I'd clear off the mantle except the clock and glass pieces. All the object take away from the pop of the poppies!

Have you considered painting out the back of the shelves?

I think the shelves look fine and agree that the mantle could be pared down.

First of all, thank you for posting that lovely picture of your home. If you don't mind, I am going to copy it into my "inspiration file" for how I would like to do up my fireplace. Painting the walls behind the shelves would really be cool, I would pick a color that would tie in with the poppies, or a green paint matching the fern on the pillow on the chair.

Those two small pictures below the poppy picture, while they might be lovely, are completely lost next to the larger picture. I'd find a little niche somewhere else in the house where their size matched the size of the space. It's the mantel you need to edit. I would actually move the clock to the shelves and everything else too, except those jars. They are very cool and can stand up to the poppy and hold their own. They seem to compliment it, IMHO. But everything else move to the shelves. I would move the "Pray" sign over to the left and put the clock there and then move the other elements around both those statement pieces to highlight them on that shelf.

Combine your books and add more books, and fill three-fourths of at least one shelf with them. Keep only one stack of small books cover down and put a bird or other small object on top--you'll need to remove a few books. You might do another on the other bookcase. Turn the rest on edge. Remove baskets from top shelf and center some special objects in a few of the arches.

You might move some of the glass jars to a shelf as a grouping and move the candlesticks with green candles on the coffee table to the left side of the mantel.

I like what you have in your shelves - I think you have a nice balance between 'stuff' and white space. Leave the left side alone - looks great - maybe just center the items on the shelf with the bird - that stuff looks like it's all being smushed to the left. On the right side shelving, I would put your smaller framed photo (adorable DD?) next to the plant. Then, stack the books - both sections of books from the right side, because there are not enough books to spread them out - and then place the basket on top of the stacked books. That will then open up one of the shelves to move the prints and clock that you have on the mantel to the shelving area. (maybe the clock in the middle with prints on each side?)

I like the idea of painting - or I've even seen people wallpaper the back walls of the shelving, and have thought about doing the same in my built-ins but I think what you have is classic and will stand the test of time. I also think in that case, the 'stuff' then needs to be monochromatic as not to compete with the pattern/color of the backs.

For the mantle, leave everything as is, once the clock and prints are relocated.

If you re-arrange, post a new pic? You've inspired me to post my built-ins for critique.

I'd get more books.

I would take the 2 small framed pics off the mantel and maybe also the clock... don't love how it's blocking some of the frame, but it might look better in person... I think the jars look fine.

I would probably group some of the photos on the shelves- you have plenty of space if the shelves are deep... they can overlap some, imo... I would rework the shelf with the s... and the bottom shelf with just the small pile of books. I also would vary the hts of the shelves some so they're not all the same level...

What if you hung the poppies higher, to be in line with the shelf top?

Yup, just the mantle. I'd put a candlestick on each side to frame that pretty artwork.

Much better! Looking great! Now, just lay the books flat on the top left highest shelf, take the clock from the mantle and put on top of the books, move the basket over to the bottom right and replace one of the frames with it, and move the frame up next to the books/clock. The frames are too matchy-matchy side by side like that - you need more height variation across that row. And that clock still needs to go from the mantle, sorry :)

I like it much better too! I prefer it with less white space...

I would take the books off the top shelves. They don't make sense there. Yes, they're a decorative element but functionally no one is going to reach up for them when there's space on lower shelves. They're the only element meant to be removed, even if they never are.