I’m excited to be back at work on my give & take series. I’ve received tons of submissions, so thank you! (You’ll receive an email if yours is chosen for an upcoming post.) Today, I’m tackling Erin’s big, blank TV wall. I thought this was a good one because she has one of those tricky, two-story family rooms that often makes anything you hang on the wall look miniature in comparison.
I would start by taking away the TV console and replacing with something that fills more of the wall. The current console is completely overpowered by the big television and amount of wall space.
I would add a row of lower bookcases (three, possibly four?) and off-center the TV on them so that it’s not trying to be the focal point of that wall. I think Erin can also use that mirror that’s now leaning on the floor and layer it with framed art/photos. This will help to visually balance things on both ends of the bookcases. I would add a potted tree in the corner to the left, and to the right, I’d hang a vertical grouping of frames to also keep balance.
bookcases // library sconces // fiddle leaf fig tree // woven basket
When working with a two-story room, it’s often easier to imagine a lower ceiling line and hang everything below that. . .
And, just a reminder—my ideas are general suggestions, based on my first impression—not on actual measurements. :)
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Love your suggestions!
You are a genius problem solver! This is a great solution for Erin’s space!
Genius? Okay, then :)
Is there a link to the rug in the picture?
It’s this one: http://bit.ly/2d9bBbM
Wow, your suggestions are perfect!! I love the sconces three across! What a great series!
I think this is a great suggestion for the space. I would love to see what was ultimately done to the room.
This is a great post. I have a living room that is very similar to this with the tricky two story funky ceiling height. This helps me tremendously! Great job as always. I love your posts!
I love this series! Great job Emily!
I love that you are doing this! I would be clueless what to do with that wall, but you suggestions look great.
This is genius! I am a long time fan of your blog, but this is one of my favorite give and takes.
Wow – I love your ideas – thank you for featuring this reader problem because I have the same type of living room and it really does give me some ideas – the only problem is that we also have a corner fireplace and it just completely stumps me. Love everything you put in there – never would have thought of the sconces.
Emily, love your ideas! Thats a perfect solution for the tv, and also a beautiful space! You are a talented designer! xo, Kathy
Thanks, Kathy :)
Thank you Emily! So excited to implement this vision! Bringing down the height of the ceiling makes so.much.sense. It will be interesting to see if I am able to scale everything correctly as TV is a 58″ monster!
I hope this at least gives you a good starting point. Good luck!
This looks super, super!! Great blog, great series, as always. Thank you for the hard work, Emily! I’m grateful for your bite-sized, down to earth, real-life and top-notch posts. The combo truly sets you and your blog apart #fanforlife
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Sweet :) Thanks!
What is the best way to “hide” cords coming down from wall sconces?
Sometimes you can buy cord covers but in this situation, they’d need to be hardwired.
You picked my favorite sconces. And I like the idea of having the TV off to the side. My natural instinct would be to have it centered. Your idea is much better.
Agreed! The off-center TV/leaner art is a solution I would not have come up with. I will definitely keep this in my idea folder!
Great solution Emily! You never see a tv in a design magazine but we have them in our homes and have to deal with them!!
I love this feature! Thank you for doing this. Your ideas are always beautiful and practical!
What wonderful suggestions! I hope the reader takes your advise and sends pictures! It will be so nice. I love it.
This is amazing!! I agree with what the others said- I am a long-time reader and fan but this particular one knocks it out of the park. I REALLY hope you keep doing this series! I can see it helping SO MANY PEOPLE. I do not have this particular problem (short one story ranch) but I could see how so many people could just use this idea and go. At the same time, even though I don’t have this problem, this suggestion opens up so many ideas. Love love love it, Emily.
Thanks, Jessica!
Love your ideas. I have a similar dilemma in my home. This has given me a great direction on how to decorate my space. Now on to convincing the hubby.
Oh my goodness- you’ve been reading my mail! I have a similar issue, but without the high ceiling- just a huge blank wall that needs to include a tv. I actually thought to myself a few weeks ago “I wish i could just ask Emily Clark what to do here.” I LOVE this idea and haven’t seen it anywhere- especially the sconces up top and uses several pieces rather than one console. Definitely going to try and make this work for my space. Thank you!!
Yes I’m so glad you did this!! I was going to send you basically the exact same problem, so now its covered! :) Question- I also have the huge two story wall.. with a long shelf about halfway up that stretches the entire wall. Any quick suggestions of what I could display on that very tall, long shelf?? It would be above my TV, very similar layout to the room above.
I saw this solution for a tall, angled wall earlier this week and thought it was so perfect: https://www.instagram.com/p/BJOUX02hnoE/?taken-by=threve_interiors
Like these bookcases for my tv, too; however, my room is not large and two-story but a loft area. Will only need two bookcases for the width — when placed side by side, will the crack show or can they be placed closer together to appear as one piece?
Nice suggestions! Cheap and easy! :)