I would redo the built ins. Maybe half shelves? Or benches on either side? (Take a look at craftsmen houses for ideas on how they did shelving on either side of a fireplace.)

They’re very nice-looking built-ins, but only you can decide what will make you happiest.

You mentioned you don’t like that they don’t go to the walls - what about seeing if a pro could build them out?

They could but the lower half with the cabinets extends farther into the room than the upper - so there would probably be a weird edge or take up more of the room?

Where is your collection of pottery now? I would start with updating the doors to flat panel or glass of some sort. Clear out the books and your current displayed items. Add things back in judiciously. Add things that have some colour, some interest - your pottery collection? Right now you have a lot of little items displayed and nothing stands out. Google some displays on shelving.

Can one of the shelves be removed on both sides so that you can taller things? As it is now the displays is quite uninspiring. (forgive me if everything displayed is meaningful and if that is the case they deserve better display)

They are nice built ins - i would probably expirament with non permanent solutions first - like painted or wallpapered foamboard cut to size to sit in the back of the shelves. It would break up the wood a bit - you could do somethinge neutral like grasscloth or have fun with a bolder pattern

keep in mind there will likely be floor repair if you remove the shelves

I wish I could do a mock-up … I have an image in my head of just doing shelves on either side that wouldn’t come out as far as the cabinets. But I don’t know if that’s doable or would look good/cohesive.

Wanted to say I like your style! It’s a great-looking room.

Adding a mirror could make a significant difference, overall. And adding paper to the back of the shelves.

These are all rough mock-ups; they are very rough and incomplete. But just to give you the general idea.

I would leave them. You may open up a can of worms, if you start messing. They are attached to the fireplace, and may even be the side piece to the mantle. If you remove them, you may end up having to redo the entire fireplace. Also, you can bet that there is no flooring under them, so you will end up replacing flooring, since you have a very unique hardwood floor in that room. I see nothing wrong with them anyway. If you would like them to go the length of the wall, then find a very good carpenter, that can match the woods, and have pieces built to attach to the ends. All that expense, for something that already looks really nice.

I think your shelves need some styling to show off your pottery. Start looking at images of how to style a bookcase. I feel this will make you love them again as they are great. Wallpaper in the back may help as well.

Is there a lot of stuff in the closed cabinets that you need to keep, and/or need to keep in that space? Are the shelves adjustable, because they look cramped now.

Personally I like the idea of changing the back in a non-permanent way (as la_la_girl suggests), the green in freedomplace's third mock up is very nice. Choose a color that would complement your pottery collection to display.

I think you need a bigger rug so the two black chairs would be on the rug. Move the table behind the two chairs and use as a coffee table in front of the sofa. Add some floor lamps or tables and lamps. As you room is now the only tall thing is the bookcase and it looks lonely.

Lots of good ideas here already.

Your room will look more attractive if you can draw the eye to the part that you like best - the fireplace. So I wouldn't add a mirror above the fireplace, because it will just reflect what is across from it - probably not a beautiful view. Think about adding a painting that brings together the existing colour scheme (warm gold and bronze) and adds a medium-dark mossy green to your room. The green will complement your warm wood tones and the colourful afghans. @freedomplace1 I took the liberty of using your suggestion in my mock-up.

Set the new colour scheme with a larger greeen rug. Repeat the green in a textured backing to the cabinet - grasscloth, burlap (you can paint it) etc. (Youtube and Pinterest are full of instructional tutorials.)

Remove small items from the mantle and the shelves, and remove the candelabra and large glass vase with corks on the floor.

The books, sadly, are very colourful and draw the eye. From a decorating standpoint, they would be better elsewhere. Perhaps on a low bookshelf between the windows, and your pottery can move from the low black table to the more-visible shelves. The pottery is so much more attractive than the books and deserves a better spot. When the time comes, there are several people on this board who have a great eye for styling shelves - show them what you have and they will make it look great. I see that your shelves are adjustable, which is great because you can add some larger pieces. If your pottery pieces are a little small to fill the space, you can put some of them on square box pedestals they way they do in the art galleries.

You might even consider repainting your walls - Revere Pewter has green undertones and might look great there.

You have very nice things, and I think that with a little tweaking the room could be a standout

.

I love partim’s idea. Breaking up the mass of wood with a backing that is a different color but not white. Looks richer and the green is a good example because it works well with that wood tone.
I agree no mirror- the light- improving qualities are overrated, and it isn’t as much a focal point as a great painting.
In addition to your pottery you can still use some lighter toned accessories as in the photo examples of decorating dark shelves, but I’d go with the softer buff colors, ivory rather than start white, and items with some size. I have used wooden boxes, pandam boxes, wicker, other pottery, and yes a stack of some lighter colored books— my own books!

The thing in the example mock-up is the repetition of color, yet not super- high contrast, so the eye isn’t jumping about but taking it in as cohesive.

https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/why-you-should-hang-mirrors-over-your-fireplaces-feng-shui

Also, in the view of art preservation circles - hanging paper/canvas art over a heat generating fireplace can potentially be problematic. https://www.fireplacedoorsonline.com/hanging-art-work-above-a-fireplace.html

https://www.fireplacedoorsonline.com/hanging-art-work-above-a-fireplace.html

I would try a mirror to the left of the shelves, so that light from the window can be reflected back into the room. This was a tip from my decorator - look for where the outdoor light is shining on a wall, then place the mirror there.

Can you post a picture looking straight at the fireplace from the opposite side of the room so the fireplace is centered in the picture. It's a lot easier to create mockups from that vantage point. If you can get the whole fireplace wall in the picture that would be great.

If you can take more pictures, I'd be curious to know what is opposite the fireplace - is the sofa against a wall or is this space open to another room?

Is your existing art work over the fireplace damaged from heat or soot? If it is OK, then I'd feel comfortable replacing it with a different piece of art.

Is your existing art work over the fireplace damaged from heat or soot? If it is OK, then I'd feel comfortable replacing it with a different piece of art.

Sabrina’s suggestion is also a great alternative. If you want the shelving cabs to draw less attention while benefitting from their use, paint them in a color like the wall or a hue that camouflages them so they function as more of a ”supporting role” for your decor and draw less attention than what you wish to highlight such as your fireplace or collections that you have on display. Color and or pattern have great influence over what gets noticed vs what is not.

IMO since you actually have things thta would be nice to display I would lower the units and widen them with thicker and fewer shelves and display only the pottery So the shelves only to the height of the mantel then the walls can be painted anything you like and let the pottery drive the wall color. Then the shelving can go wall to wall and still not be so opressive.

I would experiment with better display ideas first. You have all the books on the bottoms. Read up on how to display stuff on shelves and play around with that first. Also, put a new mirror over the fireplace as others suggest. And this space is screaming for a chandelier where the bare wires stick out. It can be a contemporary one if you prefer to traditional. Nice furniture arrangement! Wood is beautiful and rich. I personally prefer a little color in all rooms, but you seem to like neutrals. If you ever want some color, your beautiful wood would harmonizes well with a wide range.

My first thought was you need better art over the mantle. Absolutely NO to a mirror, as mentioned the reflection will compound the issues. Since it bothers you most that the builtins aren't wide enough for the wall is there something you could do in those spaces that would make you happier over all? Maybe after you redress the shelves taking the suggestions already here you could get help addressing what bugs you most--the empty spaces. Wouldn't be fabulous if they weren't built in and you could just move them right and left a bit so the fireplace would have more breathing room..but this is what you have and their beautiful and it would be a great loss to tear them out.

Thanks everyone for all the thoughtful ideas! Yes they are very well made builtins and worth saving so I am going to give this another go. Backing with color, rearranging, lighting, artwork+maybe a mirror in the brighter part of the room etc. to begin shifting the energy around. Once again I appreciate all the input!

@chitoor, One more thing to consider in addition to working with artwork and colored backing. Accentuate the actual fireplace by adding some well apportioned fireplace accessories. This, along with a complimentary piece of artwork, will transform the fireplace into the focal point it is meant to be.

Solid brass fireplace screen with matching andirons and fireplace tools in an Antique finish.

You don't have to paint the backing. Get foamcore and cut to side. Either paint or cover with a peal-and-stick wallpaper. I will greatly reduce the wood look, but leave the cabinets in tact.

How anoit refinishing the bookshelves? We just had an oak cabinet put in that came out the 90’s yellow (was supposed to be white oak). We had them redo it and I went into the woodworkers shop and he sanded one of the yellowed oak shelves, put a whitewash over it and sealed it with a water based urethane (oil turns yellow). It is more modern and I am excited to see the finished product. Maybe… put stone to the back of the fireplace floor to ceiling and then sand your cabinets and refinish to an updated look, add some fun (or a pattern you like) wallpaper to the backside of the shelves and put decorative items on it.