Kenneth Wingard? His sculptures are pretty affordable.

not sure. but i'd increase the scale of the picture hanging over the speaker and the volume of the faint plants on either side of the TV. or replace the plants with higher impact vertical sculptural pieces (candlesticks, lamps, etc.). it seems there's so much bare space, the prob isn't just above the tv. here's my affordable art suggestion. i love mine!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/focuslineart

I am looking forward to the responses to this question, I have the same problem!

This is sort-of an off shoot of what you wanted -- http://www.designtoscano.com/product/wall+decor/wall+sculptures/contemporary+wall+sculptures/smooth+running+metal+gear+wall+sculpture+-+mh90031.do

The Kira Wall Panel from World Market is definitely worth checking into.

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4301267

Oops...I just commented, but I should have included Crate & Barrel's Crossroads Wall Art. It's not very close to the raindrop sculpture you like, but I think it could look really nice.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/wall-decor/crossroads-wall-art/s286535

Seems to me that you would enjoy having a kind of DIY panel from floor to selling in simple wood (painted or not) behind the tv. But make sure to keep a small space between the panel and the wall so you could use some light coming from it. Good Luck with your choice!

The walls are white...it gives the impression of a blank canvas which would be ok except for the small picture you have hanging on the wall. That picture is too small and out of proportion giving the area an "incomplete" look. If possible, I would move the TV to the corner area between the wall with the shelves and the wall with the small pic. Then I would put the two armchairs directly on the other side of the coffee table facing the sofa and not on an angle. I would remove the small pic. The wall behind the chairs will still be blank but the focus will be drawn to the corner as opposed to staring straight ahead to that wall so the bareness should not be as much of a problem.

Another option that would fit in your budget would be to paint the wall or if you're renting use the removable grasscloth wallpaper made by sherwin williams to add texture and interest to that one wall.

staghorn fern!

you could just paint something behind it..like the sweet tree things or whatever! i love accent walls they really add a CHEAP pop to a room.

If you need extra storage, the Besta Burs is a good deal. You can purchase just the top hanging cabinet for $100.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19842751

i had this same problem for a very, very long time until just a few days ago.

turns out my television was just at the wrong height and it was throwing everything off! we lowered it and now it looks much more to scale with the wall.

but in YOUR case, i don't think that you need to adjust the height or even add something above it. what would really do a lot for your space is to add a large (very large...a little bigger than your tv) piece of art on the wall where the speaker is, behind the chair. think like 4' wide by 5' tall. don't make it expensive, either- go to the hardware store and get wood (or a few panels if a large one doesn't fit in your car- attach them together on the back) and paint the whole thing one color (the colors of the small print you currently have works great...i'd keep it in the same realm). then do something graphic with white, black or grey paint- a repeated pattern, your initials, plus signs scattered around, you know- something that's easy that you could paint with a brush. something loose so you don't feel like it has to be perfect.

i'd also get a large, tall vase for to put on the left side of the television, on the media stand, or a big plant as others have suggested.

good luck! i think you are off to a great start.

Your room is beautiful. I notice a lot of heavy, blocky, black furniture (console, stereos, chair) along that wall, and do think it needs some color to balance things out. You could paint the wall brown or blue to coordinate, or hang those flat ikea panels along the wall, for visual interest. Both options are inexpensive. As for art, why not make a mobile? That would be way more 3-D than putting something directly on the wall and a great DIY that would echo the lines found elsewhere in the room.

How about a folding screen, maybe deconstructed, or a pair of reclaimed doors? The more beat up, the better. Be an awesome juxtaposition to all the sleekness going on.

We have a collection of small paintings above the TV. They're small enough to where they're not distracting, and they're eyecatching enough to where they're not being hidden above the TV.

http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/wall-art-stencils.html

Do a large-scale stencil... I wish I had more walls in my house!

I think painting the wall a rich blue would look great...I personally think something on every wall tends to clutter up a space..(i'm constantly having to remove art cus my walls get too cluttered! lol) .Your space is beautiful btw.

When in doubt....Humor!!! How about a large statue of St. Claire, patron St. of television ( she had visions of things that were happening far away ) standing on her own little shelf above the TV? Or a maquette of Christ Agonistes, very appropriate considering what's normally playing on the tube. Either can be gotten at a religious goods store or your local botanica. Choose yor own saint, make your own legend. Not religious? Howzabout a narrow, long, horizontal shelf lined with life-sized decoy crows from your local sporting goods store, staring somberly at the viewers, prehaps even questioning their tastes. ( Corvids are known to be judgemental.) Have some one handy make a large wooden painted banner like the ones found on carnival posters and have it proclaim proudly,"Television" and hang it above the TV. Then there's the all seeing eye in the pyramid, or even just a big colorful eye. People should have a little FUN scattered about their house and not be grimly tasteful all the time. I'll shut up now. Merry Christmas.

I just bought two Christmas wreaths at HomeSense that look very similar to the raindrops sculpture you like so much. They could be taken apart and redone into a similar shape. Perhaps your local HomeSense might carry something usable?

Ooooh! I've submitted this same question two times now. Some great answers here. (I nearly hijacked this thread to post a picture of my above-TV dilemma, but instead I'll keep impatiently waiting for my Good Question to turn up on the site...)

If you are into D.I.Y. projects and really like the rain drop sculpture you should just make your own. Looks like all you would need is some bendable wire, Various sized circle mirrors, strong glue, and a pair of pliers. You could easily find all of those things at any hardware/craft/art store. Get Creative!

Love the elements in your room! I would hang a long, deep shelf above the TV and sort of treat it like a fireplace mantle. I would add candlesticks, vases, a plant that drapes down over to break up the hard line, and a round object or two to further break it up. You could lean smaller paintings or photos as well. Vary the heights and colors and I think you will love it. It is easy to change things up for holidays as well. It gives you a place to lean a wreath and hang a garlan or some ribbon. Hope this helps!

Well, I tend to be in the minority, because I really dislike "wall clutter" and much prefer at most only one or two items hanging in a room. So if it were my room (and your decorating style is similar to my own) I would:

1. move the big speaker to the left a bit (even if it sits a few inches away from the wall) in order to mask the outlet.

2. paint the entire wall AND the bottom of the soffit above the tv an accent color. I'd stay away from both dark colors and bright primaries. My choice would be a medium light very dusty blue with a smidge of green in it (which would warm it up) - think watery. I think a blue would coordinate well with both the preponderance of blacks in the room and also the touches of orange-y in the natural wood floor and console over to the right.

3. move both your bamboo stalks together to the top of the speaker to create both height and asymmetry.

oh yeah. And don't rehang the tiny photo that's currently on the wall; the scale is way too small.

You could pretty easily just paint a black panel the width of the entertainment center to break up the wall.

---www.bymaggie.com---

An anvil would be a striking piece. mount the anvil, securely, hanging out from the wall, an inch or two. Then tie a thin string from the anvil and make it look like it is suspended from the ceiling.

Another TV?
mural?
Movie poster?

I love C.jere. I noticed some at the Jonathan Adler store last year, brilliant work.

A wire sunburst will look great above your tv. These are a staple in modern design and will fit quite well in your current design scheme. Target has several sunburst wall pieces that are within your budget.

I don't think you need to take down that small picture. You could buy a bunch of black frames with white mats similar to the one you already have and create a photo gallery above the tv. That way, the boxy shape of the tv will get lost in the photo gallery making it look like it's part of the arrangement. Good luck!

I think a large vertical wall decal would do the trick. Also, making the wall an accent color, and incorporating stronger pieces on that wall where the small artwork and spindly bamboo are would make a huge difference.

I bought a wrought iron piece at a flea market and spray painted it. I think it was a broken section of a gate. My friend liked it so much that we bought two matching pieces and hung them side to side for a bit bigger scale on her wall.

I agree with those who said to place something with more visual height and weight on the shelf on either side of the TV - large, upright plants?

I might try moving the speaker to the corner with your little bamboo plants placed together on top, then buying a large, blank canvas for the wall to replace the small picture, and creating your own art work. I saw a lovely one (can't remember where) that someone created by painting wavy lines from bottom to top in different shades of green - it looked like long stems of seaweed undulating in a current. You could do the same thing with just about any color, but I'd keep it muted, unless you have some bright colors somewhere else in the room.

Depending on your taste, you could try checking out your local thrift stores for some large, funky framed (or not) artwork - something that appeals to your sense of humor (even if you can't figure out why). It would be a good conversation piece.

Hanging something large on that wall would (for me) depend on what's on the other side of the TV and and that lovely cabinet - if the TV is centered on the wall, you might want or need to have something on both sides to balance it, or move the TV to the left a bit so it looks more balanced.

Same problem... I found a "giant" clock at Costco(as only Costco can do) several years ago.
It balances the large rectangle shape with its large circle shape and it is convenient to boot!

i like the sunburst idea, or something like a big hanging fern for your space. something that would add color, life, whimsy, and/or circular or curvy elements with movement.

or, i'd remove the small picture and put up 2 or 3 large framed movie posters across the full wall. you could change them out as often as you want to suit different occasions, holidays, moods, design changes, etc. or just use them as "blank canvas" panels and fill them with fabric or giftwrap in designs you like.

i have a 5x7 antique rug, actually it's more of a thin woven wool mat, hanging behind my tv and it works well. i attached a wide grosgrain ribbon to the back of the rug as a rod pocket to make it like a curtain, then hung it from a curtain rod that is fully hidden. ours is sort of dark and creates a nice backdrop for the tv.

good luck - it's a nice room so i'm sure whatever you do will look great! and if not, you can always try something else :-)

If you want a Jere, why not go with the bridge or the branches?

I didn't read any comments-but here's my 2 cents:
Remove the tiny framed photo from the wall to the right of the tv. It's way too tiny for that big space AND it's hung too high.
IMO you don't NEED anything above your tv because by doing so, it also would be hung too high. You need something larger (1 or 2 pieces_ for that area to the right of the tv. Not too many things though because your walss will look too cluttered and busy. The adjacent wall with the uneven shelving and knick knacks is already enough.

a sunburst mirror, and I'd lean the small frame on one of the shelves.

I like the idea of a mirror or a clock. I had the same problem and chose to hang a colorful scarf behind the TV. Any kind of scarf, tapestry, or other fabric might be a fun choice for a pop of color or maybe a simple black and white stripe? The nice thing about choosing fabric is that there are many options.

the tree silhouette on page 3 (the link takes you to page 1 of 5), would look great:

http://www.vintagearoundtownguide.com/site/

oops, i meant page 4!

Why do you have to put anything above the TV?

I'd instead paint the room - simply adding color to the walls will make the room appear more "full" and "decorated"

The fact that you are compelled to hang something over the TV confirms what the photo of your space suggests: You have a tendency to hang art too high. (The teeny tiny undersized piece over the speaker is a giveaway.)

Hanging art (or a staghorn fern) above your TV would look strange in this context – and much too high. Like an ill-placed afterthought.

Here’s a guide:
You can hang art high if you are doing “salon style” a la this example:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eidvs80_01o/RkiO3yMYLUI/AAAAAAAABVs/T1aOgR9ViNU/s400/gallerykjl.jpeg.jpg

If you are not doing salon style, art should be hung roughly at eye or viewing level. Sometimes that means eye level when seated, also.

All of this aside, the space doesn’t feel right as-is. You need the following:

1) Height variation. Most of your stuff is rather low slung; you need to add visual interest by introducing items of a different height (but NOT hanging a panel over the TV…).

2) Balance. Visually, the TV is heavy and dominates that side of the room. You need to balance that by adding visual “weight.” Also, all your furniture is “leggy” (credenza, chairs, coffee table). You need to counter that with something more grounded.

Here’s what I would do… choose one item from A or B, and one item from C or D (is this confusing enough?):
Choose one from A or B:
A) Paint the wall behind the TV an accent color (adds visual weight).
B) Hang a large textile on the wall behind the TV. Ideally, this would be ceiling height and would hang behind the TV, so the TV is actually sitting in front of it. I’d go for something with an earthy feel (like a rug, weaving, or batik-dyed piece) to counter all the “slick” things in your space.

AND one from C or D:
C) Hang a large mobile in the corner to the right of the TV (behind the chair). This adds visual weight without being heavy, and also adds height.
D) Get rid of those spindly little bamboo plants on the credenza, and bring in a tall plant next to the credenza (living, please). Put it on the floor in a large basket or glazed pot (look for something earthy to counter all the “slick” things in your space).

i would definitely do some kind of mobile/ceiling hanging feature that spans the length of the wall (yes... move the small framed photo elsewhere). it would be super-cool to somehow incorporate light into your feature, because what better place to have light, when it cannot cause a glare on the tv. maybe opt for hanging containers with flameless tealights (create light), or clustered mirrors (reflect light). maybe go a little industrial, with draped string lights (you know, the ones with the clear round golfball-sized bulbs generally hung outside). the reason for extending it the length of the wall? to remove the "above the tv" problem. go shorter above the tv, sure, but let the rest drape down further in various lengths.

You actually don't need anything above your TV, you only think you do because you're trying to balance out all of the little teeny crap you have lying around. The couch wall is great: bold, chunky art; substantial throw pillows; cohesive color scheme. The other side of the room? Not so much. Get rid of all that little stuff on the console, and that little painting to the right of the television, and all of that stuff on the shelves. Then look at your room and see what you really need. I think you'll find that you could use a more meaningful arrangement on the shelves, and a large piece of art work (100x the size of the one you have right now) to the right of the television. The piece of art should be larger than the television and large enough to balance out the artwork on the other side of the room. And don't forget to send follow-up pics!

The day I got rid of my bid black floor speakers with the day my whole living room began to transform in a better way. Most of use live in apartments and don't need concert speakers in our living rooms. There are excellent quality computer speakers with subwoofer that can give you amazing sound and you will gain floor space and the desire to decorate the speakers will go away.

That being said you have a lovely room, loose the speakers, take down that tiny picture hanging in oblivion. Shift the cabinet with TV to the right side (facing) and don't center the TV keep one side for a large piece. The wall on the left now opens up and a great place for either two large panels or art or one large piece. I don't see a cluster you already have very clean lines.

I met big black speakers was the day ^^ sorry

There is a LOT of black furniture on that side of the room. I'd look into smaller scale modern speakers. You could get a similar effect to the wall sculpture you could group a couple of "Bubbles" mirrors together ( http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16611999&RN=762& ). I might also suggest a trio of sunburst mirrors, but that would go a over your budget by about half. Personally, I'd get four more of the frame you already have on the wall and do similar color photos or prints to what's up there now. Run them in a row over the TV.

I agree with ALL of the comments from bepsf, arroyo and creative license. They all agreed with me that you need NOTHING above the TV, but actually an entire re-do of that side of the living room.

I agree with burnttoast, bepsf, arroyo, and creative license. lol.

Also, the shelves on the right wall need something more substantial. The wiry figurines are ok to keep, but they would look great with piles and rows of chunky books (but not paperbacks!).

You could hang some curtains or sheer panels to frame the TV, if you want it to be a focal point. Or, you could install brackets & hanging basket plants.

I also think adding something with flow or softness would help balance the rest of the items in the room, which feel masculine and solid. You could DIY a large canvas panel with a big flower stencil/print. Adding more texture would be great too.

these clocks are visually enticing, unique and modern.

http://www.chiasso.com/shopping/clocks/blocks-clock-faux-wood.aspx

N O T H I N G .

hahah..creativelicense..after looking back...I think you have it right!!..though pretty apt..lots of 'littles'...

Honestly, I don't think you need anything there. You run the risk of making your space feel too heavy, especially since you seem to prefer dark colored furniture in your space.

A large potted indoor tree would look great on the right side of the TV unit, and would hide the giant black cord. In fact a snake plant would look fantastic in your place. Easy to care for, water once a month, no direct light needed.

Check this out: http://tinyurl.com/2cazcot

There are a couple photos in that album, on of the plant that I speak of, and one of my old TV area. We had a very similar layout to yours.

We have this same problem as well in the house we just bought in October. I thought putting something above the TV would be too high, so I like the idea of balancing it out with tall plants and art on the sides of the TV. I also like the idea of an accent wall, which has me thinking maybe we should paint our wall behind our TV...

No one has suggested it yet, which surprises me -- what about mounting the TV on the wall, higher than where it is now, so that it appears more centered vertically?