Should I beef up the mantle?

I would paint the entire wall, bookshelves, mantle/surround, etc. the same color as the rest of the trim in the house.

Since you have one shelving unit on the left of the fireplace and two on the right, it seems to me it would look better if both shelving units matched. That means making the unit on the right narrower with some wall showing to the corner, I think ship lap on the fireplace upper wall would be fine but why not just paint the fireplace upper wall a darker shade of your wall color?

Lighting the shelves will help bring them forward visually.

Sudbury · More Info

Maybe go for drama with an entirely dark wall

Traditional Living Room · More Info

Thank you for your suggestions. I was thinking of putting dark grass cloth wallpaper behind the shelves. The difference in sizes does not bother me as much as the blah mantle wall and I know I’m not going to take out one section. Those two cabinets on the right side host my grands toys and that corner is their play area. I like the idea of painting everything the color of the trim. I wish I could step out of my comfort zone and do something spectacular like the picture with the black wall but I’m not that brave.

I agree with painting the shelves, wall behind shelves, and fireplace the same color as your trim. I like a few hanging plants (Philodendron) to help soften the edges of the shelving. A simple white background/ light blue print wallpaper that matches the paint color could be more interesting behind the shelves rather than a solid color if you wanted.

Step 1: Paint the mantel and all the shelves to match your crown molding. Then get back to us.

Thank you again and great suggestions. I'll start painting this weekend and hope to send an update before too long. Here are a few colors of the wallpaper that I've been looking at

. One of the Pro's on Houzz has the darker color behind her shelves in her LR and I love that look.

I was going to say that I don't have a green thumb but I'm trying. I have added two, yes two, plants. There is a ponytail fern on the right side by the lantern. I'm hoping it will live and add some softness. do you have any suggestions for plant types?

Ship lap. No.................

The problem is almost never what you think it is...............

Line up the shelving/both sides match.

De clutter and re style

Add BOOKS. That is what they were meant to hold. About 50% of the shelving space

Re paint to ..........? Maybe wall color and just change sheen to satin or semi. That will make the FIRE the feature. Or a clean white as trim.

Seems you are after a coastal feel. Forget that until you can live without dark brown leather.

Change the brown chair fabric. Brown and coastal aren't the best of friends

Fan........it isn't a feature, White will disappear, as fans should ......disappear. They are there to move air. Not to light the room either, really.

Rug could be larger, and a bit more colorful.......or add a texture in a sisal.....LARGER by a bit.

In a perfect world? Lose the leather loveseat for two nice swivel chairs. In a fabric and in a color .

The built ins.........just aren't the BIG issue. " Brownout" is the issue....with a bit of clutter as well :)

And you need a coffee table.

All those above, are a better $pend, than ship lap. Book shelf addressed in the pic below...Re style after adjusting

Coastal is a feel...........the words are LIGHT and fresh......."summery".

Jan thank you for all that. I know where you are coming from with the brown leather couch. I would love to get rid of it and I'm not making excuses but I have two dogs and a cat. I have two other couches that are fabric and love them but those rooms are not open to the animals and don't laugh but the ugly gold/burgundy chair is my Yorkie's chair. I hate it! So yes, I'm letting my animals control my furniture. It's definitely not out of the table. As for the fan, we must have a fan. I live on the coast and the humidity is horrible. Now that you pointed it out, I will cringe every time I look up. Also, the items on the mantle were from my Easter decorations. Oh and yes definitely a coffee table. I didn't want to close off the grands playing area. It's time now. :-) Normally there are two pieces up there. I will work on painting the shelving area and post pictures.

Thank you and I really appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Brown leather with a touch of coastal.

Hey you....I think the fireplace and bookcases need to be white...than add grasscloth in darker color to the backs of them....clear out all accessories and purge things that just are not a special to you....Where are you wanting ship lap?

Hey Julie, Im wanting something to make the wall look complete. Not to dressy but not rustic. I was thinking of running the boards to the ceiling and add the wood to the walls above the shelves. Does that make sense. You have a great eye can you see my imvision?

I don’t think you need that ....I think once you paint the bookcases and fireplace and add your grasscloth it will look gorgeous...I can help you fill and style the bookcases..the dark backdrop on the bookcases will help balance out the room with your leather sofas and add a cozy element.

If upper trim and case nearby are same color, that little bit of wall paint can't matter much....?

Everdebz I’m not sure what you mean. Are you saying there is no hope?

Thank you Julie.

I was told I have to get special paint for the existing cabinets and then have the doors painted. So todays job is clear the cluttered shelves, I wish chair too, and get paint. Once I start there is no turning back!

I never understand the brain surgery on simole things.

Take all the built in stuff out/store it aside from the paint project

Get satin finish white to match your other trim. You can paint this on site, it isn't taking any abuse on a daily basis.

Paint the units

Put the shelve back, and LINE UP horizontally

EDIT THE DOO DADS TO WHAT FITS.

Now...... find some fabric, get the dog chair recovered........and first consider can you splurge on a new rug . as that will dictate your chair fabric, re covered or new

A white fan is easy.

Do all that first, and I guarantee you a fresher feeling room. A tv above a fire needs NOTHING on the mantel. ....: )

Jan....RJO3 just posted she is doing exactly that...you need to take a chill pill

Curtains are down, chair has been moved to the garage and everything has been wiped down. I added a little white paint to get an idea and it’s going to look so much better. My yorkie is going to be pissed at me when he realizes that chair is no longer. Thanks for pushing me to do something I’ve been wanting to do.

Fantastic! You go girl🤗

Should I wait to get the actual shelves painted before I order the wallpaper?

One last hoopla!

No, not at all. I meant that if shelving is painted same color as the trim right above it, there'd be only a strip of another color....

Matters not a "strip of color " If you don't want that? Paint them the WALL color.....SATIN FINISH.

they already look better. emptied!

Go ahead and order the wallpaper..it is very pretty......I just painted the backs of mine..easy cheap and can be changed out anytime with another coat of paint!

Your baby loves that chair..time to order a cute bed on Etsy.com for your sweet fur baby...so many cute fabrics to pick from!

Looks like it was designed to have the TV on the right side. A TV with 2 feet (one on either end) can straddle the middle divider and the TV can sit in front of the shelves. This would give purpose to the off balanced shelves and make the fireplace a focal point.

I didn't like the trim color, with grey and oyster either... it'll look good with less colors!

The sad thing is my kitchen cabinets were painted the same color as my entertainment center. Oh Lord, I know my next project.

What do you think of hanging a large picture in one of the shelf bays. Maybe where I have it placed or on the far end and then have the shelves on either side of the t.v.

You are being brave and moving in the right direction! Is it out of budget to have someone make matching doors to close off the farthest right bank of shelves? Then the two sets of shelves on either side of the fireplace will look symmetrical and can be treated as such. I love the idea of the wallpaper and painting everything on that wall the same color as your trim to blend it all together.

Eye on the prize...paint first....than accessorizing....I think matching art one on each side of TV would give balance and would be very pretty...than only far right shelves with Accessories...something to think about.

We got rid of a large leather chair that our dog and two cats loved and put in a smaller one which they all promptly took over, so if replacing look for pet friendly material as I think it's the location of the chair that is key rather than the actual piece of furniture!

You could always move your puppy chair back in but get a loose white slip cover that can be washed regularly..the light upholstery would be nice...

Oh my gosh look at that sweet kitty!
Wow just the primer and it looks so much better! So exciting🤗 yes you can just buy black or dark charcoal paint...was very easy..I bought one of the sponge edge painting squares..they roll along the edge to give a very nice clean line of paint.

What about placing the television to the right of fireplace in the bookcase area. Take out the center board. It could be on a pivot angle. Above the fireplace is too high.

Good morning! A few people have suggested the tv on the right side, so when I take it down to paint the main wall I will take a pic of the tv over there. Personally, we are okay with the location of the but if it will help balance the room I will give it a try. The cost to move the will be more than closing one section off. Electricity and cable would to be moved as well as the wall in the unit. Like I said, I am asking for help and appreciate everyone’s feed back.

Can any one do a mock up with a door glass/wood at the end? Is there an app I can tackle?

Oh one more thing. If I move the chair back in, I feel it will stay another 8 years. 😞. Can someone point me in the direction of decent, price and quality, chair covers.

Good morning
Moving the TV to the right will not make any difference on balance and will not be the best for viewing with furniture layout....not worth the cost and effort..
Surefit slipcovers are worth a look.

You could close up the far right with cabinet doors...that is a great way to help with the balance...you can order doors that match what you have unfinished and paint them to match.

Like this..

But it sure will look better moving the tv!

Because of furniture placement it really would not be a comfortable viewing at that angle..on loveseat the back of your head is looking at tv.....and if changing furniture placement you would cut off traffic flow into the room...if only sofa and a chair it could be a ok set up...
RJO3 would removing the love seat and only having a sofa and chair work for your family?

I have seen that many people - when they put it to the side - have the tv on a holder that comes out a bit and angles.