Could you post a picture of the whole space . BTW this is the reason I never like a bunch of shelves in a LR They collect a bunch of stuff that really does not need to be displayed and if yours were mine I would remove the shelves and hang one nise piece of art in their place. Our dog had a toy box and I ma now trying to teach him to return the toys to the box at the ned of the day( not much luck so far). Use the cabinet for a few favorite pictures and please no more fake greenery.

more pics of the room will help. what is on the left side of the fireplace?

You’ve already gotten advice from a pro, but i’ll go ahead and share my initial thoughts. If you like having shelving there, I would reduce them down to maybe three instead of five. Then just put a few larger pieces that, when reflected in the mirror, would make you happy instead of overwhelmed with “stuff.” Painting it all to match the walls would give you a uniform look.

Here is the rest of the room. I don't necessarily like the faux greenery but I thought I needed something to fill in the blank spaces. I hate dusting the thing and want minimalize as much as possible and make it look nice. Painting it was a thought but I had though of a darker color. My cats like to get in the cabinet and hide. They have learned how to open the doors...lol.

is it just another long window on the left of the fireplace? can you take a pic or two of the room standing in the front door entry area? it just helps getting a broad view of the room. thanks.

Are the shelves removable? If so, definitely less shelves. If you are afraid to remove the mirrors, I wonder if you can wallpaper over them? I've never heard of that, buy it might be something to look into. Then you could do a grass cloth or subtle pattern or texture paper. After that, then way less stuff in them. It looks bare at first, but once you get used to less stuff, especially if you have some beautiful grass cloth paper, it will look so much better. Painting it a darker color would be a nice accent. Just some ideas for you!

Here is the fireplace too. It needs much needed help as well if you have some ideas to throw out there. My dog had to get into the picture as well, so I need to decorate her too ...lol. Along with three cats. Love my babies!

I checked the shelves and they aren't removable. There are cut out into the side that hold the shelves in place along with a screw, so it wouldn't look right to have these cut outs throughout I don't think.

Is reworking these shelves something you plan on tackling yourselves? Are you handy at DIY projects? There are ways to make it work if so.

I am handy but I don't know about the reworking of shelves unless I would replace the sides. My hubby has MS and disabled, so he can't do too much in the way of helping.

Are the shelves permanently spaced or are they adjustable? If adjustable, four shelves would be better than five: fewer shelves and fewer items displayed. Artificial plants are dust-magnets so they need to be swished in soapy water every few weeks, and wiped dry.
All the small decorative items and even the books need to be dusted occasionally. If you reduce the number of things in the shelves, on the mantel, in the windows, on the hearth, on the floor, and on the table, you will cut your dusting chore significantly. Donate things you don’t want or need, keep the things which are important to you. Keep one or two candles in case of a power failure and get rid of the rest. Hang a piece of art (or two) over the mantel. Remove the plastic furniture protectors and rug runners. If you have a cat, have her/his claws trimmed regularly. Give Doggy a nice big bed to relax in. The mirrors in the bookcase help reflect light if light can reach them. I, too, would hesitate about removing the mirrors...globs of glue would mean more work trying to get them off.

thanks for the additional pics. another idea is to paint the bookcase white. I say that because the room is very dark with the furniture, carpet, walls and fireplace. and the ceilings arent very high so the room looks heavy feeling. I would also paint the fireplace white so that the overall look of the room lightens up. not sure if you are open to that, but IMO the room needs to be lightened up..

Indoor Fireplaces · More Info

2018 Fall Parade of Homes · More Info

Well if you are handy with power tools, you can cut 1/8 " wood veneer sheets to line the sides of the shelves to cover the grooves left by removing some shelves. Then apply trim pieces on the edges of the sides to finish it off. This, of course, only works if you are planning on painting it. Otherwise, you will have to work with all the shelves by just being very select about the things you put on the shelves. Some shelves have just one large thing centered and others have just a few larger things. If you search for ideas on arranging book shelves you will get a feel for this look. I do think getting rid of the mirrors is important. They just double everything on the shelves and look kind of dated.

You could paint them the same grey as rug or your wall and paint or grasscloth over mirror and update handles. It would be great if you could remove the top and 3rd shelves. Accessorize minimally and there is lots of inspiration on line - And leave open spaces.

I think what is being overlooked here is that your brick covers the whole wall including around the windows. So except for the firebox, it really becomes visually more of a brick wall than a fireplace. If you are looking to address the fireplace, too, I'd focus on that first as that is the focus in the room and then move on to how to incorporate the bookcase. An idea might be to leave the brick below the mantle and then the rest of the brick is drywalled or keep the "fireplace" and drywall over the brick that goes around the windows.

Get some cardboard that is the size of the mirror spaces. Cut it to exactly fit into the back of the shelf space to cover the mirror. Cover the cardboard with wallpaper or fabric, or just paint it.

You could still keep your hearth under the windows.

fireplacewith windows on sides - Google Search · More Info

fireplace hearth - Google Search · More Info

OP, I think you first need to do a de clutter and clean, and take an overall assessment of the rooms. Is this space one room or two adjoining rooms? The coffee table appears to be used as a room divider? I am not sure I understand the space. I also see lots of plastic - on the furniture and the floor. What purpose is the plastic serving? Are having issues with animal hair? I have an Aussie, and a small farm, so I get it. The dog goes to the groomers once a month for a major bath and brush. He also goes into the mud room if he gets wet, or has really wet feet. I have a stack of old towels that I use to dry him and his feet, so he doesn’t spend too much time in there, and doesn’t bring a big mess into the house.

I love the way those windows break up the brick and let lots of light into the room. However, I am not a fan of the glass shelves, and think removing them will help simplify and improve that space. I also think you need to remove about half the items on the bookshelves. That will go a long way towards lightening the look. Then get some more pics of the space, and post them here, and these good folks can make some suggestions before you spend a lot (or a little) of money and time doing something that may or may not help.

I really appreciate all the great ideas! I wish the shelves were removable but they aren't but I do like the veneer idea. I had thought about purchasing molding to amp it up some and cover where it's placed together at, so that might hide the cut out places from the shelves. Not sure though. The furniture protectors are just that. No matter how many times I take the cats to the vet and get their nails done and kitty caps on them they manage to dig on the furniture. I hate it but I love my babies. All of our furniture is new and now we have to cover it. I love the idea about the peel and stick wallpaper over the mirrors or using cardboard and putting it over that. I have debated about doing something with the fireplace/brick but I really don't want to paint it. I am looking for and economical way of change things because things are so trying right now with the economy. I am so thankful that I am still working. The room isn't dark at all. It's the lighting from the camera. I hope that helps some. We have a family room that we spend most of our time in and we just ordered customer made curtains for it this week. Thank you for the picture of the bookshelves as well. I like that idea very much as well.

The carpet runners are an attempt to keep it cleaner because of accidents. If I catch them getting ready to throw up I can pick them up and put them on the plastic. I love the fireplace idea as well. Very pretty! This is one room. The previous owner remodeled it. The beam is there because where my couch is was a porch and he knocked it out and opened up the living room. If not it would be really small.

I agree about fabric-covered cardboard to cover the mirrors. I'd box off the very top shelf at it's front, and paint the new wood and all the rest of that wood either to match the paint you already have, or a color drawn from the brick. Another option would be to install doors to cover all the upper shelves, leaving just the bottom one open. It will look brighter and less cluttered. You get to keep your Stuff, and nobody will know whether it's dusted or not!

With the fireplace, just lowering the mantel/shelf would go a long way, and would make space for a nice big piece of art you love ...

Boy I'd really like to see a picture that Illustrated the room instead of bits and pieces.

IMO the bookcase is one of the good features of the room. Mirrors aside, you have too much stuff in the bookcase if you are attempting to display objects on the shelves.

I believe the layout of your furnishings could be improved upon and I'd like to know if the brick of your fireplace is carried through elsewhere inside or outside of your home.

The outside of our home is brick but it's a slightly different color. As for the furniture arrangement there isn't anywhere to move it to. On the far right side of the room is a staircase and there isn't enough room for the couch. I have gotten frustrated many times trying to change things.

If you spend most of your time in the family room, then how and when do you use this room? Or how would you want to use it? That's really the key to arranging the furniture in a good way. Can you take a picture of each wall, including the staircase wall? Can you tell us the size of the room?

As it is now, the sofa and chair are isolated from each other, and neither of them relates well to the fireplace as a focal point. I think we could help you do better if we had more info.

If you want to cover the mirrors on bookcase; cut to fit with contact paper or wallpaper.

Couch face fp , chairs facing tv? Chairs in front of beam.

I would move your couch to face the fireplace and move chairs and a table into that alcove making it a reading room or a place for games or puzzles. fill the bookcase with books and games. Don't try removing the mirrors. I would find a wallpaper or contact paper to cover them as suggested.

The couch won't work in front of the fireplace as it blocks the entrance into the dining room. I have already tried that.

In my opinion your seating is too far away from the fireplace now. If you already have a chair or chairs (I can't tell with these pictures) in that location how would placing a couch there be any different? Move everything close to the fireplace so you can walk behind it. I guess more pictures or a drawing of the room layout with doors windows and measurements would help

you sound like a modern type of family? girl, it's time to move away from the 60's and grandmas house.

It's not some special brick, or antique house, or 150 year old wood. There is nothing special about preserving any of it! You've gotten frustrated because there is nothing that's going to make a diff until it's all painted. then you can decide on a new sofa if you like.

Lighten everything up and paint that brick. paint the shelving. paint it all! lol. (grab a new fan too)

imagine this with yours (with the window on the other side and everything, trim, window, brick bookcase) painted a nice bright white. Your room will look brand new.

only one I could find w/two windows on either side.

love the bench idea under the window (even with your brick)

you can use the brick supports for a larger wood mantle

Romabio

get an album for the pictures, an only leave 1 or 2 out. declutter and put up interesting items.

Lots of great ideas here. I am in the same place... just took elverything off my shelves and am loving how clean and spacious it is. Can you take it all down and temporarily box up what you LOVE, and donate /toss what you don’t. Cover the mirrors Behind the shelves, remove the shelves on the windows... live with that for a minute before you decide if you need to paint it all.

In the mean time take those pictures in, resize smaller and convert to black and white and reframe...I adore family pics, but those are too large for that space.

What's to left of fp & chair?

Paint the bookshelf a fresh, light color and remove all of the things you currently have. Right now the shelves are very cluttered. Each shelf should be styled with interesting accessories. The mirror behind is actually a nice feature and will look a lot better once it is painted.

Jumping off of Mary's idea, you could add wide molding to cover the top shelf and add lighting.

Have you tried pulling the sofa and coffee table forward? Then you could "hide" the dog toys behind the sofa. You most likely would have to move the side table elsewhere in order to get to the bookshelves. If you feel there is room, you could add a slim console table behind the sofa for a lamp and plants or whatever you like.

Looks like a good quality bookcase, get some good primer / stain blocker and paint it white. Replace door handles , edit content and it will be absolutely amazing, don’t worry about the mirrors they will look better with light colour.

8

If it were my house, I'd get rid of the shelves altogether and just keep the closed cabinets below. You may need a pro with a saws-all to remove it easily.

If it's too much of a pain to remove all the mirrors and fix the holes from the shelf, just have it drywalled over with thin drywall. Then paint your new wall space and hang a nice picture. Done. No dusting needed ever again.

Agree, mirror brings light & expands the space. Fewer things on shelf & lighten the wood on the shelves.