
Seems like this would be a better flow and a more open room
An option then is a console table or shelving at the rear of the modular seating.
mairja
9 years ago
Love the idea of a quote or tall drawing. Not sure about putting anything beneath as that would take away from the uncluttered look.
Vicki Bryant
9 years ago
I would look at a large wall mural. They can be made to any size. You could put moulding around it if you don't want to cover the entire wall. There are 100's of styles available. Perhaps add a couple of plants ( either real or faux ) to the other side.
Connie
9 years ago
a beautiful HUGE family portrait (statement piece) that fills the space.
Sue Gelade
9 years ago
What about a big warm coloured but thin rug - like a kilim? We used to have a church with very high ceilings and our rug looked great on one of the end walls
Jayne Jardim
9 years ago
How about one or a few floating shelves with the vinyl sticker quotes, photo frames, vases, cute decore display things? It takes up zero floor space (keeping your space open plan), easy to clean, perfect for a house with kids or pets. I did this with my small study and it looks bloody fab (well i think it does anyways lol)
hooleydooley
9 years ago
Hi Jayvall I had an 80's flat that had very plain walls and I put a wooden trim around the doorframes - that is, the kind you find around door and window frames in Victorian buildings. This gives the walls some texture - then you could (go mad and) add panelling along the wall to give it a line for the eye to follow. At the moment your wall is quite 'light' and there's no need to clutter it up. I suggest you check out Houzz photos of windows all kinds and see how framing a door or window and skirting board gives a room more definition. Also in a large open area, you can put a frame of molding on the wall and inside it a smaller picture of some bold subject - a lithograph would do. A small picture A4 size with a separate outer frame will make the space interesting without swamping the room. yay - my fee is only a zillion bucks xxx
margiedizon
9 years ago
I envy your wall space, I wish we had more! What has worked really well for us is using empty walls as our "brag" board. Do you have particular interests you love talking about? Putting something up about your family, a favourite subject, pet or holiday could be a great talking point. Our visitors get drawn to our fishing photos, where we caught the fish (Botswana/Amazon) and the type (Tiger fish/Peacock Bass). Although the photo print (size A0) could be printed really cheaply (~$50) at somewhere like Officeworks, I discovered that the frames (~$440 each) were the biggest expense. However, as we know we only needed to print a new A0 sized photo in the future, spending money on good, customised frames is worthwhile.

We have also now tried printing our favourite shots on stretched canvas (~$100). The product gets delivered, usually in a week, ready for hanging much quicker than ordering a custom made frame ;) Smaller canvases range from twenty dollars to about a hundred. I found this company very reliable in terms of quality of print and speed of service: http://canvasfactory.refr.cc/HDLHZPH

We have displaced our canvas photos from the wall and occasionally display them underneath the kitchen bench as you can see here (desperately covering up white space)!
Robyn ...
9 years ago
Looking at all your photos I am still a little confused about how each space works and how you access the space. Is that a bedroom you can look into from the couch? It seems to pull your attention there. A different focal point is needed. If you choose art you need to then choose between big and plentiful. That is a big wall... [houzz=
The Bletchley Loft · More Info
]
[houzz=
Samford - Country House · More Info
]

I think you need to get that tv off the bench and onto the wall. I have one of each; which one gets dirtier? The floating shelving in the last picture can be achieved even with Ikea.
[houzz=
The Sanctuary · More Info
]
jayvall
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks again everyone. Loving the niche idea, loving the wall quote and floating shelves too. Someone above mentioned moving the couch to "open up" the room but, it probably doesn't show in the pics but the room is huge so I've arranged it like this to have zones. The whole room is probably 15x15 metres with the kitchen off it on top of that. The modular couch separates a lounge zone of about 7x5 metres with a casual dining behind and a small sunroom opened off that. Looking at the tv and to the left is the bare area and adjacent study nook and the doorway is a recess to 2 bedrooms. The doorway doesn't draw attention as said above because you don't directly look towards that space from any zone, so when I put something in this bare area it will stand alone as a feature. I'm seriously looking into one of the earlier ideas of the modern chaise but looking for Australian options, loved the pics they showed me.

Loving the suggestions, it gives me ideas I hadn't even considered!!
Keep 'em coming!!!!
jaydub0
9 years ago
I would put a large potted plant in that space. Perhaps a ficus benjamina - their shiny leaves reflect light and catch breezes bringing an area to life. If you're lucky you could find one whose trunk has been plaited or twisted to add extra interest. Go large, with both pot and plant, that wall can certainly handle it.
User
8 years ago
What a great room! I really like your wall colour.

Here are a couple more ideas to add to the mix:

Tree Photo Wall

Arcade Entertainment

(Or Foosball table, magnetic dart board, etc.)

Family Organiser Wall

Could be made with a picture frame and blackboard chalk paint, or mount a large pinboard/corkboard/whiteboard.

Hanging Seat

All the best!