It looks “off” because you have too many small items. Also, you need more books, the more, the better, IMO. Here are a few examples of placing a mix of books, decorative items, photographs, etc. Notice that the decorative items are large enough to be seen from across the room.

I think 'less is more' applies. personally I would hate to dust all that. Are any of the shelves removable? In the 2nd picture from Saypoint notice how the middle section has a change in shelf position. If you can take out the shelves I would treat the both end sections the same, hang the larger pictures on the wall, it looks like a giant shell on the far L (?), if so place that on edge, vary the height of your objects, color too.

Listen to Saypoint. The shelves currently look like a second hand store. Surely everything doesn't need to stay. Keep important items and send the rest out into the universe.

Combine like items like seashells, turtle, etc. so you wall tells a story.

We are currently building a tv entertainment center that will be similar to yours so I am following with interest.

I agree with less is more, especially with so many shelves. I've found (thanks to Houzz) that 1/3 books, 1/3 decor and 1/3 open space works nicely. I've also done it with all books...some vertical and some horizontal. I still included some open space.

Too much stuff. Too much small stuff.

First: Remove everything that came from a décor store--all the commercial junk (or anything that looks like it).

Second: Then get rid of everything with big googly eyes. (What in the world is that stuff?) And the waving cat and troll, while you're at it.

Third: Hang the framed stuff on a wall someplace else. The butterflies could be hung in a group at the back of one shelf as long as you don't block them in front.

Fourth: Get rid of anything that has no real meaning in your life.

Fifth: More books.

Sixth: Curate. All like items go together: the big shell gets its own shelf all to itself; smaller shells and starfish nearby. Stuff from a vacation on another shelf. Etc.

Finally: The stuff that's left over that you can't seem to fit--store it, and swap it out once in a while, or seasonally, for variety.

I'm sorry, but I think you still have too many small shelves on which only small items will fit. Without a good number of books it doesn't look right, and you still have too many photographs, and the small ones grouped in front of the shelves need to go. Even if you have to buy books from Goodwill, they need to be there, and some of the shelves need to be removed if at all possible. You need larger items, and items that have decorative value, which unfortunately too many of them don't. Right now the best-looking parts are the cupboards and the pictures on the wall. The standing photographs overall really don't belong there.

I didn't know the shelves were moveable. Absolutely--take some out.

The brass vase, little pot of fake grass, and basket all scream Marshalls or Burlington or Home Goods. Ditch them. The basket is uninteresting and only has worth if it holds something and you can see what is in it.

And now the googly-eyed things are swarming. Disconcerting.

I agree with Ingrid. Not to worry...you'll get there! You're a good sport, too. :-)

Heaven forbid book shelves should be filled with books, these days! Geeze....

Anglophilia, the situation today is that because the use of digital books, actual books are purchased less and less, and it seems wasteful to buy books just to fill bookshelves.........and we won't mention the silverfish that often appear with older books.

People today have just way too much stuff and most of it is worthless cr_p that shouldn't even be displayed.

Of course you can always use faux book spines

LOL at those faux book spines! I'd rather have naked shelves.

I like that you collect natural things like butterflies and shells, etc, and I think that those should be kept.

Here is what I suggest for those.

For now, put all your shells and fossils into the large clam shell. The large conch shell should be displayed standing up with nothing in front of it, so all of it can be seen.

The framed butterflies should also be displayed with nothing in front of them. If you don't want to hang them on a wall, you can hang them on the vertical supports of the book shelf or stand them up vertically on the bookshelf next to each other.

I can't see well all the things on the shelves.

Is there special significance to the toys and artifacts such that you must keep and/or pass them down?

If not, I would not put them on the shelves, and consider discarding them. remember, you always have your memories, even if you know longer have the things, and you of course can take photos of the things and print them out and write a little paragraph about those things, where you got them, and what they mean to you, and look at the album. You don't need to let the objects take up valued real estate in your home.

The things you really want to keep, try to group like items together, collections have more importance when displayed together, they look carefully curated.

When scattered all over, it looks more like a junk store.

The best way to go through things is to take everything down, and slowly evaluate each thing, and decide if you really love it, want it, need it, if it really brings you pleasure, or if you are just accustomed to having it there.

Once you have sorted through the things to decide what is really important to keep, then you can put them back, and there should be a lot less of them.

I would not buy books just as props, that seems somehow like hypocrisy to me.

Please don't buy more things until you prune what you already have.

following

I prefer to see mostly books on bookshelves with other stuff sprinkled in. I'd take everything off and remove the second shelf from the top if you can on maybe two of the shelves to accomodate large art. I think it looks good if the larger pieces are closest to eye level (so upper shelves) and it helps to create a focal point. If the piece needs more height you could use a tabletop easel.

I would then bring in color and texture and different shapes. I'd try and repeat colors from the art. I agree about don't be afraid to hang art on the front.

Add books. You can group by height and also stack to use as pedestals for a decorative object or picture frame to add depth and interest. I also like seeing cloches over something on a book. I like to position the books at the front edge vs. pushing them to the back.

Breathing room is good. Baskets or bins are good. Too many small objects will look cluttered. I like pictures sprinkled in but I think it's easier to pull off when the frame color is all the same or closely related.

The butterflies you could hang (command hooks) to the back of one of the shelves. You can layer in front of some pieces. You want the eye to go up and down looking at the shelves but also want it to look balanced.

You could also flip the books around so the pages are showing from the front. I've seem some complain here that it's difficult to tell what the book is but mine are currently like that and it's not an issue. I can see from the side view on some, remember where others are, or just pull them out a bit to see. It gives more of a solid one color look. I do very much like seeing book bindings in all their colors and titles too.

Hang in there. I think accessorizing bookshelves are hard.

This shows a portion of some built-ins we have in our family room with mostly books. They take up more space than I'd like, but the set of 99 Franklin Mint books were a wedding gift years ago that we like on the shelves...and to read. I keep wondering if I should arrange them by color...? The photo doesn't show the lowest shelf or the cabinets below. It's also a little blurry, but just one example using books.

Group, group, and more grouping. And has anyone mentioned color at the back of the bookcases? Painting the backs goes a long way in making a shelving unit look finished.

I'd show you my living room and family room shelves, but afraid of some of the comments I might get. Some on here are a little harsh, IMO.

Pick items for your shelves that YOU like! Things that are meaningful, family pieces, collectables, large fill-in pieces ( Even if you have to pick up something at the decor place!) and even use a few photos. If small photos, group them. Larger ones can stand alone. Raise items using books or other pieces, like decorative boxes.

It's also important to balance your items on the shelves. Don't put all large heavy items on one side/section and smaller things on another. Have both large and small items intermingled. Stand back and look at your shelves. Live with the look for a few days and then go back to rearranging. I am constantly changing mine.

Most importantly is that you like the way your room looks with the things you love.

PS - I agree that a TV would take up a lot of space if you need to have TV there. Artwork hanging on the shelves is a better look. Many years ago, I visited a friend that had a collection of bird houses. I was intrigued that she hung a few on the shelf facings. Looked great! She also had some hanging on her French doors.

Have fun!!!

Start by getting some boxes and labeling them "Photos," "Warm," "Cool" & "Trash" so you can eliminate some items. Any item small enough that a stranger could not identify what it was from across the room, should go in the "Trash" box. Now, the shelves should be empty. Start with the box that matches your current season; warm or cool. Take the five largest items to start your plan. If using the box with the shell, use that largest one on the lower left bottom shelf (the top of the cabinet base.) Surround it with any other seashore themed items you have. You may add one photo or one book to that area, but only if it is seashore themed. Now you have created a vignette. Continue to do that with each shelf. Use no more that 3-5 items on the more narrow shelves. Add books. Scatter any photos around to they are never next to another shelf with a photo. Make sure the subject matter in the photo relates somehow to the vignette you're creating. If you don't have books, pick some up second hand. They should all have hard covers, no paperbacks. You can stack, stand, lean or lie them down. They can also prop up and lift up other items.

You are getting there! I think there are still too many photos/frames scattered about. Do you have a place, like in a hallway, where you could do a gallery wall with all those smaller pics? If not, I'd remove all the small ones in the lower right cubby except the larger b&w and try layering a few of the other b&w pics with it, so they are together in one space.

Do not get another clam shell; don't try to provide balance by matching things.Try to achieve balance with color/texture/size, etc. and by leaving some breathing room around your pieces.b

Middle shelf right side there is a brown boxy thing and also one in the center of the top shelf above it. Any chance one could fit on top of the other to make a larger brown boxy shape? Edit, edit, edit.

I've never seen a silver fish in my old books in my life! And many of my books are VERY old as they were inherited from my parents and my in-laws. And I'm 74!

The only digital books I will read are ones with more than 500 pages as they are too heavy for my old arthritic hands to hold. There are still many, many reasons to own actual books and none of them are "decorative" ones. False spins? Oh, Lord, just take me now!

Since my house is chock full of books, I am very discriminating about any books I now buy - just no more room. But to me, a house without books is a house without a soul.

I think there is still a lot of little things and like things that are not grouped together.

The butterfly shelf should have ONLY butterflies on it. All of the shells should be grouped together.

There are too few books and they are scattered to much thru out.

All of the small personal pictures on the bottom shelves need to go. Or make one shelf with personal pictures.

I don't think you're going to get very far without completely emptying the shelves, sorting the stuff and beginning again.

If you do not read hardcover, collect something wonderful? ? Then there is no point to the unit. Call a local woodworker, have doors made for far left and right. remove the middle six shelves , divider between them and MOUNT the darn tv on the back panel.

MY heavens, as is, it is just a junk collector. The original purpose of these units? Was LIBRARY!! You don't have one. Two thousand photos, baskets and crapola from the discount stores will not make it one. In the end? You will have a better looking wall and no dust collectors to deal with. Problem solved.

Where do people put paperbacks? Don’t they go in nice cabinets too? I’m asking because I have both paper and hard covers and we will be arranging a bookcase soon too. I feel for OP. She’s definitely made progress.

Paperbacks go to friends, to the beach, to bed, to a hotel to be left behind............to a basket in a corner if more folks want to read. . And then out the door. Ps?

Even this below is a bit flawed.............: ) Shelves not lined up top three......Load of dark books on one shelf bottom right.....

These are styling work that take a lot of practice , trial and error too sometimes. ( Sorry Lucy)

Thanks, Sam Gorson, for saying what I was going to say.

A lot of shelves is a lot of decorating pressure! You’re getting there. It’s definitely improved. Sometimes you have to just take a break and come back to it after a bit. Over and over, sometimes! Your photos aren’t looking clear enough on my iPad for me to comment on specific items, but I will say that the black framed items are sort of taking over. I wonder if you might trade the frames for a lighter color, or add a few other black/dark items that would balance the black frames?

Hi 1dogand3cats,

Your last photo looks much better!

In addition to what I have already mentioned, this is what I would do.

Remove everything, including the shelves. Paint the back of shelving unit a darker color. Something that coordinates with the rest of the room, but nothing too dark. A gold beige, like in the second photo from Saypoint, is what I used in my house. ;) You will be amazed how some of your things will stand out!

Adjust the shelves on both the left side and right sides to look the same in shelf height. I like how you reduced them to only 3 shelves. The side with the shell looks better than the other side. I like to see symmetry!

Scatter your larger, dark framed photos so that they are not bunched up together in the middle.

I am in the process of decorating shelves also. I went to thrift stores and bought some neat books...also some old books that provide character.

Thrift, second hand, and antique stores are a great place to get books and decorative items that may be unique (not the cookie cutter decor that is at Hobby Lobby, for example.)

Another thing you can do is think about rotating your collections, they don't all need to be out at the same time.

That way, you and your guests will be treated to a fresh new display every few months.

About your large scallop holding the smaller shells, I am thinking, the smaller shells can't even be seen that way. If you think they are interesting colors and shapes, you can put the scallop shell on a table where your guests can see and touch it.

Or, If you have enough shells, you can put all the smaller ones in a beautiful glass ginger jar.

The large scallop shell can go in a bathroom (after you wash it really well) and put hand towels in it, or guest supplies such as extra toothbrushes mini-tooth pastes, mini-soaps, that sort of thing, anything your guests might want.

Stand the conch shell up on it's big end, and don't put it in front of anything, that distracts attention from it, and what it is in front of.

Oh, that is SUCH an improvement!! I'm sure there will be other suggestions for tweaking; mine would be to take a look at how all the dark books are in the center sections and see if you can adjust that to bring a little more balance in the outer sections. But if you are happy with it, it really looks fine and much, much better than before! You should be very proud of your work!

I agree! The middle is just too heavy with the books. Need to spread out. Some on end, some turned on sides with objects resting on them.

Yes, big improvement!

Sum-up of what I think matters in this question:

- The examples with cabinets on the bottom seem to be much more practical. Hidden storage can "absorb" so many small necessities, and that leaves you with less to "pretty up".

- The small things are easy to collect /display, but it's essential that you include a smattering of large items "for balance". If this were my project, I'd pull out large colorful platters (which aren't used all that often) from the kitchen.

- Everything on that shelf should mean something to you. The google-pix images have a bunch of stuff that -- to my stranger's eye -- appear to have been bought just for display. They look nice, but I wouldn't like to have them in my own home. On the other hand, it's hard to tell what "means something" to someone else; for example, I have a flat-ish hand-carved wooden trough that looks like nothing ... if you saw it, you'd have no idea that it conjures up memories being with my great-great-great aunt in her kitchen learning to "turn biscuits".

- Yes, I'm a dedicated Kindle reader now and am buying fewer, fewer, fewer books ... but I still have books that're special to me and reference books that're better in paper form. If your book colors are "wrong", buy a roll of thick-quality wrapping paper and cover them.

- Personally, I think books need to fill 1/3 or 2/3 of the space.

- It didn't show up much here, but I like the idea of baskets to collect "stuff" or necessary items; for example, a basket to hold cards or crayons or whatever.

- Note that the successful designs have a color scheme. The OP started with white-on-white-with-a-bit-of-indisctinct-brown-mixed-in. Ick. Personally, I like the example with the bright blue background. I saw someone somewhere who cut pieces of styrofoam to "fit" the backs of each shelf opening ... and then covered it with cloth. Sounds great to me because with an hour's work you could change the color.

I'm just doing a run by posting right now and will stop back later but that looks so much better just by adding more books.

Wow! That looks so much better. I’m just starting the decorating of our new bookcase and it’s not easy, is it? Mine is about the same size as yours but the tv is mounted in the center. We downsized and I got rid of too many books so a couple friends are coming to the rescue. I have a lot of white background showing so I like seeing what you did with yours.