Everything on your shelves looks like something you love. You have some nice and interesting things. To me, it would be too hard to dust (?) What I do with my shelves, is I put minimal things on them and maybe a few months later put those things away and take out something else that I love. If all your things give you good memories, by all means leave the shelves as you have them.

do you guys have photos for examples?

I agree with about 50% less. Try to go with 1/3 books...1/3 decor...1/3 open space. I learned that here on Houzz, and it really makes a difference.

i like that idea but i feel like i need pictures for reference and when i look online i see shelves that look great but are still full of items! so i'm not sure how to achieve that without it looking too empty

for example, i like the shelves below and im not sure how to turn mine into thehse!

I think you need to decide what looks best to you. Several of those examples you posted just have too much going on for me. There's really something to "less is more." It's also much more visually calming. Again, what really matters is if it looks pleasing to you.

I was looking at a blog the other day where the blogger posted "how to style a coffee table." Honestly, there was so much stuff on the tables in her example photos that I couldn't believe she was serious. Just her thing, I guess.

i don't like stuff on my coffee table or desk! those are virtually empty for me - aside from a few things on the edge of my desk. but wit the shelves, i guess it feels like the neatest way to display my things, art, books, items just ive collected, etc. but withhout being too messy. so 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?

Here are a couple suggestions regarding your shelf #1. These are just thoughts...I'd have to see the "after" to be sure. I wouldn't have anything else on the very top...the mirror is enough. For the top shelf/section, I might have just the horse and books with the books stacked. Remove those 4 little pots below. For the middle section, the duck with the round basket. Remove the triangular object below. For the bottom section, keep the five books with the gold "twisty" piece. I don't think you need the book under it...or maybe a thinner book.

Or...use just the framed art work and duck in the middle, and replace the gold piece and book on the bottom section with the round basket.

Almost all the examples you posted were white background, so, there is something there...