I Missed The Obvious (Bedroom Foyer Completely Rearranged)
I’m still working my way through the comments from yesterday’s post about the headboard and bedding for our bedroom, but as I’ve often said, sometimes one comment changes everything. And that’s what happened yesterday. I had planned to continue working on the bedroom suite foyer, but I sat down to read a few comments first, and one comment grabbed my attention. I apologize because I can’t remember who wrote the comment, but it totally changed everything and made the poll about the mirror moot almost right out of the gate.
I’ve mentioned several times before that I get stuck in ruts. Once I envision in my mind how an area or room will look or be arranged, it’s really difficult for me to imagine anything else. I think we can all get that way to an extent, which is why I think it’s so important that if you ever hire a interior decorator or designer to help you with your house, hire one that works with a team of people, or at least one that relies on the input of at least one other person. I rely heavily on my mom’s input, as well as the input that I get from those of you who leave comments on my blog posts (especially those of you who have been around a long time and know my style and my taste).
Anyway, all of that to say that for the longest time now, even back when I was in the midst of building my closet and trying to work out those details, I knew that the foyer would act as an extension of my closet. I didn’t want to give up any storage area in the closet for a bench, a chair, or a full-length mirror. So almost from the beginning of planning my closet in its current configuration, I planned the for the foyer to act as an “overflow” area — an extension of my closet where I could put a bench where I could sit and put on my shoes if needed, and a full-length mirror where I could check my outfit before heading out the door.
But for some reason, every time I imagined the completed foyer, I pictured the bench being on this wall next to the left of the closet doorway…
And then I envisioned the mirror being on this wall of the foyer, which is the main wall (i.e., the most visible wall) of the foyer. This is the wall that’s front-and-center when looking into our bedroom suite from the music room.
And since that’s the only way I’ve envisioned the foyer for months now, I couldn’t “see” it any other way. It’s strange that I couldn’t see it any other way because mirrors aren’t really something that I’m drawn to when it comes to decorating. It’s not that I dislike mirrors, but most of the time, I see them as a missed opportunity to add color and interest to a room. So I’ll almost never choose them as a decorative item over a framed, colorful piece of artwork.
But in this context, a full-length mirror is necessary since I don’t have one inside my closet, and everyone needs a full-length mirror in or near their closet. But why I chose to put the mirror front-and-center and make it the focal point of the foyer, I have no idea. And why I chose to shove my favorite picture from our wedding day, along with all of the colorful items, into the corner of the foyer where they’re almost hidden when the bedroom doors are open, I have no idea. That’s just the rut in which my mind had gotten stuck, and I couldn’t envision the foyer with any other configuration.
And all it took was one comment to break my mind free from that rut and make me realize that a simple swap would make the whole thing so much better. So I moved the bench, the colorful pillows, and my favorite wedding day picture to the main wall of the foyer. And now all of this gorgeous color and pattern is front-and-center in the foyer.
And then I moved the mirror to the wall to the left of the closet doorway. It’s fully accessible and it serves its purpose. And it fits this space much better, in my opinion. But it’s no longer front-and-center. It’s no longer the focal point of the entire foyer from the music room view into our bedroom suite.
I love this whole arrangement so much better! I mean, any time I can have color and pattern be the focus of a space, I’m going to be much happier with the end result.
And having the bench there still leaves plenty of space for Matt to maneuver through this area (especially once I move our router, which continues to be an eyesore at this point).
I’m not quite finished with the decorating. I love the chapel picture on this wall, but I don’t think that it’s big enough to carry that wall all by itself. So now I’ve circled back to sconces. I don’t want to do hardwired sconces (at least not yet), so I’m going to try out either sconces with rechargeable bulbs or candle sconces for now. If I really like how they look, and I think I might actually want them for lighting rather than just decorative purposes, I’ll eventually have them hardwired. But for now, I just want sconces to add some visual interest and widen the decorative elements on that wall.
Here’s a wide-angle view of everything I have on the walls in this area for now. Please excuse my mess. I’m in creative mode right now, so things get a bit messy, but I’m going to do my best to have the foyer completely finished by the end of the weekend. That includes moving the router and that unsightly cable coming out of the ceiling.
I wasn’t sure what to do on the walls flanking the door to the bathroom (i.e., future storage closet). I pulled out the remaining 12 pictures that I cut out of that Bible study book that I showed y’all a couple of days ago, and I taped them to the wall to see if they would work here.
I actually love them there, but my mom didn’t like them. She liked those walls better with nothing on them.
And I get it. Not everyone likes as much color and busyness as I do. I’m still undecided on that. I’ll probably finish everything else in the foyer and then make my final decision on those walls. I do like a lot of color and pattern, but I also don’t feel the need to put something on every single wall. So I’ll decide on that last. But I think I’m well on my way towards having a finished foyer by the end of this weekend. I’m very excited about that possibility!
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Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I agree with mom. Eyes need a resting spot. Brilliant on the swap. I’m sure that makes the people that thought the bench was to crowded in that corner very happy as well.
DITTO!!!
Ditto. Takes away from your chapel art and the specialness of its meaning
Agreed! It’s perfect!
And the wallpaper is so lovely, why cover so much of it up?
Please center the picture on the wall! Also, I agree with your mom not to put the pictures around the door. They seem to detract from your wedding day picture.
The picture is perfectly centered on the wall. If it doesn’t look like it is, it’s because of the perspective and/or distortion from the wide-angle lens.
I think Karen might mean centering the picture vertically so there’s equal space above and below. My apologies if this isn’t what you were suggesting, Karen.
I think swapping the location of the bench/chapel painting and the mirror was a great idea! I would center the bench on the wall. I think the painting fills the wall nicely and sconces would detract from the painting. I do not care for the artwork flanking the sides of the closet door, especially seeing how close they are to the painting. As you already have hung 4 of prints from that book, hanging the rest in the same area lessens the impact and value of the 4 already hanging. Sometimes you just need some breathing space in a room. Can’t wait to hear what you decide to do with the bed!
Absolutely agree!
I agree with this comment as well.
Agree!
Absolutely agree! I love your grass cloth walls and think less is more when hanging too much on them. The one print over the bench w/two pillows looks great; no more is needed—perfect!
I’m in agreement with Laura… please don’t add sconces, it would be too much. A beautiful picture light above your framed chapel would look great, and it would fill up that wall enough. Plus, it would give some pleasant ambience to the foyer.
My thoughts too.
Love the idea of a light over the painting!
Wow! Hurray for brainstorming! That repositioning of the bench and mirror was perfection! Love it. I agree, no art on each side of that doorway. It helps us focus on your beautiful chapel painting.
Yes, much better. How about a gold picture light above the picture, it would add just enough interest and light your beautiful painting. They have many rechargeable options for those as well.
Maybe with a larger picture frame as well…
Kristi ~ I’m so happy you decided to change the mirror and bench to the opposite places of one another. Trish is the one that suggested doing that first, then I followed suit as I agreed with her. The bench looks more suited to that wall, and I definitely like that your wedding picture and bench are now the focal point. I like the idea of the mirror alone on that wall though, without the plant. It can stand on its own. I’m also in agreement with your mother about not having the pictures on the sides of the storage closet. It would be too much, and the focal wall could get lost. Could you center the bench? In regards to Matt, only if there’s enough room for him to still pass through. I always say two heads are better than one!
Hi! Everything is coming along so beautifully. I think the chapel pic is beautiful and can stand on its own in the new location. I think that if you can fit 2 more of your bible study pics in the grouping in their existing position it would help balance the art and give you more of what you love, color!!! Right now both selections of art are the same size and fighting each other. Instead of more art flanking the bathroom doors you could try battery sconces with fabric shades. Pooky lighting has a great selection of fun colorful fabric shades and their sconces are really pretty, maybe a little pricey if they’re going to be temporary but you might just like them enough not to wire. One, last thing since I missed yesterday’s poll I on team bird fabric headboard taller than your original plan because it really pops off the wall. You could look for or design a horizontal thin striped fabric for the bedframe of skirt.
YES!!!
The bench fits so much better on that wall and is definitely more interesting to look at than a mirror! I agree with the comment about a simple gold picture light above the painting to highlight it. I like the calm simplicity of less items in the foyer since it’s right next to the busier closet space. At least wait until the bedroom is finished before adding any other decorative elements to the foyer. It’s looking so beautiful already!
Oh my! That is excellent. Now that you have changed that, I think that is what bothered me about the plant. The area seemed crowded so close to the wall. I like the pics on the wall, but suppose it depends on what you do on the other walls.
I really like the way you rearranged the foyer. I always thought the bench was too big for the wall leading into the closet. (I’d be bumping the corner all the time!) I agree with your mom! Too many small pictures would be competing with your favorite chapel picture. But it’s your house!
What about putting your gallery of pictures on the long wall in the bedroom?
YES THIS !!!
Whoever came up with this, Thank you! It looks so much better. The bench fits this wall as opposed to the closet wall, and the mirror fits so much better next to the closet! Instead of sconces, I would just do an Art Lamp (I forget the proper name) above the artwork. I wouldn’t clutter up the wallpaper with all manner of decor. I agree with your Mom on the bathroom wall – leave it empty. The doors are enough! As for the remaining prints, I would do larger format frames and hang them on the right wall in the bedroom. I don’t think anything but a console table will work on that wall so that the traffic flow to the bathroom isn’t narrowed.
I don’t think I have seen anything about where the router is going. Can you put it on the top shelf of your closet, on the other side of that wall? It would be out of the way, you can hide it behind something nice (or inside a basket), WiFi should still be good, and you could in theory “just” pop the cable from the ceiling down into the closet room and patch the ceiling, and “just” tap off the electrical to make sure it has power where it needs it. (I say “just” knowing it’s not so simple, but it would be worth it for no cables, I think. And my husband has definitely tapped off an outlet on one side of a wall to bring an outlet to the other side of a wall. It’s some work for sure, but the necessary components are in the approximate correct places to pull it off, so it’s probably worth it.)
Listen to your mom 🙂
Brilliant! That layout is a breath of fresh air. It really just works!
In my humble opinion, I’m happy to see you swapped the bench & mirror locations. It’s much more pleasing to the eye. Your wedding portrait looks stunning where it is, and I wouldn’t add the sconces. It’s going to get too busy, and your eyes won’t know where to go. Same with those pictures on either side of your (future) storage closet. Enjoy that beautiful grass cloth!
You have that long wall in your bedroom, you can group those pictures, frame & hang them there if you’re set on having them.
The whole suite is really coming together beautifully!
I like the new configuration
I was one of the ones who didnt think the bench fit where it was before. In my opinion I would leave out the sconces. I agree with your Mom about the other pictures. I know you want everything to feel complete but it isn’t necessary to cover every wall. Maybe some day in the future you will see an item and know that it would look perfect on the long wall.
SO much better! Center bench and art. Love the idea of a picture lamp over the wedding art.
As to the other bible study prints, it just seems a littler cluttery. The paned doors are art in themselves.
At this point I wouldn’t add anything more. It’s looking fabulous.
Problems solved perfectly!
Have you considered changing the frame on your picture? I look forward to each of your finished rooms. Trial and error is a great thing.
I haven’t. I really like the simple gold frame. I’m not opposed to changing it if I find something I like better. I just haven’t found that yet. Of course, I haven’t been looking, either. 😃
I like the simple gold frame on the chapel painting. It seems to be your style for frames. As someone suggested, a picture light over the painting would be very nice. In a gold tone of course.
Or maybe change your picture mat. My eye goes right to the white around your picture. Just thinking outside the box.
And just like that, what a change. It’s perfect! We will have been in our house now 14 years this Sunday, and I still find that things I thought were laid in stone, can be changed and then have me scratching my head going DUH!!! It takes time to see it all and see it all together. It looks perfect now, imagine when it is done. You rock girlie!
Cheers to you, Matt, and the Fur Encouragement Team!!!
I hope you’ll consider one more suggestion for your headboard and bed frame. First I vote for the bird fabic. The other choice is too much teal and blends out any focal point. No pop! My idea for the bed frame is totally different. Try making a mock up of a pedestal bed frame. No bed skirting would give the illusion the bed is floating. It and a surprising first impression when one enters the room. To care out the illusion you don’t want the pedestal to stand out. So I think staining it to match your window blinds or darker would work good.
Switching walls for the mirror and bench was the perfection solution in your foyer!
What if you put four of the Bible study pictures back on the wall where you took the original frames from?
Does anyone else think the bathroom/storage closet doors need another coat of paint? In the pictures, at least, there seems to be a darker tint to the doors, compared to the trim.
That’s what I see too
They definitely need at least one more coat of paint. I noticed that last weekend.
Perfection! Love it! Listen to mom. Maybe put those prints on long bedroom wall if possible.
What a great idea! It looks SO much better! Who would have thought?!
I love it! Everything fits so much better, as if it was always intended to be there from the very beginning. I love the idea of adding more of those pages of artwork. Maybe you can sort of split the difference, and instead of six on each side, do a column of three on each side. Or put a column of three on each side of the french doors to the music room.
Regardless, I am so excited to see the development of your space and I am so happy you are able to do all of this!
Yes! Your wedding picture is back where it belongs! I had always loved that spot for the picture and then I remembered there was a console table with a lamp underneath. If you don’t really need a bench in the foyer, perhaps a table could go there and the bench could go in the bedroom. (BTW I searched on the blog for the old table with the turned legs, but it didn’t look big enough or even the same as the one in my mind LOL) The mirror looks good on the other wall. Agree with your mom, not a fan of the colorful pictures around the future storage room.
The mirror doesn’t look centered on that wall either. Is it just the angle of the camera or maybe the hooks on the back are off-center? Either way, I like the rearrangement!
It’s centered. 😊
Love it! The bench fits that spot so much better. It looked a little large for the other spot because there wasn’t any space around it, now it looks perfect.
As soon as I saw that idea I did a head smack 🤦♀️. I get confused which corners you’re working on so I didn’t realize the mirror in the corner would reflect the closet. I’m with your Mom though on the pictures. It looks like you’re trying to hard to add something you like. But that’s ok, your house, your rules.
Natalie at MyVintagePorch has some thrifted sconces she put those rechargeable bulbs in.
I agree with your Mom. I find with those prints there it looks way to busy.
It’s funny seeing this, because in my mind, I thought this was where the bench already was. I k ew the picture had been on that side of the hallway/foyer before, and somehow didn’t realize you’d moved in in the cropped pictures of the new arrangement. Yes, this makes a lot more sense!
Love the new placement of bench and mirror! Looks like made for those spaces. I agree with Mom.
The new arrangement immediately feels natural and perfect. Sit on the idea to add sconces for a bit. From my eye it looks like a good composition and nicely balanced with the bench already. 👍
I do not post many thoughts, but I absolutely love your decorating…I love the color schemes and I like the way you use color…making your house “alive”.
Personally I like color and texture…don’t care for too much “calm”. I’m old and I want warmth in my house.
I love those Bible pictures….I probably wouldn’t leave them on the wall forever and would change them out, but I just like what they are….and the colors!
This swap is SO PERFECT!
Love the new placement in foyer. It’s perfect! I totally agree with your Mom. But l feel like fewer of the pictures and not so close to the door might work. I know you will figure it out.l say no to the sconces. Any momentous or other photos of your wedding on the sides might work.
Maybe put some nice lighting on either side of the bathroom door wall instead of the chapel picture?
Now that the wedding photo was moved, I think art on the adjacent wall is a bit too much, so I agree with mom. If you do decide to proceed with art, maybe just 6 of them (3 on each side), instead of all 12.
You could always do candle sconces!
Tried to edit my response but I don’t know how-or do hanging vases/jars for faux flowers/plants.
Stick with what your mother suggested, nothing on that wall. You would want those pages right across from the ones you had framed. Just stop. Let your foyer breathe.
Changing the bench and picture with the mirror and plant are just perfect. That was someone’s good idea.
I meant to say You would NOT want those pages right across from the ones you had framed.
So sorry. I just hit sent too fast and my mind is still going. I know you will frame the pages, but you don’t need anything on the wall next to the storage/bathroom door. Nor do you need anything else on the wall with the lovely wedding picture. Someone said you were trying to find a place for everything you like. I think that
might be the case. Just stop. Stop in the foyer. Stop on the long wall in the bedroom. Just stop. Live with all this a moment, then decide what you REALLY want. I don’t like the bird idea, but it is your wall in your house.
Okay. I’m finished.
I wouldn’t put sconces on the picture wall. The solution to me, to add more presence, is to re-frame the picture: wider mat and a heftier frame. The frame you have now is too skinny. Make the picture bigger and the urge to add more (fussy) detail will hopefully go away.