Friday, January 21

A decorating dilemma

My living room is a big, sunny space, with lots of nice features: French doors and windows, a fireplace, a built-in entertainment center, and built-in bookcases. There's just one problem with it: all those nice features, plus doorways into the foyer, the dining room, and the kitchen make it a really hard room in which to arrange furniture.

The room has only one solid wall, and that wall is at the far end of the room, too far away from the fireplace and entertainment center to serve as a place for furniture. So I have a rug defining a seating area, anchored by a sofa with a console table behind it. Click here if you'd like to see photos of the whole room.


The seating area works well. It's cozy and comfortable, and I'm happy with the way it looks. And the back wall works for me; I love having my collection of crosses displayed there. My problem is what to put in the back corner of the room.

At Christmastime, I'm all set. That corner seems tailor-made to hold a Christmas tree. Love it.


The other 11 months of the year, though, that space has taunted me. I've always had a silk tree in that corner, along with some live plants and a few other things. Ho-hum. About the only good thing provided by the silk tree was height, and I knew I needed some height.


Then one day it occurred to me that a floor lamp could provide height, and perhaps that little corner would be a good space for a quiet reading corner. I had a lamp, plus a chair that was stashed in the dining room but not being used. I pulled those into the living room, added a little table and a couple of accessories from other spots in the house, and now that corner is:

a Thoughtful Spot!


Like Winnie the Pooh, I need a Thoughtful Spot. Sometimes I think I'm also a bear of very little brain.

From across the room:




Up close:



The simple tabletop:


I found the little table at HomeGoods; otherwise, everything in this corner I already owned. So this is a very frugal solution for what to put in the corner.

Now I need your help. What do you think? Do you like my Thoughtful Spot? Do you think it works in that corner? Or should I pull my pitiful silk tree back out? I'd really appreciate your honest opinions!


46 comments:

  1. I think your reading corner is fabulous..the best solution for this spot and a quiet little place for you! I love the chair and lamp! SO much better than the silk plant!! You will be sorry when you have to put the Christmas tree there this December! ;-D

    XO,
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the changes! I had to get rid of my silk trees. I never dusted them much and they held dust like crazy! I think what you did is FABULOUS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It looks great. Fits in much better to your room.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my goodness I am in love with your home and your decorating!!!!
    Are you a professional decorator? It sure looks like it.

    I absolutely LOVE the "thoughtful spot". And it will be easy to move next year when you put up your Christmas tree. I am not a fan of silk trees...so I an glad you decided to say good-bye to that little dust catcher. (:>)

    I am dying to know what the other parts of the house look like. What's next? (:>) I will be anxious to see more!

    Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

    ReplyDelete
  5. And it worked out fabulous. I love that little corner, has a purpose too. I just adore your home and style.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh I love your thoughtful corner. The chair, table and lamp are all perfect and the little table is wonderful. I love the look. So much better than the tree. I'd keep it. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  7. As I was reading I was thinking- that corner needs a chair and a floor lamp- and then you beat me to it! I love your thoughtful spot!

    ReplyDelete
  8. As I was reading your post (before I got to the picture of your thoughtful spot) I was thinking, "that would be a great spot for a little reading nook. So yes! I think it is fantastic!
    Silk trees? So 2001. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love what you did with it! Very cozy looking!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Before I saw that you added the lamp and chair, I was thinking "she should put a chair there". So I really like the look. Much better than the tree. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Absolutely lovely! I've always wondered where that wall of crosses was in the room, and now I know.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love it ALL!!!!!!!!!!! It's such a beautiful room!!!

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  13. I do like it! I was glad to see that I am not the only one who gets "taunted" by areas of my home!!!

    Thanks for coming by Southern Somedays and I can't wait to read more of your wonderful blog.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love it! I always try to add little "separate spaces" like this in bigger rooms because I feel like it adds function but most of all coziness. My only suggestion to you would be to move the table lamp on the console to the OTHER side of the console (so that the table lamp and the floor lamp are at opposite sides of that wall). And I'd consider adding a picture to the wall in the chair corner as well. Other than that I think it is just lovely-- and I love when any blogs mention Winnie the Pooh, such a great source of wisdom :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love it. I agree with what everyone else is saying...the silk tree is a dust catcher. I LOVE floor lamps and that one fits perfectly, along with everything else you have there. Dilemma no more! : )

    ReplyDelete
  16. That really looks wonderful and fills up the space perfectly while flowing with everything in the room! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think your reading spot is perfect! Love it much more than the tree and it will be so much more useful too! Great thinking!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Richella! First of all, that room is stunning! I mean, even before you showed me your changes to the corner I was soaking it all in. There is such a warmth to that space and I think that by adding the chair and the tall lamp you just rounded it out perfectly! :-) The added light shining up highlights your gorgeous wall of crosses and the texture in the chair just brings so much depth. Perfect! Thank you so much for following and for joining the Inspiration Friday party this week!
    Blessings,
    Vanessa

    ReplyDelete
  19. At the begining of your post I was thinking "She needs a quiet reading place." (Sorry~ job hazard.:)

    It is perfection! Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love your special space. The only thing I'd suggest is to see what it'd look like if you moved the chair over & put the table on the left side of the chair. Right now the chair kinda overpowers the table so you really don't get to appreciate it's full beauty :) Just a thought! Kim B.

    ReplyDelete
  21. this is awesome. I love your little spot!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love it!! I love the whole room. I copied your cross wall and I'm going to post about it soon!
    can't wait to see you roomie!
    Blessings,
    Cyndi

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love the "thoughtful spot"! The entire room if just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Perfect, perfect, perfect! I love it! I think it adds to the room. It really pulls it together!
    Great job! I love the whole room.
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  25. I like your thoughtful spot much better than the silk tree. I know I've said it before, but I really do love your house!

    ReplyDelete
  26. First off I love your home, love your kitchen and porch along with your beautiful sitting room here. If I'm honest I like both the reading space and the silk tree... I'm not sure I'd ever use the reading space because you have those two lovely chairs near the window and I would just comfy on that lovely sofa to read if I was there...so I might be tempted to go back to the tree at some point and put a spot light behind it to light up the corner... that's just imho :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. The reading spot looks so peaceful and inviting - a bit away from the activity in the room and a place where you can catch your breath. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  28. That's a great solution for your spot! A little corner with a purpose!
    ~Adrienne~

    ReplyDelete
  29. No I wouldn't put the tree back! Not a fan of them. I love the little corner you've created! It looks beautiful and just pulls the room together.

    Manuela

    P.S. LOVE all those crosses!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I absolutely love your home and your decor, but am I the only one who thinks that the floor lamp should be on a larger scale? It kindof seems small and wimpy, like it's too small. That's just what I see though. I Love everything else you do though!

    ReplyDelete
  31. That looks great! Much better than the tree I think.

    Visiting from Serenity Now!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love your corner. What was once an underused corner (except at Christmas, of course) now has purpose. And it looks like it fits with the rest of the room!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Before I finished the post, I was thinking a chair would be nice in that spot. Great minds think alike. ;) I think it looks wonderful. A chair by itself wouldn't have been enough, but you added the perfect touches. :) Thanks for linking up with me!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Looks PERFECT there, love the whole look!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I think the little reading nook looks great! Much cozier than just a tree!! I have a lot of the same problems with no walls and odd nooks and crannies. So I can totally relate!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Richella, that room is so beautiful and I know what you mean about no walls in a room. I have less wall than you in our living room. That corner used as a spot to sit and read is a great idea. I would just get a different floor lamp that places the light down on the chair instead of up in the air or place a small lamp on the table. I think floor lamp would be better though. Beautiful home.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'd like to suggest you raise your floor lamp (maybe with some old books) and then add some height and substance to the items on your table top (the chair sort of hides the adorable chest) I love this corner and that chair is gorgeous. Have you ever considered putting your couch at an angle so that faces the outside as well as your tv cupboard? I have tried it in my home, but didn't have a large enough space...this is a gorgeous room!! And everytime I see a cross, I think of you!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. perfect! thanks for sharing....Pat H

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a lovely room! As I was reading through this post, I was thinking that that corner would look great with a reading chair! Found you through Hooked on Houses- your blog is great!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I was just going to say it looked like a little reading nook! Great solution :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. I looooove this room. Your cross wall is gorgeous! I really like the reading nook or thoughtful place. I think you did a great job!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I think it looks very cozy! A great place to sit and think or read a good book over a cup of coffee :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. I like your thoughtful spot! I think the most important thing in "filling space" is never just fill it. Put something there you would want to use! If you want to sit there and be thoughtful, put all the things there that would make you want to sit there and linger.
    {for me, that would be a blanket, a basket with my favorite reading, a Bible, a gorgeous pillow, and good light}
    Hope that helps!!
    - {darlene} from
    fieldstonehilldesign.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love your thoughtful corner! I wouldn't bring back in the plant! The chair is lovely and the lamp is just perfect to give you the height you want!
    Now your living room is just gorgeous! You're truly blessed, Dear One.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I read every one; they make my day. If you have a specific question, please be sure your email address is attached to your profile or leave your email address in the comment; I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Every blessing!