Accessorising alcove cupboards advice

[ToothFairy2023]

We have two small narrow alcoves either side of our fireplace in our backroom. A joiner fitted them years ago they were painted white by DH but not very well and we have just had them painted a darker colour by a decorator. They look quite good but I am trying to decide what to put on top of the cupboards.

DH likes things quite minimal. We have a small light on top of one of the cupboards which he has reinstated again even though I asked him to wait and I have messed about with what we had on previously mainly candle holders and a couple of photos but I am not really happy with that. Any ideas, inspiration, tips or photos welcome. I am not keen on several old books on top of each other and we don’t have any shelves above. Thanks.

Do you mean something like this but without the shelves? And presumably taller?

Stand a tall piece of artwork on top of one. A tall light with colourful patterned shade.

I have a mix of following on ours (with books on the shelves above which you don't have):
Old bottle of champagne with a tall candle in
Photos of us and family
Vase (decorative think colourful blown glass) so don't have flowers in all the time
Candles
Artwork just leaning on the wall
Pretty coffee table books (art, architecture) leaning vertical so you can see the spine
A wooden sculpture thing that you can mess around with to make different shapes (think wooden Stonehenge) which was a gift

Oh and soft white fairy lights strung across/above the one with the tv on as I refused to take them down after Christmas 2020 😁

@CharlotteStreetW1 yes similar the cupboards are a bit taller than those. Our alcoves are quite narrow in terms of alcove width and depth so wouldn’t hold a lot of accessories so not sure where to begin with your suggestions @LittleMonks11 but thank you. I don’t want DH showing MIL on facetime and her insisting on giving us an ornament or one of the hideous ceramic clocks etc.

I'd pick one fantastic statement lamp and one piece of artwork then - both tall and narrow.

I have much more room and put things on the shelves above as well in front of the books - not everything listed is on the cupboard base.

Or you could use decorative wallpaper on the wall behind the alcoves and just one plain lamp and one special family photo in a special frame.

It’s like this so quite a minimal look and won’t be to everyones taste. The light DH has put back up is one I bought for DS for Uni but it didn’t arrive in time so we had it on the old white cupboards.

Two gorgeous framed artworks on the walls.

Decorative lamp - go wild.

Special family photo.

Interesting how high up your tv and fireplace insert are. I’d go for a modern take on a reading light/lamp and a nice decorative vase on one side. On the other a few books between bookends and a family photo or two or a fruit bowl

@LittleMonks11 would you go for small, medium sized or large artworks on the walls, is the lamp thats there too small and should we have one different one on each alcove or the same and the same or different sized and material framed photos on each?

Have a look at Ourneutralground for minimalist ideas to decorate.

I'd have a good sized plant in a decorative pot plus a big picture leaning on the wall in the same alcove as your small light. Then on the other side a bigger lamp, a medium sized photo in a frame sitting on the surface plus a small vase with flowers or a small cactus in a pot. So asymmetric but talking to each other.

What decorative things do you have in the house already? Do you have pretty vases or ceramics or attractive coffee table books or photos that are meaningful or kids drawings you could frame or plants elsewhere? 'Shop your home' so you can experiment with what kind of thing you like to look at.

Or if your husband could cope with it better go for two matching big table lights, one on each side. Or plants or picture, whatever you like but nice and big and symmetrical.

Thanks all husband doesn’t mind it not being symmetrical he just wants the room put back together and I was just wondering about ideas of how to style/finish it off. I wasn’t sure if we keep that light there or need another in the other alcove or not? We do have a larger lamp different style behind the sofa in the corner.

It is a fairly big open plan room and we have some big pictures in other parts of the room out of view which we haven’t put back up yet. That part has a corner sofa in, just off this is a large dining table then kitchen.

Previously we had some small pieces of similar art work by the same artist above each alcove in white frames (not sure whether these will go or will need reframed)? They complimented the art work on the back wall which wasn’t framed and we intend to put back up.

OP sounds really nice 😀

I would say go large and have less. If you look at something like alcove or book styling on Pinterest that will give you lots of ideas. However, go big and avoid small items as it will just make it cluttered.

As for what you add, I would be looking at plants, art, candelabras, blankets in baskets (or anything softer with texture), books and anything sculptural, but make sure it is personal. I personally loathe it if all the items are generic, they should say something about what you care about.

Sounds great, you could repaint the frames if you think they don't go but don't want the expense of reframing.