Looks awesome

I would pull the sofa out a bit. Just a bit off the wall.

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For the shelving I’d change the hardware and remove the arch if possible.
And then change up some of the decor. Add color.
A pretty candle with a pop of color.
Some plants.
Picture frames. ....

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The room looks awesome just add some color. Maybe some blues.
Maybe a navy pillow and a light blue and white striped pillow...
Or maybe some cognac/luggage color...

1/3 books (standing, leaning, stacking or holding up something,) 1/3 large decor items that can be seen and identified from the seating area, and 1/3 open space. Have you lighted the inside of the shelves yet? LEDs would be an easy way to do that. You could also paint the back wall of the shelves in an accent color to add some life to them and bring the eye to the area. Your art above the sofa is too high and too small. 5-5-75 is a good "rule of thumb." Hang art centered 5' above the floor, or 5" above furniture, and it an be as wide as 75% of the furniture's width below it. I think I would lower the chandelier so the bottom of it aligns better with the fan windows. Right now it is adding a busy element that might be stilled by the alignment. I like the way it repeats the rug pattern though. I'm not a fan of the speakers in that location. They would be less obtrusive if they were at floor level, down by the toe kick under the cabinets. Would that be possible or would it be an audio issue? I know many speakers sit on the floor so maybe sound bar types could too.

I hate bookshelves that are installed with no plan for what they will hold.I would remove them , keep the base cabinets and add a nice piece of art in there place on both sides

I have book shelves surrounding my TV. When they were first installed they had book, photos and knick-knacks from my travels. Now they are fifteen years old ,they hold all of the above plus more of everything. Its your house; what you have looks good. Add whatever as it suits you and makes you happy.

It looks pretty good. The plant in the upper right should be removed. The bottom shelf on the left looks crowded with something I can't tell what that is, but should be removed and replaced with something less crowding the space. Overall, I would add more color to the things on the shelves. The room has not a hint of color anywhere, so the good spot to add color would be to replace the neutral items on the shelves. The lamp could be replaced with a colorful ceramic lamp. The vase on the upper left replaced with a vase brightly colored, perhaps orange or jade green. The house on the upper left is not adding anything decorative and seems to be there to fill the space - that should be replaced with something prettier and more artistic.

You could also replace the sofa pillows and throw with something with color to enliven the space from its beige and gray.

The problem is not what's on your shelves.

It's that the living room as a whole seems dull and lifeless because it is somewhat sterile and devoid of significant texture, color and vitality. That tiny plant on the coffee table just doesn't cut it, and the plant in the bookshelf, well, who knows whether or not it is alive? If it isn't, away with it!

Please get a large floor plant or one on a stand, either a palm or fiddle leaf something or other. And for the coffee table a sizeable plant, it doesn't have to be flowering, or you could get a shallow wooden bowl with balls of bright green moss.

The key here is color, life, and texture.

You also need large art on the wall over the sofa hung at the appropriate height, and please get a throw that picks up the colors in the art.

The lamp in the bookcase does nothing.

If you feel your room needs more lighting, you can get table lamps for the side tables, and by golly, you have no side tables next to the sofa! Where do the people sitting at the ends put their drinks? I think you need to buy end tables with lamps for them!

The small table between the chairs is too small for a lamp and to be used as a side table.

A room needs layered lighting; ambient and task lighting.

I don't see where in the room you would need accent lighting, and to put a picture light over a framed print (if that is what you will buy) might look a bit pretentious.

The standing arc light, an iconic design of which there are so many reasonably priced copies would look fabulous in your room, if that is your style.

Agree with what others have said. I would focus on a really dramatic and colorful art piece for over the couch. What you have is too small. I love books so I would remove some of the objects - and the plant and lamp - from the shelves and add books. I would also look for a dramatic low bowl, maybe in the bronze tones - for your coffee table, maybe a chunky candle holder, something to enliven the coffee table.

I like your start in your LR. I agree with Patricia about getting ride of the shelves and arches to modernize the look. Here is a photo that has a couple of small chests on either side of the F/P and also some color in the room. I'd try to do something like this.

Geneseo · More Info

West Elm has interesting pillows and decor items.

your shelf decor looks fine to me. I think this kind of thing needs to be like seeking art -- as in found one at a time, selected with love. sometimes it finds you rather than the other way around. it doesn't have to be expensive, but hold out for items that really speak to you. don't just go to hobby lobby or a home store and fill a cart with a bunch of random stuff all at once.

so, as you go out into the world, notice things that you love. change out your pieces a little at a time. start by replacing the ones that you dislike the most.

A lot of good ideas out there, I would wallpaper the backs of the bookcases to start.

Oh- I just saw the entire photo and the can lights in the ceiling. Maybe when those are on you really don't need light for reading for people in the living room? In that case, forget about the lamp! But end tables are still needed, unless they are tucked in somewhere and I missed those as well !

Wallpaper/fabric cover some poster board and put in the backs of the cabinets, then you can figure out what color you like best...or change it easily as your heart desires.

Definitely a larger picture over the sofa.

Thank you for all the advice. I will work on adding some color into the room.

For the art above the sofa, should I go with one large piece or a gallery of 3 pieces~ keep the existing 2 and add one more?

I would go with one large piece and a more colorful throw. Pick up the color of the throw in a couple of accessories like the vase on the table and something in your bookshelves. By the way, I think your room is lovely.

Some decor option

Personally I would move the TV to the sofa wall, sofa to face FP. Right now no matter if you sit on sofa or chairs you need to sit sideways to enjoy watching TV or fire

Love the size, style and shape of your chandelier! Great choice. Main thing in addition to moving your sofa to 18” from edge of coffee table is to add texture. Pillows and possibly grass cloth in backs of bookshelves. Your coffee table needs styling. A stack of 2-3 coffee table sized books. A large low bowl and a much larger white orchid arrangement plus a sculptural element. Think of the coffee table divided into 4 sections. Set elements accordingly. Bbl

Here is concept. Another tip on shelves, keep items placed so not hiding behind edges. And place a visual X over then shelves. Put similar scale pieces on points of X. (Outer corners). That adds some symmetry but keeps things interesting. 😊

Opps. Here’s my coffee table mock up.

Working on all the great tips. I have reached out to some contractors to get rid of the arch shelves. It may not happen since the job is too small for most contractors.

Any good vendors for artwork?

Pretty but would be more impactful if not all clustered on tray. Try putting the flower arrangement in left quarter possibly on a book. Put the pumpkin in upper right quadrant and add two smaller pumpkins to that grouping. The put the candle (round container in right bottom quarter and coasters? (Square item) in left quadrant.

I have to say I am in LOVE with the arches. Unique and gives some character

Books should go in a bookcase?

Below are a few living rooms we have designed. Perhaps looking at the shelves will aid you in this dilemma?

Hard Working Haven · More Info

You Want Warm and Cozy? · More Info

Or you could remove the shelves and place artwork on either side of the fireplace:

Luxe Living in Zionsville · More Info

Thank you for all the advice. I am still looking for an oversized art for above the sofa but I will take my time with that.