Love, love, love your space. Love the art placement. You have done a fantastic job. I would remove the white shelving unit from that area and update the chandelier. As for storage, find it someplace else because the setup you currently have looks perfect.

so helpful!! Thank you so much. It's a rental so sadly I can't change the chandelier but i WISH! I was debating adding contact paper to some of the furniture to make it more cohesive but I'm not sure. And I completely agree I have too much - it's part of why I posted. I could use help figuring out what to purge/get rid of/replace. I like the idea of keeping certain art or pieces in storage and updating seasonally or based on my mood. I have a few more photos of the full space if that is helpful. If you think there is a better way to layout the room to make it less cluttered, let me know! For example, how would you readjust the bookshelves? Which would you get rid of and where would you keep the others?

I love your items but there are too many of them for the amount of space you have. These are the items I would put in storage:

Photo 1 - sofa table and everything on it

Photo 2 - bookcase, photo above bookcase, hammock chair, artwork above the fireplace

Photo 3 - bookcase below orange flower artwork - Gosh you have a lot of bookcases, 3 pink pillows, white multicolored pillow

Photo 5 - Whatever is in front of the fireplace

Photo 8- shelving in the corner by blinds, whatever that is under the tv stand

I would remove those items and then take a step back and decide where the remaining items need to go.

What is it you are planning on putting contact paper on?

i was thinking of putting it on some of the shelving. I know I have a bunch - it's great for storing my stuff! do you think all of those items should just be taken out or should some be put back in? i feel like it could be empty behind the couch wit none of that stuff :(

Yes, I think it should be taken out. I LOVE your items. I think you have a great sense of style but it appears that you maybe went from a larger space to a smaller one. Its just too much stuff for the space. I feel certain that the space will not look bare with those items removed.

Will the desk fit if you rotate it and push it against the wall where the white shelf is place? Remove the white shelf and the bottom art piece in the dining/study space.

I agree, you have beautiful things but nothing looks important because there is too much being displayed at one time. (I love the horse on the brown shelf but it took me awhile to notice it.)

I could see a orange, blue and neutrals color scheme working out with what you have. Are you willing to store/remove some items?

I’m definitely willing to get rid of stuff! I like corals and turquoise so I have those colors in there. I used to have my desk against the wall but I didn’t like staring at the wall so I moved it. Generally I think I prefer the desk to not be against the wall but it’s tough in such a small space. I thought it’d be nice to be able to kind of watch tv from the desk. I’ll definitely get rid of some art but as far as furniture goes I just feel still perplexed for how to arrange it and what to move/keep/get rid of/replace

That’s exactly what I did :(!! I downsized into a single place and of course I just have such a hard time parting with stuff. So so helpful. Thank you :) I’m really just hoping getting rid of 1-3 furniture pieces mixed with some rearrangement and getting rid of some smaller stuff can help...

Maybe get some bins and sort your décor pieces, like with like. All the horses, all the modern/geometric items. If you have matching bookcase to make sort of a library wall, that would be great to gather all your treasures.

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I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions but I agree with tqtqtbw that it's hard to see your beautiful items because there is so much to look at. I think you have too much furniture and too many smaller items as well. I suggest getting rid of more than just artwork if you want the space to look less cluttered but you are the one who lives there so you have to arrange it in a way that is comfortable for you.

I mean the side wall, directly in front of you when you exit the kitchen. I would give you a side view of the TV and more walking space.

Here is a partial keep list -

Round mirror from dining room, shaped stool in living room, mid-century styled book shelf from dining room (remove the white one), top art from dining room, square art of orange flower, white ceramic lamps, gold geometric items - dish and terrarium?, fig tree, orchid, living room rug, horse head from dining room and all bigger Asian art, c-table from living room, tripod lamp from desk, desk and desk chair, section, love seat. maybe the sofa table but I cant see it clearly.

We could do you a beautiful room with those items!

Is the white door near the fig tree the entrance door? Is there a table/shelf on the fireplace hearth? I see something blue. Maybe a headboard.

It looks like you have a lot of items in a very small space. Here are a few home office areas we have done for clients that might aid you in your dilemma.

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ANy ideas for shelf styling?? I’m loving all your advice thanks a bunch :)

ANy ideas for shelf styling?? I’m loving all your advice thanks a bunch :)

Oh and same for my desk!! Could use help styling it while i figure out what else to move and take out and what not!! Ignore the mismatched wood that’ll be fixed later!!

You have a good eye and the light wood bookcase and sofa table are styled nicely. Yes, there are still too many bookcases. Store anything small that is not super important for you to display right now.

Are you planning to live more scaled back or are you trying to hold things to fill a bigger space later?

Cross-posted and I just saw your desk. Nice and neat. What happened to the other piece of art? If the blue wave art piece is staying here, style the bookcase with the horse head, the rectangular framed map(?).

Ideally, I'd like to see that bookcase moved elsewhere to make the desk area more spacious. The maple and white bookcase looks like it would be in the way.

Have you considered rotating the table under the chandelier, as if you were going to use it for dining? I would try that and just put one chair on either side of the table. I use my dining table for work so that it functions in two ways, it's never been a problem before.

Also, if I reoriented the table, I would put the sofa table in the room (using it like a buffet/bookcase) and remove the other bookcases entirely. Are you a law student/lawyer?

I like the two pieces of art, one on top of the other with the blue wave on the bottom. For the bookcase in that area, I would get rid of all 3 plants and the stuff in between the shelves.

I'd do whatever friday said regarding art and get rid of the law school textbooks... I'm a law professor and even I don't keep them on my home bookshelves because they tend to be dark, heavy, and go unused. I'd try something brighter in place. Maybe some white ceramics?

As for these three bookcases / shelving units, I would strongly encourage you to put them in storage but if you must keep one then I would keep the one behind the sofa. If you must keep them all then I would put the items circled in red in storage. Also, I see lots of plants and no light source. If they are artificial then I would get rid of them.

yes i'm still a student! those were my current books that i've been using haha; and I am also planning to move in about a year to a bigger place so I'm trying to not get rid of things completely that ill end up wanting then. I'm going to try to rotate the desk! i like that idea. i did get rid of the egg swing chair and a shelf already and then also some art. still playing with the layout with all these suggestions. thank you so much for all your help!! you guys are so good at this

Progress So far (ignore the paintings/headboard leaning on wall - will be stored or hung or replace what is currently hung)

Yeah, my favorite piece of art is now over the fireplace! Put the fig in the corner with the floor lamp. Will the TV fit beside the fireplace, where the short bookshelf is now? Where is the front door?

Playing with the bookshelves but not sure if it’s much better

I think the tv could fit there but then it’d be tricky moving all the couches around :(

You wouldn't be able to see the TV, and that is what started it all. LOL. OK.

Are any of the bookcases the same height as the TV stand?

Perhaps the shelving unit that is behind your sofa can go where the tv cabinet currently is and the tv can go on top of the shelving unit. That way you could eliminate the tv cabinet.

Put the square orange flower art on the wall facing the entrance. Don't hang it too high.

The office area looks so much better! Good luck in school! I’m class of 2013, had a lot of fun and then moved a bunch for work, clerkship, fellowship, so I can relate to your process completely.

you guys are awesome thank you for all this help :) @tq did you mean like with the TV on top of the stand? the stand the TV is currently on + the height of the TV are roughly equal to the height of the dark brown and white/light brown shelves!

i love that idea @friday but the table behind the sofa is too narrow :( the tv has really big clunky feet so i need a deeper stand for it :(

i will say that given the layout of my apartment, i kiiiiind of like the table behind the sofa since when you walk through the tiny little front hallway and then when you turn into the livingroom you see that instead of just the back of a sofa?? but again i'm a law student not a design student lol

okay just also for added reference here is what im working with concerning the walls. some of this is from my room (ignore how awful it is right now but felt like i had to show more for scale for the wall art size - whole other project for another day which im sure ill be asking for help for!!) but just wanted to show what else i could maybe put on the walls

Are all the Thomas McKnight pieces the same size? How many total?

You can put the round mirror on the entrance hall wall facing the living room.

ugh i love his stuff! three are larger and two are smaller!

Interesting space.

Putting the desk against the wall is probably the better choice.

Plants need some natural light. Your snake plant can actually bloom if it gets enough sunlight and if it isn't root bound -- might need a larger pot.

Rather than adding contact paper, you'd be better served to paint furnishings if you want to meld the look of your pieces with color -- black or white will go with almost anything.

You do have a lot of pieces of furniture, especially open shelving. (Not a fan of all that dusting, but ...)

Was wondering if you might be able to combine any two or more of the shelving units into one -- especially if you're considering painting or otherwise changing their color anyway -- to create less but taller pieces: For example, would the interesting three box shelf unit (behind the snake plant with round mirror above) work placed atop the unit beneath the orang flower art (first pic)?

For your art, is there any one wall in your apartment that might serve as a gallery wall?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/194569646381650869/

You might consider relocating some of your throw pillows to a bedroom.

I see that marble -look contact paper was used on some of the selves.

The three larger McKnight prints can go horizontally over your bed (removing all small things) or vertically on the entrance hall wall instead of the orange poppy print I had suggested.

Love that idea! I’m gonna try in out

Really appreciate this from everyone :) will post more pics later. Of course it’ll never be perfect but I do want to share the progress! And if possible to keep the three shelves that are currently there I probably will just for convenience lol my back hurts from moving stuff

:-) We have the easy part and it is fun. Which of the plants are real?

none! my apartment has awful lighting (one sliding door is all the light i have) so i can't do real plants :(

i guess im looking for that mix of not too much so there is still some interest and boho-charm. another thing i considered is painting the dark brown shelf a lighter color or using contact paper to make it less intrusive. thoughts on that?

No, not the taller one with the three rectangles. I like that the brown shelf looks like a legit vintage book shelf. ( I had to look it up to see that it wasn't.) I can see it and the other things on the list I made above fitting into a long term space for you.

That one should stay. Get rid of the maple/white and beige/gray shorter ones. Put the tall brown one beside the fireplace, since the TV is not going there. Too many bookcases.

Gather all your small faux plans and store them for now so we can see what is left. If you are hanging art over the bed, remove those, too.