Got an elephant in your room?

You know, that support beam, sunken floor, or built-in fireplace you loved when you moved in? If you'fe rapidly found that these features became decorating obstacles, we're here to help.

If you are facing a decorating crisis due to an immovable obstacle and you need a solution, the Baer’s Furniture interior design experts have your back. Here are our solutions to some of the most common decorating obstacles Florida homeowners encounter.

Decorating obstacles are permanent or meant-to-be permanent features of a space that are either impossible or impractical to remove. They are not necessarily unattractive or intrinsically undesirable (although, they can be); they are simply in the way.

Examples of decorating obstacles include columns, beams, dropdown ceilings, sunken floors, fireplaces, windows, fuse panels, sconces, ceiling light fixtures, air vents, and so on. While you can change the position of a fusebox or ceiling light, it requires hiring an electrician to reposition these items. Other items, like a support column or an air vent, are there to stay.

So, what can you do?

The following are some of the common problems that Florida homeowners and renters face, along with effective solutions to deal with them.

At one time, many Florida homes were designed with a step-up (or step-down) between the living room and dining room. This step may have been a part of the design to define the space, but it can also limit the floor area you have to place your furniture. Consequently, you may not have room for a traditional living room set consisting of a sofa, loveseat, and coffee table. 

You can make the most out of limited space with a pair of recliners, loveseats, or a combination of the two. Instead of a coffee table, you can use an ottoman with a serving tray to double as overflow seating and dining space.

Some smaller sectionals, like the Synergy Homes Three-Piece Sectional, are designed for intimate spaces. This set comes complete with a cocktail ottoman. 

Many Florida living rooms were either designed before the advent of wall-mounted televisions or the architects never considered this when they were planning the space. Sometimes the ideal place for a television is blocked by a window, a fireplace, sconces, or a fixture. Or the wall space is sufficient, but there’s no place to put the cable box, gaming consoles, and other supporting tech.

The simplest solution is often the best. If a wall-mounted television doesn’t work with your allotted space, a television console can allow you to place the TV away from the wall and provide you with a ton of storage options, which is always a nice added benefit.

The Lexington Oyster Bay King’s Point Media Console is a statement piece that can be placed against any wall and has drawers, cabinets, and other spaces for media management and storage. 

In most homes, the fuse box is conveniently situated out of sight in the garage or utility room, but in some condos and older homes, the fuse box is in a high traffic area, like a hallway or foyer. Fuse boxes are considered universally unattractive and don’t really fit into any decorative style (other than, maybe, industrial).

You can use a nice framed piece of art to hide an unattractive fuse box. Make sure the art piece is light enough to remove easily. Don’t block access to the covering art piece with large furniture. You’ll want to be able to approach the fuse box in the dark if you have to reset a circuit breaker.

The return vent is the large vent the AC uses to regulate air pressure, and they are often located near the floor. Because they need access to air, you don’t want to block the vent with a solid furniture piece.

Benches are the perfect solution for camouflaging a return vent. You can place them along the wall, where they will supply overflow seating. Because benches are open below the seat, the airflow is unimpeded. This Tommy Bahama Home Island Estate Bench is a perfect fit for this solution. 

Most decorating obstacles are manageable. If you need suggestions for your decorating obstacle, take a few photos and talk to a floor representative at your local Baer’s Furniture. Find a showroom near you here.