How do I update this wall?

Dave
by Dave

One full wall with shelves and glass doors both sides in two sections half way down. There is a gaz fireplace. Tiles around fireplace must go also.

Need suggestions to update this wall. Must be at least 29 years. Please Help.

Picture of full wall.

  6 answers
  • Debbie Debbie on Jul 29, 2018

    Dave, is it possible to take a picture?

  • Debbie Debbie on Aug 05, 2018

    Are you wanting to get rid of the shelving? If not, I would enclose the bottom half of the shelving with doors.


    Depending on the look you are going for, I would lighten up the cabinets and maybe leave them open on the top or find a different door with glass for the top half. You could update the shelving with maybe some gray paint? I would also use a color on the wall. Maybe a nice blue? I think you could possibly either stain the mantle a little darker color or paint it too. Replacing the tile is a personal choice. Go to a place like Home Depot or Lowes and look at the tile they have available to see if anything appeals to you. That would determine the color of paint for the shelving and mantle.


    Since I am a very big color person, I would definitely add color to at east the wall and possibly the back wall of the shelving. It would make it a more updated look. Grays are really huge right now so you do have many choices as far as the shades of gray available.


    I cannot tell exactly what is on the wall on the right. Since the wall seems to have a large window or door on that wall it could also be painted with the same color you used for the wall behind the shelving. It would help to bring the room together. If you are going with a bold color, I would only use it on those two walls - not all of the walls in the room. The others you could paint a lighter shade of a color that would compliment the bold color.


    I hope some of these ideas will help you. Show us an after picture. I would love to see it.


    Good Luck and have fun with your project.

    • Dave Dave on Aug 05, 2018

      Thanks Debbie. Makes sense. Will look into this. have a great day.

  • I would remove the glass, fill all the holes, and paint. Easy peasy and a little more on the minimalist side

  • OceeB OceeB on Aug 27, 2018

    Hi Dave

    I like Debbie's answer and think exactly along the same lines. IF the shelving must stay, I was thinking paint the shelving to blend with the color of the wall and also thought about what if you box in above the mantle and enclose with hidden storage. This would make the side bookshelves look like builtins. Then you could change the mantle out to a floating mantle that would give you some definition. I definitely like adding some color to some of the shelves backboards to give a little contrast using either paint or wallpaper etc.

    Changing the the fireplace out to some natural stone finish would warm the room up and give the room more texture

  • Sandy Grimes Sandy Grimes on Aug 27, 2018

    Tear it down to create an open floor plan?

  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Oct 04, 2021

    You can get a nice update by painting both shelves and the fireplace white... or any solid color so it looks like once nice large wall piece.