Putting a TV on the book shelf could work but you will have to balance it with something of equal visual 'weight' on the opposite side.

I agree with Dee that you have too many unrelated items and also too many small things. If you remove everything from the shelves, put the TV where you want it, then gradually add things starting with books. Using many books in the same area on the right bookcase may balance the TV on the left. Darker items have more visual weight as do larger items. Painting or covering the back of the bookcase (with fabric or paper) is also a possibility if you like that look.

Here are some links I've saved on the topic:

"How To Fill A Bookshelf With Class"

"How to Arrange Bookshelves" Note the 4th comment about zigzagging items on the shelves.

"Flip for Decorating: The Bookcase"

"How to Accessorize our Tuscan Bookcases"

I echo what Dee & lucky have said...too many small/unrelated items.

About putting a TV there, if you did that, I agree you'd have to balance out the other side, maybe by taking out some shelves so you have the equal larger space on the other side, and perhaps putting a picture there and something else over the mantel.

One last thing...the throw looks like a fire hazard being so close to the fireplace...while it probably isn;t because the fireplace is gas, somehow it just doesn't look right IMHO....

Good luck, you'll get lots of great ideas here.

I suspect that you will have to remove two shelves in order to fit a plasma TV in there, but I think it is an excellent idea. IMO, you can remove shelves on just one side.

But for what you have there now: you have a bit of the Noah's Ark approach to decorating ;) - I spot at least three displays of two identical items side by side. I would start by removing them. You might try gathering most but not all of the framed photographs onto one or two shelves, one above the other.

The mantle looks too predictable to me - three candlesticks on the left, three vases on the right. I would remove the vases. However, I don't see anything in the bookcases with enough visual heft to replace them.

And finally, what items on the bookshelves are important to you and which are just serving as space fillers?

Your tv/decorating problem seems similar to the problem I have been having.
Can you show us the rest of the room? Are you sure there isnt' somewhere or some wall space to put a flat screen tv. Maybe w/pics someone can find a spot for it.
You would need to fit more than just the tv in the bookcase area. The cable box, blue-ray, dvd player etc. would need a home too. If you put them behind the doors, you will need to be sure they don't overheat. Putting in the bookcase will also limit the size of the tv.

It's not the objects, it's the space around the objects.

Glancing at your shelves, I see lots of individual objects. Each object seems to have space around it, which means that as my vision wanders over your objects, my eyes go clunk-clunk-clunk as they move from object to object.

Experiment with groups of overlapping objects. For example, I see seven or eight framed photographs, all spaced out. Try putting them near each other, overlapping slightly.

Play with overlapping your objects visually.

Thank you all for your advice. After looking at this picture today, I'm thinking...'what were you thinking??'. Way too much clutter, too many different things and I admit alot of it is sentimental. My dad collected the Red Ruby glass for me and my mom has given me alot of things, but it needs to go elsewhere. I thought I would start with the bookshelves before deciding on rugs, curtains, furniture placement etc., but I will try to post pics of the whole room so you can get a better idea of what I'm working with. Thanks Dee, for posting my pic. I've started clearing off the shelves and I'm starting over...sometimes it takes another eye to see what you can't.

Here is a link that might be useful: bookshelves

avp, sorry this is OT, but I'm curious about the little pitcher on the 2nd from the top shelf. It looks like one I have that is Royal Crownford.

I agree with mclarke....not too much clutter but rather not enough. Too many things isolated on a shelf.....group them together so that three things become one.\
Linda C

I'm such a newbie at this :) Not sure my new pics are showing so I am going to try to post the pics again.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf09b3127ccefeed4608155000000030O00EYs3LJs0bswe3nwQ/cC http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf09b3127ccefeec2255b44300000030O00EYs3LJs0bswe3nwQ/cC http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf09b3127ccefeece0ff35b800000030O00EYs3LJs0bswe3nwQ/cC/f
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf09b3127ccefeedbd0755ba00000010O00EYs3LJs0bswe3nwQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf09b3127ccefeecd69435c800000030O00EYs3LJs0bswe3nwQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Here is a link that might be useful: view from above

The additional pictures are not showing and ccp them and still not able to view.

I'll try it this way. : )

Here is a link that might be useful: pic 2

I'm assuming because it hasn't been mentioned yet that this is considered a no-no on this forum, but I am thinking about doing this for my living room.

here are directions for posting pictures. I don't use shutterfly so don't know the problem, but you should be able to resize and post in your message using these directions.
If you can't make shutterfly work, try photo bucket or tinypics. Keep trying!

Here is a link that might be useful: posting pics

I actually like the tv over the mantle, but that wouldn't work for us because is so tall. Marti8a, the little red and white pitcher was a gift from my MIL that she bought in Williamsburg. It isn't an antique, I don't think, but it is cute. So far, I have cleared the shelves and removed the big picture over my mantle. I bought a mirror at Lowe's today that I'm going to hang this evening and see how it looks. I'll read up on posting pics after I do and hopefully show what I have done so far. Thanks so much for the help given so far!

I had a similar issue.
We have lived here almost 15 years, so don't feel bad about this taking so long.
My friend who is an art teacher gave me some help.

Here is what we did:

ynnej, there are no no-no's on this forum. Really! Plenty of posters have placed TV's over the fireplace, but in this case the OP told us she wanted to place it on the shelf. It was great you suggested what you liked and the OP explained why that wouldn't work in her room. Don't ever feel you can't make a suggestion because you think there are decorating rules here!!!

{{!gwi}}

Not sure about the brass candlesticks. The mirror is brown/copper.

{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}

Is there any way to get a picture of the rest of the room? I think maybe there would be a place for the TV in a corner?

RE: the TV over the fireplace, the only reason I would not suggest it is that it's almost always too high, at least for me. Hard to watch!

First -- let me add a BIG vote for placing a TV within the bookshelves -- and using the cabinet bebeath it to hide the usual cables and equipment.

Next -- first I really did like the ruby glass in the original photo -- the color worked very well with the artwork. The art was very nice -- both in its vertical placing and its shape and size. You simply needed to spread out the red accents and add lots of books (both in side-by-side AND in stacks)

BUT -- if you feel like a change -- after you have installed the TV -- consider replacing the artwork with a dark-framed round mirror. The round shape would break up the strong vertical and horizontal lines.

The other thing to consider would be to paint out the brass accent lines on the fireplace doors. Use very, very fine sandpaper, then sand VERY lightly, clean VERY well -- and paint over these lines using barbecue or high heat paint. Removing these strong visual elements will bring the viewer's eye back up to the shelves themselves.

So -- I would concentrate on creating the TV area FIRST -- and then work on the shelving (and maybe the round mirror and the fireplace doors).

Teacat, I think painting the brass is a good idea. I didn't pick that out and I've never liked it, even though I prefer brass accents over the other finishes. I'll see if I can post a pic of the room. I really do want a change.

All above suggestions are very good, especially lots more books. I would also place large objects ON TOP OF the bookcases after you get the TV in place: probably two (one larger and one smaller)on the side w/the TV, and just one large one (to balance the TV) on the opposite side.
You want it to look as though it just evolved over time.