Help wanted: Cabinet conundrum

Dianna
by Dianna
I've always thought that this area of our family room needs decor help and haven't been a big fan of the incomplete look of the cabinet. Since my husband won't let me get rid of it because we use it for storage, can anyone make any recommendations as to how I might make the cabinet and area a little more appealing? Thanks a million!
  28 answers
  • Alice Shockley Alice Shockley on Nov 03, 2015
    Can you span the gap with a shelf of the same depth as the cabinets and then paint them all to match? Lower the TV to center it in the space.
  • Dianna Dianna on Nov 03, 2015
    Thanks Alice! That is the only thing I have been able to come up with too. If I did that I could place a 1-2 decor items on top of the shelf to complete the look! Thanks so much! Now onto Home Depot ( =
    • See 2 previous
    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Nov 03, 2015
      @Dianna Ok I guess I was getting to creative in my mind which I often do. Hmm.I would maybe take away some of the items you have on the unit ,as the saying goes sometimes less is better and go with a shelf, and if you can move the TV.
  • Z Z on Nov 03, 2015
    That is what I was going to suggest, but I would also add at least one other shelf shortly below the TV.
  • Fab and Pretty Fab and Pretty on Nov 03, 2015
    When I look at the photo my attention goes directly to all of the frames. Would you consider tall vertical shelves on each side of the tv to neatly display them. Add a ledge along the top to 'span the gap' and add crown molding. Then paint it all out to match.
  • Dianna Dianna on Nov 03, 2015
    Yep, Donna, I realize that area's a little too busy. Would definitely consider vertical shelves for the pictures--another great idea. This is my first hometalk post. Is there a place to post a finished project picture? Have some down time at Thanksgiving so hope to work on it then. Thanks again, everyone! (( =
  • Fab and Pretty Fab and Pretty on Nov 03, 2015
    I love afters! Do post in regular post and tag us all!
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Nov 03, 2015
    You could add a shelf across the top as someone else already suggested. I would include a slight lip at the bottom front edge and attach LED tape lighting to the back side of the lip. It will lighten (pun intended) up the whole area and provide some needed lighting when the TV isn't on. LED tape lighting can be found in illuminations from extremely bright to nicely ambient.
  • Brett Williams Brett Williams on Nov 04, 2015
    Just a couple of ideas (not necessarily all fitting together!): 1) You mentioned you use the cabinets for storage. Is it at all possible to reconfigure some of the storage space and empty out the top two on either side? If so, rip the doors off, sand it back, and turn it into a high space for some of your photo frames perhaps? 2) The middle two glass doors look as though you have some things in them that could look nice on display. Rip the doors off and feature them? If you combine this and the first one, You'd have a nice balance. 3) Get rid of the flowers on top of the cabinets? You have a beautiful height going on there, with the line of the roof - give it some breathing room by decluttering. 4) The wall colour versus the cabinet colour seems odd to me. I'd sand the whole thing back if you can (unsure what material it's made of) - and if a nice wood, stain it and consider repainting the wall to catch and feature the stain colour. Or stain it light but go for a slightly darker colour on the wall. If you can't sand it back and stain because of the material consider repainting or even wall-papering it (with good quality wall paper). 5) I'd consider putting some kind of framing/housing to hide the cables coming down from the tv. 6) Get rid of the sconces (someone else suggested this already, just echoing). Hope this helped! :) And good luck with the project! :)
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Nov 04, 2015
    I have been staring at this for quite awhile and I am still trying to figure out the best idea from all of the previous ones posted. My first thought was "you just need a giant TV"-lol! But I think I would simply remove all of the frames and things and take the TV off the wall and place it on the middle cabinet. If you wanted to hide the electronic components, could you move them into the cabinets below? Then maybe add a floating shelf above the TV but below the sconces, then use some sort of decor- not necessarily a picture, because that would be distracting, but perhaps an architectural element of some kind to fill in that empty space.
  • Pis2225486 Pis2225486 on Nov 04, 2015
    Since they are deep cabinets, the room looks claustrophobic. Update the cabinets with a lighter color - this will help the room not look so small from the cabinets taking up so much space.People are using chalk paint with amazing results. You can even use a different color to highlight the shadows. Check this beauty out! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/french-country-toile-hutch-10153725?se=fol_new-20150921-1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=fol_new&date=20150921 Also, there is way too much clutter... consider removing all the small frames for a few larger ones and relocating the rest to a different area of the house. Or in the very least, leave a few frames and make photo frame boards for the rest then hang them on the cabinet wall facing each other. Something like this: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/179721841355706369/ You could also paint the frames to be the same color or colors. A small detail, but again, adding to the clutter look is that the wall sconces sit touching the tv edges visually. Move them up to site above the tv. This will help declutter the tv space and help balance the spot that is empty with the rest of the wall. Hope this helps! Definitely post an after! :-)
  • Barbara Barbara on Nov 04, 2015
    I agree with Sue@Countrydesignhome, I think its all of the small pictures below the TV that make the space feel cluttered.The electrical cords from the TV also give a cluttered feel. I'd remove the pictures and find them a new home, perhaps floating shelves. You can have an electrician (for less than $150) wire the TV through the wall behind it and conceal the other electronics in the cabinet below (where the glass doors are) I agree with the architectural element as well. I'd try to keep as few things below the TV from cluttering up that surface. If it's anything like our house, the flat surfaces just seem to collect 'stuff'' but it adds to the cluttery feeling. Check out pinterest for ideas as well, I put 'family room cabinets' and alot of ideas popped up. A small decorative box beneath the TV, not too bright, two small house plants to left and right of the corner of the TV - check it out for other suggestions.
  • EdiLeck EdiLeck on Nov 04, 2015
    There have been lots of fantastic ideas presented for your dilemma! If it were my wall, here is what I would do: I would put a shelf across the top to make it look more like a 'finished' cabinet instead of 'topless.' Take down the flowers and put the frames on top, but spread out a bit more. Take down the sconces and put up under-cabinet lighting. Move the TV down a bit so it's more centered in the space and construct a channel to hide the cords. I would also stain/paint the whole kit-n-kaboodle a darker, richer color with the back wall on the inside a dark grey with a flat finish. That would make the entire unit look more like a home theater and not just a place to watch TV!
  • Gma Kirk Gma Kirk on Nov 04, 2015
    I would create a shelf all the way across the top, to unify it. Then paint the cabinets and the wall "inside" so it looks like it's the back of the cabinet instead of a wall. White paint would have a lighter look to it than the wood. Use whatever color whit it is you've got on the trim. Then add some tall objects on the very top- think very tall heavy candlesticks or architectural pieces, to draw the eye up. This will open up the feel of everything. And I agree with another poster to reduce the clutter on that shelf under the TV.
  • Lynne Krywulycz Lynne Krywulycz on Nov 04, 2015
    Light clours send walls/cupboards back, creating an airy and spacious feel to a room. Could you hang the photos on the wall either side of the tv screen in place of the sconces. The space will appear larger without the flowers on top and placing a shelf across the top will put your tv and pics in a box - avoid this. Good luck, you will enjoy your result.
  • Cathy Cathy on Nov 05, 2015
    declutter!
  • Amanda Richards Amanda Richards on Nov 06, 2015
    A nice phrase in lettering in the big empty space would look nice I think!
  • Jay Jay on Nov 07, 2015
    I would put up a shelf at the top to join the cabinets then paint the wall same colour as the cabinets just the bit where the tv is. Hide the tv wires. Open the two cabinets at the bottom each side , make shelves in them to put your dvd players etc. Put up all the pictures on the wall left and right of the TV. Make sure you can run the wires from the back of cabinets from your dvd player etc to the tv. You might have to make holes in bottom cupboards for this. Put only six nice ornaments to show off in the glass cabinets and remove all the plastic and dried flowers. On the now empty top just put two big ornaments or two vases with fresh flowers on either side. Clutter gone and it will look as though it was custom made to house all your media, tv etc. Hope you like my idea.
  • Dianna Dianna on Nov 07, 2015
    Hello Everyone! I'm so excited to know that there are more responses on my post but my week went crazy and today's full too! Planning for a slow, restful Sabbath tomorrow to sit and enjoy them! Thanks again for weighing in--feels like a group of new friends! ( =
  • Linda kelley Linda kelley on Nov 07, 2015
    I had a similar layout of cabinets in my family room. I chalk painted them and they look gorgeous! Your wall color is pretty, a light color, even a white would make the room appear larger. You have too much clutter going on. Remove the faux plants, and it will give your room height. I recently bought different collage frames and hung them on a wall in the hallway and they look great! That;s my opinion...I know it will look great!
  • Jim L Jim L on Nov 08, 2015
    Have a board attached to go across the top of the space connecting the two tall cabinets. Paint ALL of the cabinets AND the all behind the TV white. (I suggest "Dover White" from Sherwin-Williams".) This will make the cabinet look like one unit and not look "chopped-up". Also, if you will "de-clutter" a bit, that will help. Good luch.
  • The Redesign Habit The Redesign Habit on Nov 11, 2015
    Add a shelf across the top to join the two cabinets. You can hide your tv cords in a piece of painted PVC pipe painted to match the wall. Can you move your DVD etc. down inside one of the cabinets to get some of the clutter off of the top of the cabinet? Does the cabinet finish match the rest of your furniture in the space? If not, you may think about redoing it by maybe painting it white to match the trim throughout that room. Can you maybe open up some of the side storage by removing doors and using that area to display all of your photos and treasures? Good luck!
  • Peppi Peppi on Nov 13, 2015
    i'm sorry but the pictures have to be put elsewhere. if you can, remove the top doors on both sides, putting items for storage in the bottom. i agree that this unit needs paint. is there anyway that you can put the removed doors against the wall under the tv? paint it as a unit.
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on Nov 13, 2015
    I don't know what the rest of the room looks like... is there a fireplace as a focal point or are these cabinets / TV the focal point? I would paint the cabinets a dark color or maybe a gray color (simply my preference) I agree with Jim L to have a board attached to go across the space connecting the two higher cabinets. Add large molding to the top to make it look built in. Remove all clutter, family photos? why not place them in one large frame and hang on another wall... less dusting. Depending on what you have IN the cabinets, maybe make a few as open shelves and display pottery or other pieces of art. You can also add molding to the front of the cabinets. And one costly improvement would be to go with a larger TV.
  • Elaine Elaine on Sep 08, 2016
    I like Jim's idea of a "connecting" piece except I'd hate to see that wall behind the TV painted white as the TV will then stick out like a "sore thumb". Right now, it sort of recedes into the wall. Since you are asking for advice, I'd get rid of all the tiny frames and put the photos in a collage type wall-hung frame hung in the bedroom or a hall or in an album that you can still look at and enjoy. Clutter really ruins a room. I really don't mind the large basket at the top right as it draws the eye up but I'd get rid of the plants as they are out of style as everyone knows they're not real plus they are dust collectors. I was guilty of the same thing until I realized how silly my green ferns, etc. looked way up high as everyone knew they were fake. As I said, they are considered out of date in decor magazines now. I can't see what's up at the top left but maybe you could place two interesting vases (different heights) up there. You then have 2 items on the left and 1 item on the right; unequal numbers are more interesting. Below the TV, you could place a (low) pretty bowl for decoration with nothing else. Re painting your cupboards, is hubby okay with this? Do what others are saying and hide the cords behind a bracket of some sort that's painted the same as your wall color. Someone suggested painting the cupboards white, however, if you keep the walls green, the white cupboards will really "pop" out as the contrast will be more evident than what you have now. Good Luck with your room!
  • Elaine Elaine on Sep 08, 2016
    PS: try and move the DVD player and any remotes that you have, put them in a smart looking lidded basket on a coffee table, side table or, perhaps, you have an ottoman.
  • Linda kelley Linda kelley on Sep 09, 2016
    Paint it a lighter color....looks soooo heavy.
  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Sep 15, 2016
    I'd paint the cabinets bright white, add stainless handles, definitely relocate the pictures, add a group of 3 items (vase, plant, tall candle). Best of luck.