Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Finally Happy With My Awkward Living Room

Well, it took over two years and more than a few attempts, but I think I'm finally at a place where I can rest easy with the layout and decor in my awkward living room. 

It's not finished, by any means....but it doesn't hurt  my eyes any longer. 
Living Room After
It's not a huge change, but it made a big difference to me. 

Because I have to look at it every day, and something was just off before. 

I hate that. 

Living Room Before
You probably don't even notice what I did, do you?

I'll give you a hint. Look to the left in the photo. 

And to the right. 

Here it is again. 

Living Room After
Did you figure it out?

Ok, I'll tell you. 

I moved a tall plant next to the fireplace, and moved the sunflower bench back over there. The wicker trunk is still in the room, but it's behind the white swivel chairs, where I don't see it from my chair. It may or may not stay there, I'm still on the fence. But it doesn't hurt my eyeballs. 

I think I needed something 'darker' over there, in addition to something taller. And maybe the fact that the sunflower bench is 'open' on the bottom makes it feel less crowded or something as well. 

I'm not sure, I just like it much better. 


I also swapped out the pillows on the swivel chairs with the pillows that were on the leather chairs. It just works better, for some reason. 

Sweetie doesn't agree, apparently, as he's constantly tossing the pillow off his chair and onto the floor. 

Sorry, honey, but I need my cute pillows. 

It was actually a suggestion by a few of my sweet readers that prompted the change. One in particular mentioned putting a tall plant in that spot, specifically a fiddle leaf fig. 


Well there's no way I'm taking my fiddle leaf fig out of the dining room, it's just way too happy there. 

But I did have this lovely palm, and it never really had a 'proper' home, it's been moved around from spot to spot. 

As soon as I read that comment, I immediately moved the palm into that spot. 

Yippee! Happiness!

While I was at it, I put the sunflower bench back and moved the wicker trunk away. 

Oh my gosh, bingo!

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions, it's amazing sometimes how hard it can be to find just the right thing. 

I still need something on the walls, but it needs to be balanced on both sides of the fireplace or it will drive me out of my mind. So, I'll wait until I find just the right thing. 


Meanwhile, I'm quite happy with what I've accomplished in this room so far. 

One of my dinner guests on Saturday popped her head around the corner into the room and just said, "Ooh, pretty!"

I can live with that!

42 comments:

  1. I love the changes. As you well know, I have been having the same proglems with a couple of rooms in my new house. It does take a while to get things right and this looks fabulous.

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    1. Thanks, Marty! Yes, I completely understand your struggles - it's been over two years, trying to figure out this room!

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  2. Fabulous! It looks great and even better, it apparently feels right. Enjoy it...and those pretty pillows!

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    1. Thanks, sweet friend!! I'll be enjoying it this evening, since there's nothing but rain today - no day to be in the garden!

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  3. Yes, it is better balanced now. You might consider mirrors on either side of the fireplace to expand visual space. Just a thought.
    Brenda

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    1. I have thought of doing a gallery wall type thing with different sized mirrors mixed with some other interesting items....I need a store like your Jenks close by to go for a good look around and get inspiration!

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  4. I love it. It does look much more balanced now. :)

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  5. Small changes always seem to make a big difference in certain spots of my home too! I'm glad you found an arrangement to make you happy.

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  6. Looking at a room day after day can make us blind to what it is that's not right. Sometimes our readers are the ones that solve the problem for us- yay bloggers! I love the height of the plant next to your fireplace and the open bench, too. A comment from a fellow blogger years ago helped me with our dining room arrangement. Priceless! Enjoy your room!

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    1. Isn't that awesome, Vickie? It's nice how we can share our little worlds all over the globe!

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  7. I think it really looks great! Sometimes all you need are some really small changes to make a huge difference in the way something 'feels'. I love how it looks, Debbie. I think you got it just right this time. xo Diana

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  8. Your living room has always looked great to me! But I know what you mean about things just seeming "off" and needing to move things around and playing with decor until it seems right to you. I'm still doing that with my living room and bedroom, though I need some new furniture for both rooms, too.

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    1. Which is funny because you've been in your home a lot longer than me, Melanie! Of course your new construction project meant changing things up - looks great, though!

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  9. It all looks so pretty! I like it.
    I spent a whole day once shuffleing my coffee pot and toaster around differents spots of the kitchen. You just cant sleep at night until its all settled.
    Lisa

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    1. Oh, Lisa, your comment cracked me up!! But you are so right!!

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  10. It looks really nice with the palm and the open bench. The wicker stuck out like a sore thumb in that location.

    It makes you feel good when something comes together more pleasing to the eye.

    Enjoy ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Just like a sore thumb, Lorraine! Ha ha, that's one of my favorite expressions!

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  11. I noticed it right away, Debbie, and I LOVE how you have it situated now. The colorful fabrics of that OPEN bench and those pillows (sorry, honey, but you know she's right!) all tie together, and the plant is perfect for the height you enjoyed with your Christmas tree. I think many of us know the feeling when a room's not right. Sometimes we have others in the house to contend with, sometimes we just need to live with it awhile to figure it out. I have a huge wall in my new bath that I know is going to take time to figure out what I want there, but I'm ok to leave it blank until I do.
    Enjoy your new space!

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    1. I have nothing hanging at all on the walls in my master bath yet, Rita, and it's been nearly two years since the construction was finished! I keep waiting for just the right thing....and someday I'll find it! It's ok, I'm not planning on going anywhere, so I've got time!

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  12. Awkward no more! Not that I would have thought it awkward before but I know that feeling of sitting and studying and studying what might make a room better, without spending a fortune. And plants always help!

    Your last photo really shows the success of your changes!

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    1. I do love my plants, Dewena, and I'd love another Fiddle Leaf Fig but they don't like that spot in my house. I guess they need more sun, as the one I have in the dining room is ever so happy!

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  13. What a difference that one plant made in that room!

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    1. Hi Carol, I'm only happy with that corner at Christmas time when the tree is there so I guess it makes me happy because it's sort of like a tiny Christmas tree!

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  14. I like the changes! I agree, the plant was just what that area needed.

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    1. I hope the plant is happy there, Laurie! It seems to be a pretty easy plant to keep, I've had it a long time now and it gives me zero trouble!

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  15. It looks very nice! I love how you have room for the larger plants in your house. I don't seem to have enough room but will keep searching for room! I am glad that you got it the way you like it. The pillows get thrown on the floor sometimes when we have company. I don't have many because they just seem to get in the way but they look so pretty on yours. Nancy

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    1. I love larger plants, Nancy, they just seem to add so much personality to a room! I bought that plant at Lowes years ago, on the clearance rack for $5 - it's pretty darned happy at my house, that's for sure!

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    1. Thanks, AnnMarie! It's been a tough room to pull together and I'm still working on it!

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  17. Scale and balance are the two most important elements we are called on to work with clients. Many times an objective eye makes all the difference. littleblackdomicile.com

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    1. So true, Laurel, and it can be often hard to find just the right balance!

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  18. Hi Debbie - I am just discovering your blog. I really like your cushions and I think you are right about the little bench being open at the bottom, making it feel like you have more space. I love the press back chairs in your dining room, too. -Jenn

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    1. Thanks, Jenn! I bought that dining set with the house, I fell in love with it instantly!

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  19. Nice changes! You always persist until you find just the right "mix" in a room. I'm with you on the cute pillows...fellas just don't get it...ha! The bench is in the perfect spot...love the fabric...

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    1. Hi Donna, welcome back, you've been missed! The bench makes for additional seating when needed, I just love that little bench! Of course it was first purchased to be in my entry in a previous home, so I had a place to pull off my boots....but there's no entry in this home, so it's been shifted around all over the place!

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  20. What a lovely living room, Debbie. It's so inviting. I like it that you didn't hang the TV screen over the fireplace. I hope you have a very nice Mother's Day. xo

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    1. Thanks so much! I'm still trying to come up with a solution to 'hide' the tv, but so far nothing has jumped out at me!

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I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment...I truly love reading your comments and I try to respond to each and every one of your sweet comments right here on my blog page!

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