Do you ever have one wall in a room that bothers you because you can’t decide how to make it feel finished? The long wall to the right as you enter our family room was that wall for me — long, windowless, and awkward.
We used to have a large TV on that wall, but after we refinished our kitchen and family room floors, we moved the TV upstairs to our “media room.” Once it was gone, we realized we didn’t miss such a big TV in the family room, at least not there. That left the long wall with no clear purpose. Since our sofa faces that wall, the layout felt uncomfortable and purposeless.
We considered turning the sofa to face the other way, but that would eliminate space for a dresser and other needed storage. Ultimately, our plan is to install built-ins on the long wall, which means the sofa needs to remain across the room for the time being. So what to do in the meantime?
We didn’t want a large mirror or oversized artwork above the dresser because there’s already a big mirror on the same wall line in the adjoining kitchen. With so many elements to balance, I wanted something that felt right from every angle in the room.
In the end we chose a simple collection of framed pieces and small mirrors to finish the space above the dresser. I wanted to display some artwork I’d collected on travels — small watercolor scenes I’ve missed seeing on the wall.
After a quick trip to Target, I had frames and a few gold sunburst mirrors that added a subtle touch of glamour to my rustic, beachy vibe. The mirrors also echoed the gold hardware I’d recently updated on the dresser, tying things together nicely.
Gallery Wall Tip:
People often ask how I create a gallery wall. I usually start by laying everything out on the floor and taking a few measurements before hanging. A method I recommend is cutting brown craft paper to the size of each frame, punching a hole where the hook goes, and taping the paper to the wall to try different arrangements until it feels right.
I love how the gallery wall looks: pretty and polished, yet still in tune with my eclectic, casual style. The small gold starburst mirrors provide a finishing touch without overwhelming the artwork or competing with focal features like the fireplace and the large mirror in the kitchen.
Keeping the gallery modest in scale was important so it wouldn’t dominate the room or clash with existing features. When I hang pieces on a wall, I always consider not only how they look up close, but also how they fit within the context of the whole room and the adjacent spaces in the house.
Giving the eye a place to rest is essential when you scan a whole room to see how everything works together. That balance can be hard to capture in photos, but I prefer decorating for daily life rather than staging for pictures. I even start at the front door and walk through the house to see how each room feels before committing to a design on a single wall.
My favorite thing about this wall is that the art evokes happy memories from our travels. It’s small, personal, and it completes the room in a way that feels natural.
UPDATE: I recently replaced the dresser with a new cabinet in this space. Below is a sneak peek.
See you here tomorrow for the Summer House Tour!
Wall color: Glidden Polished Grey
Related post: 10 Helpful Guidelines for Decorating Walls