We recently moved, and our sofa has an empty space over it that's asking for something striking, so we've been combing the archives for ideas. When a sofa's up against a wall, a big statement piece is usually a safe bet. It helps to anchor the couch and can even make a small space feel larger.
- A blown-up photograph is an easy way to personalize your room and, if you go the DIY route, it can be an inexpensive option.
- A sculptural wall piece adds drama. A candle holder (like the one in Michelle's home above) is smart because it's decorative and functional.
- A large-scale painting can bring intense color into a room. If you really want to ramp up the scale, hang a couple of large pieces together.
- A big mirror works really well in a small space, since it reflects light while creating a focal point on the wall.
- A bright flag can give a room a graphic, Pop Art feel. If you're going for symmetry, try hanging a few in a row.
SHOWN ABOVE
• Genevieve and Maxwell's Mid Century Perch
• Michelle's Starter Home
• Shannon and Emmet's from Factory to Family
• Jason and Jeff's Cocktail Party Perfect
• K & R's Seaside Retreat
Photos: Laure Joliet, Jill Slater, Janel Laban, Jason and Jeff, Liezel Strauss





Comments (16)
Am I the only one who doesn't know what the heck that is over the sofa in the first pic?
I really like Michelle's (#2). I'm looking for something to put over my sofa as well.
a somewhat abstract photograph
It looks like champagne exploding over a mirror.
Ooh. That's what it is. It looked like the flowers were mid-explosion.
LOL
I like the first picture, but in fact in that picture the art is making the space look smaller, because it's not as wide as the sofa. However I like the principle of large piece over sofa.
@sophiesmom- the image above the sofa is a Kelly Barrie photograph according to the house tour for Genevieve and Maxwell's home.
I actually like the photograph- maybe even more so because you can't exactly tell what it is so it lends itself to interpretation.
I still don't get it. Are the flowers exploding or are they some kind of baby's breath?
The champagne is inside the flowers?
So confused.
I must agree to loving number two - probably because I have something similar. I like to use the little LED tealights so I don't wind up burning my place down.
http://www.target.com/Metal-Grid-Sconce/dp/B0027UPFEC/ref=br_1_2?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&qid=1274883061&searchView=grid5&sr=1-2&node=13471641&searchRank=pmrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&searchBinNameList=purchasing_channel%2Csubjectbin%2Ctarget_com_age%2Ctarget_com_gender-bin%2Ctarget_com_character-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin
I absolutely thought the flowers were exploding.
Lol I'm laughing at all the comments about photo 1. Think outside the box much? :)
Again about the first picture... Is the Kelly Barrie piece printed on reflective/mirrored paper or is all of that coming from the covering?
I think the "statement piece" in photo 1 is the bright red rug.
The statement piece in #4 is the horizontally striped wall. Well done!
I'm surprised there is so much commentary on the first photo! I thought it was a picture of space - a star exploding or the milky way or something. I had no idea it might be a flower.