May be wall art?

Maybe some sculpture, a clock, maybe a custom painting, part of the problem, I think, is the railing overhead.

Or

Thanks celerygirl for the visual. I like both of your suggestions !

Went overboard on the blue. Get another color/ colors in there.

Yep, I thought it is too much of blue.

The sofa is red (until we can replace it) and the entertainment center is distressed grey/white so I was thinking if something more grey/white tones for the mantle.

The issue here is that it is so wide and not very tall. I see that there is also woodwork on the upper level. The trick is to tie the 2 together and draw the eye up. So, the upper woodwork area should be decorated similarly, but not the same exactly.

I would add wood trim to your mantle to draw the eye up.

Also, on each shelf, place one plate. Remove the other items.....too cluttered.

Then, on the mantle, you can place all or your vases.

Thanks CDR, there is no way to add molding to tie the too together. That little bit of grey between the upper and lower hangs a 1/2 over the molding on the bookcase

Okay.....then I would arrange the bottom wood section and top to visually tie them together. Make sure on the bottom one, you keep the vases to slightly less than the width of the fireplace surround.

beautiful oak piece.

it's easy to go overboard w/the bric-a-brac, so keep it simple. (only because you have the shelving on either side with other small items).

I like a small art canvas, and then group your two vases on one side (one on each side looks too forced). it'd be great if they were diff heights.

similar to this look but not so busy

here's yours w/just a few items.

For me the 6 shelves are creating too much noise,not enough focus. And these items look to deserve focus. Start with positioning the items from your most favorite shelf on the mantel. Don't worry about the moldings. Step back and see if you want to add a few more items. (if you need height, then look for thin items like candlesticks...maybe dark metal )

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Then add some books to shelves and edit the vignettes. The mantel is not "stand-alone" from the shelves, the whole needs to work together.

ps,: the oft used shelf mantra is "1/3 books,1/3 stuff,1/3 space". I am not a subscriber to that, but I do know that space can create focus and drama.

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Thanks BethH, the visuals are super helpful.
Thanks hollbsr, the problem with most if the stuff on the bookcases are that they are too small looking on the mantle so they do not look right. I am currently shopping for some books for the bookcase.

If you are willing to fill the bookcases with books, that would do a lot to simplify things. I would keep things very simple. A vignette or vases on the shelf and books on the bookcases.

This is especially important as this area has to ground the wood area above.

The general rule of thumb with book cases is 1/3 books, 1/3 decor and 1/3 empty space. Perhaps you can rotate some of your items in and out of the book cases to keep things fresh. I like the idea of a simple canvas that ties in your travel pieces. Maybe you can add a kuba cloth art print to the mantle to tie things in.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/west-african-kuba-cloth-virginia-vivier.html?product=art-print

Sorry, but the real question here is, "What on Earth am I seeing reflected in the fireplace glass?" :)

Chocolate snap it is a see through fireplace, my daughters slippers are on the other side and a shadow from the window ....lol!

A slipper! Lol. The yellow "smiley" face was really throwing me :) Sorry to divert everyone--back to the topic!

groveraxle, I really like that balance!

Your fireplace is lovely! I would probably rethink using gray in your room.

Thanks grapefruit, already done and it looks amazing with the oak.

Groveraxle's arrangement on the mantle is perfect! Can you remove and/or adjust the shelving, e.g. maybe only two shelves on the left and three on the right? On the top left shelf you could have then have two objects and on the bottom shelf three taller (a single and a pair). On the right shelves two objects on top, one in the middle and two on the bottom....or something along this line to keep it really simple and give each of the items space for visual impact against the the wood backdrop. You have lots of nice items to choose from and it would be fun to see things displayed a bit differently.

Thank you MJD232. I will try that. We took it from 4 shelves to 3 on each side. I will look at it as you suggested. but many of my items are small in scale so I am not sure how all that empty space around it will look but I will give it a try!!

I found a couple of vases and a canvas picture and placed them in the center as groveraxle suggested.
I realize is not tall enough, it is only 16x20, but it is all I had. The tallest vase is 16.5 inches. My question is, for cohesiveness do I keep the items I put on each side of the canvas the same color, like in this instance would I add something white to the right of the canvas? Or can I bring in more blues and teals from the items on the bookshelves?

For the time being try centering the canvas and using the plate/stand from the lower left hand shelf in the grouping,,,so vases on one side and plate/stand on the other. You might also switch the vases around so the taller one is next to the canvas. Then try the shelves with fewer items to see how they look....even with three shelves on each side.

You kinda just have to play with it till you get an arrangement you like. I found this graphic print at Target (don't know its actual size, but look for something this tall) and added a eucalyptus spray for a bit of height and movement on the left:

https://www.target.com/c/wall-art-decor-home/project-62/-/N-5xttaZtzu6mZcftg9Zcgwlr?type=products&facetRecovery=true&lnk=Project62&Nao=0

following

"I would keep your decor within the boundaries of the firebox surround..."

Agree...

Can you not try to replicate grover's idea, with the slim dark objects and the two framed light coloured pictures, that looks so good, much better than the chubby white vases, and unframed print.

Thanks doods... I was just using what I had from another room in the house. As I said the canvas is not the right size but again took it from another room to help me visualize.