Do you ever have one wall in a room that nags at you because you can’t decide how to make it fit with the rest of the space? The long wall on the right as you enter our family room was exactly that. It’s fairly long and has no windows, which made arranging the room challenging.
We used to have a large TV on that wall, but when we refinished our kitchen and family room floors, we moved the big TV upstairs to our “media room” — really just a big bedroom with a TV and sectional. After relocating it, we discovered we didn’t miss such a large television in the family room.
That left the long wall without a clear purpose. Our sofa faces it, which felt awkward — we often wondered why the seating faced a blank wall. We considered turning the sofa to face the opposite direction, but that would eliminate space for a dresser and other needed storage. Ultimately we plan to install built-ins on that long wall, so the sofa needs to stay across the room for the long-term layout.
In the meantime, what could we do to make the wall look intentional and finished?
We didn’t want another oversized mirror or a single large piece of art above the dresser because there’s already a large mirror on the same side of the house in the kitchen. Room flow and balance matter — you want pieces to complement each other throughout connected spaces.
We eventually decided a modest gallery arrangement combining frames and small mirrors would finish the wall without overpowering the room. I wanted to display some of the watercolor pieces I’ve collected on trips so those memories could be visible again instead of tucked away.
A quick trip to Target supplied frames and a few small gold sunburst mirrors from the Threshold line. The gold added a subtle touch of glam to our rustic, beachy vibe and echoed the gold hardware on the newly refreshed dresser.
Gallery Wall Tip:
I often lay out frames on the floor first and then measure and start hanging, but the most reliable method is to cut kraft paper the exact size of each frame, punch a hole where the hook sits, and tape the paper templates to the wall until the arrangement feels right.
The finished gallery looks pretty and composed while remaining in tune with my eclectic, casual style. The small gold starburst mirrors provide a finishing touch without overwhelming the art grouping, stealing focus from the fireplace, or competing with the large kitchen mirror. Keeping the gallery on the smaller side ensured it didn’t overpower the room or other prominent features.
When I decide what to hang, I think about more than how the wall looks head-on. It’s important to consider how the arrangement reads in the context of the entire room and how it relates to the rest of the house. I like visual balance and giving the eye places to rest as you scan the room.
Decorating for everyday life matters to me more than staging for a photo. I even start at the front door and walk through the house to make sure rooms feel right together before committing to a final arrangement for one wall.
My favorite thing about this wall is how the art brings back happy memories from travels. Those small, personal pieces make the space feel lived-in and meaningful.
UPDATE! I recently added a new cabinet in this spot — a sneak peek is below.
See you tomorrow for the Summer House Tour!
Wall color: Glidden Polished Grey
Related: 10 Helpful Guidelines for Decorating Walls