What should I hang above a 4.8m-long sofa?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I definitely think I need something hanging above the couch but I am drawing a blank. The painting to the left is 1.2m wide and I hung that above it but it was wayyy too small. I've tossed up the ideas of a long art work (hard to find), multiple artworks, multiple mirrors (the kind with "multipanel" look, like at Pottery Barn http://www.potterybarn.com.au/eagan-multipanel-mirror), even painting the wall a feature colour. I think it needs something to lift the area? or maybe not? I'm drawing a complete blank now. (I'm open to changing anything too - except for the couch itself). Any advise at all will very helpful. Thank you.

Featured Answer

littlethommo2 .

5 years ago

I think your issue may be balance, everything is happening on the left hand side (bold coloured artwork, armchairs, tables, plant) and the right hand side looks bland and lacks colour by comparison - with the long wall in between. The artwork is stunning but I agree too small to hang above such a long lounge. Your artwork is a bold feature and if you hang any other artwork too close it will only compete with the lovely piece you already have. The lamp is lovely but the white shade makes it blend too much with the wall. In the meantime for a simple quick fix you could add some more colour to the right hand side, it should then look more balanced so the long wall does not stand out so much. Changing the colour of the shade and adding some more colour and interest via cushions and throws that echo the colours in the painting will break up the long length of the lounge - especially larger cushions than the ones you have and different shapes and textures. Even moving the tables across to the right side would help balance the room out.

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Comments (25)

bigreader
5 years ago
Three big pieces of art work. Not mirrors.
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julie herbert
5 years ago
You could do a floating shelf partially along wall above your couch and a large piece of art, or you could arrange artwork in a pattern which could look fabulous
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PRO
Dr Retro House Calls
5 years ago
While the existing artwork is great, I would move it to another room, and get a custom printed, supersized photograph that fills the back wall from corner to corner to the ceiling.

The hard part will be sourcing the right photo with the right proportions, good resolution and the right colours to suit your existing furniture.

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls
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siriuskey
5 years ago
I like Retro's idea, the following is one of my favourites,
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PRO
Paul Di Stefano Design
5 years ago
like everything in regards to design & spaces it's about getting the scale, proportion, and elements balanced. Either as Retro suggested or perhaps a custom elongated/exaggerated piece of art or stunning panoramic landscape photography (a la Peter Lik style) that can be centralised and float above the lounge, but likely you'll have to concede to change/move the other art piece..CheersPD :)
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siriuskey
5 years ago
And as Big Reader said large art work.

Simplify the cushions, I added the large timber coffee table to hide the vaccum cleaner, and did notice that your room has a lovely timber floor
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PRO
Styling Guru
5 years ago
You have a lot of neutral colours on show. The greys are beautiful and I do love the pop of mustard. Have you considered adding a dramatic colour to the back wall? The first colour that comes to mind is the mustard you have used in the cushions? Or perhaps, a beautiful wall paper to add some texture and warmth to the area?
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KK1000
5 years ago
Check out Rebel walls you can order murals to suit your wall size.
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KK1000
5 years ago
You can also hire a mural artist to do something unique for you.
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Emma Corcoran
5 years ago
I think a huge mural would look good, but you'd most likely have to move that lovely artwork, because it would compete with the mural. I like the idea of a feature wall with the wall then broken up into sections, one part with a floating shelf with smaller pieces on it, and the other with that beautiful painting on it. And, a few more Cushions to pull the color scheme together. If you change the colour of the wall, the white lamp would also pop out nicely, which it isn't doing now. I don't think mirrors would do much to help.
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littlemissmoonshine
5 years ago
A Kartell bookworm - a functional piece of modern art. http://www.kartell.com/gb/bookcase_cod58015981cs.html
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User
5 years ago
Too much white . I'd go for wallpaper -- painting a feature wall wouldn't have as much impact IMO . Maybe blue and mustard chevrons on the wallpaper ?

Depending on the vibe you are wanting , maybe a framed picture ? For a casual vibe maybe a painting or even a print of the beach , around 1.5mtr x 1.2 , with a simple 30mm beech frame . Hang it 1/3rd of the way along the wall , probably 1/3rd of the way from the right hand end . Keep your existing picture where it is , on the white wall .

For a final casual vibe , maybe add a well used old surfboard mounted at 30degrees from horizontal -- or if you want to be a bit more 'formal' , get a board shape cut from solid wood and possibly shaped and retro painted -- that would be harder to do without looking 'try hard' though IMO .
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Ksbb 503
5 years ago
Have you thought about a bright feature wall where your painting currently is, choosing a colour out of tha painting, and then moving the painting to the far right on the wall behind the couch. You could put a floating shelf on the back on the left (behind couch) with items of similar colour, or another of the beautiful colours in the painting. Using you painting as the colour palette for the room.
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kbodman14
5 years ago
A gallery of photos in frames of colours from the painting intersperse with black frames. It would have to be done with a discerning eye but could add life and vibrancy to the wall. The frames would could be all the one size or mix it up with different size photos and see what would look ate best. One way to try is mark off the area above the couch, temporary stick different sizes of magazine pictures photocopies etc bordering each with a colour(using streamers for the border) and have a play. Or, all in black and white tones, but have movement in photos. Have fun
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kbodman14
5 years ago
Please have a look on Houzz under the topic ‘A wall of Photographs’
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hamorcom
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you everyone for your great comments. There were design ideas I had never thought of and really valued like the floating shelf, a mural and larger cushions and changing the colour of the lamp shade. Attached is the latest room version. I have moved paintings around. I do love this aboriginal painting, I am not sure if it is a little small but I'd really like it above the couch so perhaps another complimentary painting beside it? Or do you think it works ok? I think I can pretty much choose any colour from the painting for cushions and to brighten up the space - was thinking brighter and larger like suggested above by littlethommo2 and littlethommo2 . I still think I have balance/scale to work on - thank you Paul Di Stefano Design and littlethommo2 . I can move the cupboard at the end of the couch with the plant on it and place something taller here ? Any further ideas are really appreciated. Thank you all !
hamorcom
Original Author
5 years ago

I wonder if having my ottoman covered in a different colour would help?
KK1000
5 years ago
It’s much better, you could change colour on the ottoman to yellow to match your cushions and a taller plant in the corner.
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julie herbert
5 years ago
Your room looks great, love your pot near window , I would find a taller one for your corner in a similar look, I love your ottoman, why not just drape or even fold a gorgeous yellow throw over it to add colour, your room and artwork looks gorgeous
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siriuskey
5 years ago
I think it's all a bit too blue, the painting needs colour to help it shine
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Ai Jaedee
5 years ago
Long boat oars each pointing in different directions across the wall.
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hamorcom
Original Author
5 years ago
siriuskey thanks for your picture with suggested wall colour etc. what app did you use to make change the wall colour etc? thank you
siriuskey
5 years ago
MS Paint, you can do a screen shot of your photo and then paste it into Paint, crop and edit and colour, then save. If you want to add other fittings to the room after doing this. Go to Houzz Sketch, create new sketch, import photo, then you can dress the room. I have found that the best way to save your work and not directly into a sketch as things can move around and when you look at it again it's not the same. Just take another screen shot and paste it into Paint and "save as" in the file you have created for the other shot cheers
PRO
signarture
5 years ago
What a great room, and already looking so much better!

Late to the conversation but… agree, long artworks can be hard to find, but not impossible!

We create our artworks bespoke, to suit the dimensions of any space, and specialise in super sized pieces. If an artwork in our gallery resonates, just reach out: you can have it created to suit your space.

https://www.signarture.com.au/pages/your-perfect-artwork-made-to-order