After weeks of waiting for three dry days in a row to grout, the weather finally cooperated and John is finishing the tile in the sunroom as I write this (and yes, he’s singing “grout, grout, let it all out”). He’ll share the full tiling recap tomorrow, but in the meantime I’m more excited than Jessie Spano about this post (and she’s SO EXCITED).
As we mentioned on Facebook this weekend, thanks to your suggestions during our Blogiversary, we thought it would be fun to share ideas for readers who are stuck with decorating dilemmas. We knew you’d have lots of suggestions to add, so we hope these posts will become collaborative brainstorming sessions for homeowners who are feeling stumped. Let’s dive in — here’s Shannon’s issue:
Hey Sherry and John! We just moved into our house in July, and I am LOST. This photo is taken from our living room, which is very open. The area on the left is our front room, the brightly colored door goes to our garage, then there’s the funky bookshelf area (ARGH), our boring but wide stairway, and our downstairs half-bath.
I LOVE color, NEED color, but I also need everything down here to feel cohesive since everything opens into the same space. The idea of one color everywhere makes me want to cry! I broke down one day and painted the garage door to add a temporary pop of color. I’m willing to buy paint tomorrow and show you the afters, but I have no clue what colors to pick. Also, that awkward spot where the bookshelf and TV currently sit is too small for a couch and nothing seems to make sense there. The TV can go anywhere in the room, so it can move out of that nook. As long as I can keep Eugene, my coral-painted horse head, I’m happy!
We have three kids, so storage and function are priorities, but I also like pretty, decorative things. My husband and father-in-law are great carpenters, so they can build whatever we decide. Don’t mind the blanket on the carpet — it’s rest time and my three littles are watching The Lorax. Love you guys! (In a non-creepy, we’ve-never-met way!) – Shannon
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After studying that photo for a while, the first solution that jumped out was to give the nook between the stairs and the front door a large built-in. A built-in would add substantial, hidden storage for kid gear and other clutter in the drawers below, while providing open shelving above to display decorative items like Eugene. Building out that edge would bring the wall forward and visually break up the series of small nooks, creating a stronger focal point and making the whole entry wall read as intentional instead of awkward.
For execution, Shannon could have her husband and father-in-law build the units from scratch, or she could start with simple, budget-friendly bookcases (like the Hemnes style from IKEA) and frame them in for a built-in look. The back of the shelves offers a perfect place to introduce color. For example, a soft blue such as Valley Mist by Behr on the bookcase backing would add depth without overwhelming the space. The bright garage door color Shannon already applied is great — to carry that color through without it feeling overpowering, consider using a slightly muddied, grayer version on the half-bath walls. Ask a paint pro to add about 15% gray to the door color to achieve a toned-down match.
I also softened the surrounding walls to a light gray (similar to Silver Drop by Behr) to create a neutral, cohesive backdrop, and swapped the light fixture near the door for a small pendant to give the entry more presence. Adding a colorful rug in the living area is another easy way to tie in cheerful accents from the built-ins and make the seating zone feel intentional.
For an alternate vibe, I created a cooler palette mixing periwinkle blues with warm corals and deep navy. In that version I used a blue-toned rug and added an abstract painting along the stair wall to echo the coral and periwinkle accents. I also darkened the door and half-bath to a rich navy to anchor the color scheme, painted the ceiling a whisper of soft blue for layered interest, and suggested a sea-glass green for the back of the built-ins to complement the palette.
In short: two strong directions to choose from. Option 1 leans emerald and copper with sky-blue accents — a lively, warm approach. Option 2 pairs coral, periwinkle and navy with sea-glass highlights — a cooler, layered palette with pops of warmth. Both solutions emphasize adding a built-in for storage and display, soft gray walls to unify the space, and targeted pops of color on the door, bathroom, built-in backs, and textiles.
Which option do you prefer, or do you have another idea to throw into the mix? We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks again to Shannon for sharing her space — we’re excited to see the after photos!
Psst — Got a tricky spot in your house? Send a photo or two and a brief description of what’s driving you crazy to [email protected].