Had a similar glare issue myself—thought I'd nailed my layout until I realized the afternoon sun bounced straight off my glossy coffee table onto my laptop screen. Drove me crazy for weeks. Ended up swapping it out for a matte finish table, and honestly, problem solved. Wall colors definitely matter too... noticed glossy or satin finishes reflect way more than matte paints. Learned that one the hard way after repainting twice, lol.
Totally feel you on the glossy surfaces thing—had a similar headache with my dining table. Didn't have the budget to replace it, though, so I ended up grabbing an inexpensive matte-finish tablecloth from Target. Worked surprisingly well, and bonus, it freshened up the look of my space. You're spot-on about the wall paint too... matte paint made a huge difference for me. Glad you finally figured yours out; it's such a relief when those little annoyances disappear, isn't it?
Funny you mention the matte tablecloth—I tried something similar with my coffee table, but it kept sliding around and drove me nuts. Ended up sanding it down lightly and applying a matte sealant instead. Bit more work, but it did the trick. Totally agree on the matte paint though; glossy walls always felt too clinical to me. Isn't it weird how these small tweaks can completely shift how comfortable a space feels? Makes me wonder what other little details I've overlooked...
"Isn't it weird how these small tweaks can completely shift how comfortable a space feels?"
Totally get what you're saying about the matte finishes. Glossy walls always remind me of hospitals or dentist offices—definitely not the vibe I'm going for at home. But honestly, I'm a bit skeptical about sanding down furniture myself... knowing my luck, I'd probably end up with something that looks like it survived a tornado rather than a chic DIY project.
Speaking of overlooked details, have you thought about lighting? I used to underestimate it big time, but swapping out harsh bulbs for warmer LEDs and adding dimmers made a huge difference in my place. It's subtle, but suddenly everything felt way cozier and less sterile. Might be worth checking out if you're still hunting for those little tweaks...
You're spot-on about lighting being a game changer. I used to roll my eyes when people talked about "ambiance," but after swapping out those harsh ceiling lights for some warmer lamps, I had to eat my words. And honestly, sanding furniture isn't as scary as it seems—just start with something small and cheap from a thrift store. Worst-case scenario, you end up with a quirky piece that has character... or firewood, lol. Either way, it's worth the experiment.
