I think if you added similar items together it would look better. Group all books, instead of a few on each shelf. Make each section a collection of items so it looks more curated. ;)

Lol, k know what you mean Andrea. I got a flood in my house so inside is everything new. I just want to finish it, so I am always looking

@mforr I don't have recessed lights. I just have three on top of the three bookshves on top. They are kind of weird but they were in the space before the bookshelf.

HI -- Adriana -- Don't frustrate yourself over this -- this bookcase should be an ever changing display . You also don't have to display everything you have all at once . Don't decorate the shelves and then it never moves or changes again after . Keep it interesting -- with some guidance from Houzz under a search for displaying bookshelves . You can also hang things like a big painting on the out side of the shelves not just inside . Some shelves could also be glass ! Also if you don't have inside lighting which really only works with glass shelves ,you can get some library bookshelf lights that install above -- Ikea has that kind of lighting for a good price .

@lefty47. You are so right. I guess it will always be changing. Some of the things are from Mexico, my home country, probably the reason why they are so colorful

You could put large, matching baskets along the bottom row (or two) of shelves. Try to find some that are almost as big as the opening. They could be used for storage, add texture and simplify the bottom shelf. Beyond that, a single, larger item on some of the shelves would help. As others have said, group and layer your stuff. It's all about showcasing the things you love. You have done a great job already.

This is why I didn't painted the back of it from the start. My kitchen and bar area are white. So I wanted To keep the flow.

@ Debbie. I thought about the same. My three month old son will start crawling soon and some baskets that he can access will work great. I can store his toys there

@debbie what color would you suggest?

HI - Adriana -- I love some of your pieces -- the three platters/plates , the green and the white and the tall blue vases and the mask on the wall -- beautiful !

Going back to the baby swing - as your child gets older, you are going to need baskets for toys on those bottom shelves - might as well get them now. Put some of your children's books on the shelves - maybe even favorite toys - they are usually really great colors. You said its next to family room - it should reflect your family!

@ Janet woods. True that's what I have been thinking lately. He for sure is going to get those bottom shelves so making it safe and playful would work. Thank you

@lefty47 thanks I got the mask from Venice, mom went there a few years ago and I finally decided to hung it

I think the shelves look nice but I'd remove a few things and tweak a bit. Here are a few of my thoughts.
I'd use the yellow vase in front of the dark vase that's on the shelf above it - the two would make a nice pair on one of the shelves.
The shelf with all the white books - take the left third of those books and stack them horizontally against the vertical books.
Use the very small vase in the top middle as a pair with the white vase on the right side.
Use the large framed picture on the same shelf as some of the smaller framed pictures.

@ann ill try that and see how it looks thanks for helping

I don't really see much color in your home, so painting the backs of the shelves could add it if you want to break the neutral scheme you have going. Grass cloth or other textured wallpaper could do the same thing. The additional bookshelf seems a bit like overkill to me and must somehow be unified with the other built-in so it appears to be a cohesive unit. You'll want to mix books and decor in both self systems or you'll get out of balance. Lower shelves would be a good place for baskets where you could store DVD's and paperbacks, rather than have them in the shelves. Since you built a bookshelf, you probably do have lots of hardcover books to use. I think the issue with your arrangement is lack of cohesiveness and too many diverse items - no thought of a collection, or any similarity of color, except for the coordinated stacks of books. Also, everything is facing us head on, so the arrangements are flat with no visual depth or layering. Push some taller, larger items to the back and set smaller ones in front of them. Lift some smaller items on books as you have done, but within a larger visual assemblage of items. Keep groupings of items in threes or fives, especially if smaller items, and lift some of them. Larger items like the large plate may stand alone. Layer different sizes pictures rather than lining them up like soldiers. Bring standing rows of books closer to the front edge of the shelf. Give this a try and take "after" pix. I think you'll see a difference.

Ill try that as well. There is no collections true and no predominant color. Ill arrange them by collection and look around for some baskets. If it still doesn't look right, ill paint the back

Keep posting pictures. This is a fun discussion.

More books please...

more books and juxtapositions need help!

There's no flow or continuity. Its just stuff. Some of the stuff looks cheap. This could be so much more.

Overcrowded? We should start up a collection and buy this poor person some BOOKS!

I don't think that its over crowded you could rearrange the things and spread them out ,I like books and if you do too then add books to it to serve its purpose ,after all a book case is a bookcase ,,here are some tips .
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/get-more-bang-from-your-bookcase-stsetivw-vs~1428440

It's not that it's "stuffed", it's that everything on your shelves right now is the same. Same size, same type stuff. You need to vary it with a couple of large things that really fill the space, and then different types of things like a plant or two and books, etc. (And the plants can't be the same size as what you've got, get a couple of really big ones that look real and spill over a bit.)

What is your overall vision for the whole area? I understand the need for the space for the baby swing, but that won't be forever. When I saw your full length picture (from the kitchen), the area screamed reading nook to me since it is adjacent to both the kitchen and family room, it will be a great place for company to sit while you are cooking in the kitchen or to be "in" the family room but not "in" the family room, KWIM?

I do agree... more books... just because it seems such a waste to have shelving for that purpose and use it only for decor pieces.

Here is a visual of baskets and a darker color on back of shelves.
http://houzz.com/photos/247791

I would prefer doors on the lower portion of bookcases and with doors or baskets the lower shelves are great for storing kid's toys and books.

http://houzz.com/photos/108447
Display idea

Fill a couple shelves completely with books and use the rest for decor items.

When I moved into my 1960s ranch-style house, I had SO many bookshelves that I was worried about it looking too busy. I found that when I grouped things a very linear manner - equal size and equal color - the space didn't seem as cluttered. I definitely used books (of the same color usually) and also used a few very large items (kids artwork framed) to keep it from looking cluttered. On some shelves I literally put all white vases to help fill the space but not overwhelm the eye. I still need to do some work, but I am happy with how mine are coming along. Your shelves are awesome! Have fun!

I think natural colored baskets would be perfect. They would add a natural quality and texture to the shelves. Whatever you chose, make sure they are all the same.

Definitely getting a lot of ideas here. Thank you guys. I need more books

You have gotten some good examples here. I am a firm believer that book shelves should be mainly for books. Place some standing up, others stacked. Add in your pretties. Always think about balance and remove your book jackets. There are plenty of pictures under contemporary shelving to help you.

I would paint the back of the shelves a darker colour and your shelves look too knick knacky. .You need to do each shelf and arrange with photos, books on their side, books standing up,thing you love and each shelf should have either 3 items or 5 item but make sure its a odd number and just keep arranging until you are happy with them but your room is lovely. . .

Also don't angle the photos. It adds to the clutter. I would keep them straight. Maybe hang artwork from the back of the larger shelves. Simple rearranging would work great. And in my photo above, notice I also removed all book jackets. It's a much cleaner look.

True. Ill hang up some artwork too

Check in your home town for the next library book sale. They are a fantastic opportunity to get cool looking books of all sizes and mixing old & new books is a good thing! Consider ways to make the new shelves on the right look more cohesive. Maybe adding some trim to frame out the entire shelf space. Then maybe painting the vertical "wall" white or making the other verticals wide to match. Hope that make sense.

location, color, shape, makes all the difference in everything in you home.

Get some fun (good quality) wrapping paper and back a few of the shelves with it. Double stick tape works wonders and its something fun and easy for color and quick to change up often.

Ok, now my two cents. I think you need to maybe remove one or more of the shelves. Keep the lines, similar going across (horizontally), This will allow you to place larger pieces of interest in the taller areas- the place where you took the shelf out. Then organize! Remember than your eye will follow similar colors around, so place your books and things by color. Don't forget a shiny thing or two. What you want your eye to do is to move from section to section, in a natural sort of flow. From one interesting thing to another. Don't make the mistake of just "sticking it in here somewhere". If it doesn't "flow" don't make it go. You can do the wall paper backing on some if that's your thing. I like them white. Puts the emphasis on your items, they just need to mean something- not just a
junk collecting space.

I would add trim to the front of the tripart and the edges of the shelves so that all of the shelves read as one space. Add more books and group like objects together by shape or color or theme. I would actually add shelves to maximize storage. Here is an example of what I did to make a bookcase and a bump out read as a single intentional space.

Nice space - but it looks a little flat to me. Try layering some of the items, plate in back, vase in front, books off to the side. etc. Also, have you considered adding some color to the back? Even decorative paper for a temporary fix. Add some pop lights. Balance is the key.

I too have book cases similar to this. Arrange in groupings by colors, add more hard back books. I love family photos but I create photo books for each year. This is a clean, clutter free way to still show off family. The shelves on the right totally make them look unbalanced. If it was me I would actually have a custom door made for that particular shelf. Then you could take photos of your family, have them made into large square canvas prints and hang them on the door. This would keep balance.

Among the other recommendations, I'd create more depth to the displays by having smaller objects sitting in front of some of the larger objects and vice versa (a framed print behind the first bowl, a collection of trinkets in front of the plate displays, for example).

Hi Adriana. Here are a few images from when I was trying to rearrange my own bookshelves I really like the one with similar types of pottery stacked on horizontal books. Enjoy and Have fun with it!

My wife adds —
I am a big fan of doors on shelves. I plan to add similar shelves in our living room. However, adding doors to a few of the spaces will allow for hiding the items that give the area a look of clutter. Either lining the doors together or adding them in a pattern, will help improve design while minimizing the risk of visual overload.

You have been given lots of helpful solutions here. The one thing I did notice is an electrical cord coming from the end cabinet and this is a big hazard with a baby around, but I'm sure you realise that and it's only a temporary problem. Do look on Houzz or Pinterest for ideas on shelf styling as there are many articles and blogs regarding this common dilemma.

Find one theme that color coordinates with the room and stick to it. A mish mash of items will always be a mish mash!!!

HI - Adriana - Just checking in on you and your project -- how is it going ? Did you have time to work on your shelves over the weekend ?

Hi, you need more books and put decorative accents in just two o tree color, that they match! For example green and blue or grey and yellow and the couple of color add one exciting bright color for one fresh touch! This is my opinion you have a amazing space !!

Also add some little green plants pots!

I worked for a woman who owned a gift shop with a long wall of floor to ceiling white built in shelves.

She taught me a lot about display.

Something that makes an interesting display is layering. The things you put together don't have to match, but have pattern, color, texture, etc. and not symetrical, but I see you are already doing that.

One thing I see is that most of what is in your cabinets are about the same height. What I learned was to take a picture stand, a ledge or square, meant for display, and put a picture on a stand in the back of the shelf, and layer forward according to size texture, etc. The rule is usually to use an odd number of items, and not make the vignette too heavy (too much wood, or heavy solid items) or too light ) too much glass, etc. Don't worry about all of the picture being visible, but use a landscape, etc, and not photos of people, of course.

For example, I would take the large round basket, put it on the top middle shelf, with the two small plates. Maybe one or two LITTLE items in front. Often a little tiny piece of "sparkle" adds the right touch.

Below that, I would gather several of the siver framed photos, and maybe a plant behind. The smaller photos are too small to be on the bottom shelf. Photos should always be at eye level. Then maybe to the right, the pink books laying on their side, with the small turquoise vase on top, the other turqoise bookend standing to the right.

Maybe below that, take the yellow and blue books, and the yellow vase, Then the large pottery grey vase, and the black, and silver box? I would put the less interesting books on the bottom shelves for now, and maybe shope around your house for some larger pieces that may work. Maybe a larger plant or two.

You've got the eye, it's just takes learning some of the mechanics and tricks. I really learned a lot working at that store. It took a while before the owner would let me do a display! :)