Carolyn, worse than climbing into a very high bed is getting down from it the next morning . . or if 'taken short' during the night having to abseil to the floor in the dark, clinging to the sheets . . . giving a whole new meaning to the Princess and the Pea. Have you ever slept in a 'fourposter'? I feel that with the curtains shut tight all night they must have been a breeding ground for heaven knows what germs. Of course our ancestors believed 'night air' was bad for you and slept in 'sealed in' rooms so didn't mind a fug . . .or several bodies to a bed. ;-)

You could build shelves in a stairwell https://www.pinterest.com/pin/528891549974717015/ around each window and door frame and around the top of the wall of each room above window height next to the ceiling. http://topotushka.com/marvelous-interior-and-exterior-designs-on-ceiling-bookshelf/ceiling-bookshelf-unique-on-interior-and-exterior-designs-intended-for-bookcases-ceilings-reading-nooks-spaces-8/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/329396160216860642/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/276619602084864857/

You don't need ONE wall to be a color. The room has four walls. You don't have high ceilings, so what??! I have no clue what you mean by " The front of shelves." The biggest mistakes made are those that come from over thinking the space, the colors, the POPS , the accents. One color on the front and another on the back You want teal? Paint the BACKS the bookcases in teal. change the tile to a simple light tone stone or tile. Maybe a soap stone surround, if you want something darker. . Paint the mantel white.Then? Minimally add the teal in other accents. A rug with a dab of it..... art ...etc. The point here is you give the room a POINT of view. Design is editing. It's to pick a loose thread from a sweater and follow the unravel . It's a combo of no fear, and a little restraint, all at the same time. I am not a fan of the half way I can't make up my mind/ I can't commit look. : ) If yu want the backs painted? Echo the color elsewhere. or WRAP the room in a color ( no, not teal )

Start by removing everything, including what's behind the doors, giving the cabinet a good cleaning and inspection to see if it needs to be painted or repaired. Consider changing the hardware for a lighter, beachy look. Think about using luan or foam core to cut inserts for the back of the openings, so you can paint or paper them and change the vibe at will. Sort photos, decor and books into labeled boxes or categorized piles/stacks. Then reduce the items in the categories again, separating the sentimental items from the generic ones. Next, go to the sentimental categories and work through them. What is important about this item, was it a gift that means something, what is it that attaches you to the item, does it really need to be displayed or is it just a special keepsake? The items that you must keep, but don't need to look at or display daily, can be kept behind the doors. Work through the generic items in a similar way. For me, I would first decide how hard it is to keep the item clean. In my case, the topiary, the basket and the birdcage would have to go because they're intricate and are hard to clean dust-catchers. This may be a good time to analyze items in the rest of the home. Some may need to be used in this cabinet (or not.) Anyway, spring cleaning is good for the soul. When you put the cabinet back together use 1/3 books, 1/3 large decor and 1/3 open space. Don't line up items like soldiers, but layer them. Photos can be used but should be in different sizes so you can layer them for interest; trios of a large one behind two smaller ones is good. Don't put photo groupings on the same level of shelf, but mix them up, still keeping them low enough to be seen, and limit them to two or three groupings. Books can stand, lean or stack to support other decor items. You can wrap books in other paper to change their look. Decor should be large enough to be identified from the seating without having to approach the cabinet. Small photos will be better if put on tables in the room for closer inspection. Keep the top clear until you've staged the rest. One large item might be sufficient. You can also light the shelves with LEDs it you think that helps draw the eye to the shelves instead of the top.