I think once you collect a few more treasures it will look more full. right now most of the shelves look like you have one item centered in the shelf.

we recently helped my grandmother style her bookshelf, and used some decorations from their 60th wedding anniversary, like candles and flower balls and that sort of thing.

Such a pretty built-in! More books. You can find hardcovers at thrift stores or try your local library (my library has a resale shop). I would remove the items on the shelf below the TV and hide the wires (it might cost $100 or so to have an electrician do this but is money well spent)

Books! And like Rachel Lee says, don't just center an object on the middle of the shelf. My preference is for more books with the occasional object as an accent.

I'd lower the TV a few more inches if possible. Also find one of those wire tubes in white so the cords aren't so obvious.

The general rule for styling bookshelves is 1/3 books, 1/3 objects, 1/3 empty space. You just need some more book!

thanks for all the comments! here is the new version with more books. thoughts?

Less "stuff", way more books!

You have an excellent eye.

I'd still like to see more books on the shelves -- and not so much "arranged" in various positions, but just placed in the shelves like you'd see them on a library shelf. Create a look of books that are actually read, and not just included for decorative effect. Make sense?

I agree full heartedly with Karen Rose! There's too little (e.g. what you started with as well as some of the interior designs a few posts back), and there's too much (like what you have now), and then there's Goldilocks! Just right.

I like the 1/3 1/3 1/3 idea above, but personally, I'd have less blank space since it can be sterile looking.

This is a home—yours and your family's—and not a museum display. When you go about rounding up some books (and you need way more than you have here), get some that speak to you or say something to you or look interesting or have memories. In other words, they are about your home: they reflect your personality and taste. Maybe the titles seem quite fun to you: make it really easy to see the titles. Maybe there are books you like to share: make that a shelf someone will want to reach into. Maybe you have a bunch of books you'd like to read, but have never got around to: have a shelf of aspirational reading material for a rainy day. Do you have kids you want to encourage to read? Here's your chance, books right in front of their noses where you can read to them and get some quality family time. Etc.

Books are personal. Let them speak your truth. I wouldn't even try to be too clever or artsy. This is a casual area of the home. Keep "studied" in the more formal areas of the house. Use color breezily, and don't aim for coordination: the idea is to be inviting and comforting in a homey room.

Also, there's a lovely shelf above the TV. It needs books! And the shelf below the TV (it looks like there is one?), maybe it needs something like a row of colorful baskets to keep stuff in, like the dog's toys, the remotes, magazines, board games, etc.

And yes, that's a set of built-ins that makes me drool they're so pretty.

HI -- The shelves / bookcase is small so I think less is more . You did a good job but I think there is too much per shelf --- sorry . Less items and more related items instead of mixed . Just because they are called bookcases , you do not need to load them with books . I would not have books on these small shelves . Books can go on that very bottom section . Do you have a collection or similar items in color or kind ? Top shelf should be one big item on each side . Find something long and low for that center opening . ( Designtescano.com ) I think having a dark or charcoal/black color behind the TV will hide the TV more . And the same in the back of the shelves will show off the items too. There is also an LED light that goes behind the TV and it changes colors too that shows off the wall --- it's cool and fun about $ 24 .

Looks better but the little stuff makes it busy and, when the TV is on, it would draw focus from what you are watching on it. Still more books, please, and way less stuff.

Would you consider painting the area behind the TV a different/darker color? In the photos Beverly posted above you notice the area behind the screens are a bit darker. I feel like that blackbox of the television is super stark against that white background.

I would lower the tv and hide cords. I like the shelves with 3 or 5 items. Some books on each shelf along with something like a vase, candle, plant etc.

Are the shelves fixed or adjustable?

My personal taste, less decorative items & a lot more books.

more books and less stuff... getting better or worst? all comments are welcome!

Following. Not a designer, but Emily Henderson has a lot of good posts about styling bookshelve. I would consult her blog if you have not already done so. Good luck!