r/RealLifeMinimalist • u/coral_bells • Dec 22 '25

OC Our main living space.

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This part of the room used to have two additional armchairs, an additional side table, a larger couch, more throw pillows, and almost floor to ceiling bookshelves stuffed with books and knickknacks along that whole back wall. It felt cramped, and the bookshelves started feeling oppressive. Now the room feels spacious and peaceful. I love it, and I don’t regret getting rid of a single thing.

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u/Academic-Row-9398 Dec 23 '25

Love the bookshelves (and the pup)! But why the blank walls?

1

u/coral_bells Dec 23 '25

It’s just a nice visual and mental rest. It feels calm. There is art on other walls in my home, but I don’t think every wall needs to have art. And I don’t want to buy something just for the sake of having something there.

1

u/Realistic-Weight5078 Dec 25 '25

Interesting. From this perspective I feel that some wall art, maybe one larger piece, would balance it out on that side and make the book case feel less congested. But makes total sense to not just go out and buy something just to buy it. I have a tendency to have a lot of art on my walls though so might just be different strokes

4

u/Physical_Durian_1608 Dec 26 '25

I think the opposite: the books look extremely busy, anything on top of that would be too much.

1

u/Realistic-Weight5078 Dec 26 '25

Yes, it's busy and looks even moreso because of the uneven distribution. That's where balance comes in, ie strategically places art above. Distribution of the visual weight. But less down there, more negative space on the shelf, would probably be best no matter what.