HI -- You have no room for things on the mantel and I don't think it needs anything . Have some glass shelves in the spaces on each side or a pair of free standing shelf stands . Try mot placing the decor items in the left and right and center arrangements. Place pictures to one side and the swan to the other and put another small framed photo with the other photos and then a small bowl vase with flowers or plant in front of the swan or a bigger potted orchid in a blue and white Asian style pot with the swan . Real or fake is fine too . You need to add some color to the room .

Need help to transform my mantle to Farmhouse chic. My kitchen is being renovated Farmhouse chic and my bathroom too. I am painted the room and updating curtains ect. Just need help with mantle

We were initially going to do built ins on either side but the sectional ends both recline and it was going to be too tight, the right side has a hidden door to access electronics so I think a plant would work on that side and I like the visual Beth did below. We bring the tv down to watch, my husband will be working on it this weekend to see the max he can lower it while giving it clearance the instructions say min 8. He is also going to maybe add some additional trim to the top we were iffy on whether it needed to be symmetrical The TV is huge but he has no man cave and the TV and this ugly sectional are the only thing my husband cares about so they both stay for now.

Agree that your fireplace, built-ins and wood trim are beautiful. I’d absolutely try to find another place for the TV, and style the built ins with books and a few (ceramic) pieces. (I know many disagree, but a TV screen over a fireplace-especially in an older home- is a hideous abomination to me.) I have a 1914 Craftsman bungalow and am grateful every day to be the owner of an older home. Appreciate your good fortune, and don’t try to turn your home into something it isn’t, please. I would do everything possible before deciding to paint the brick. Ours was painted white before we bought the home, and I so wish it was the beautiful original brick! The white was constantly smoke-stained and ugly, and we ultimately painted the brick a very dark, almost blackish green. We would have tried to restore the original brick, but at the time were not able to tackle that huge and expensive job. We’re not fortunate enough to have built ins like you do. And keep the original knobs, they are wonderful!!