Eliminate all the smalls and see how you feel about it. Adjust shelves if possible to put the visually weighty items lower and lighter ones on top. Books can replace the smalls. Try 1/3 books, 1/3 large decor and 1/3 open space. I see 12 photos - that's too many. I like the layering you've done with them but cut it back to 3 on each side of the FP - different sizes, frames and layered as you've done and on two different shelves, not on the same level left and right. Re-photo, comment and use the Attach Images button to add pix. We'll tweak from there.

Great comments. Let me adjust the shelves and move some things, and I'll re-post ASAP.

Regarding the color, how would you bring it in? I like the shelves in white, but the background wall could easily be painted a different color. Not sure if that would really look good, though.

Looks good so far! The black and white is classy and but I think the space is missing a pop of color. Try to to add accessory in the same family of color. Or try to add wallpaper in the back of the built-shelves with a touch of color and pattern.

-- Really nice start in your lovely bookcases. Guess what tho! You need some books in there. Mostly black covers and spines. You can buy boxes of books on line at "books by the yard" and other places too - free shipping.

To keep bookcases from getting cluttered, limit the categories of objects to no more than 3 - and in your case, one of which would be books and second, framed photos and another collection of your choice. Maybe some pottery, baskets, or anything you have a small collection of, etc. mixed in.

Your large b/w photo could be surrounded by groups of books. Lay a book in front of the print - mess it up a little bit. If any of the books have great decorative covers, stand the facing forward. Any beautiful illustrations, open the book to that page and stand on a plate stand to keep it open.

It is harder to fill a bookcase in a beautiful way than people think. Google "styling a bookcase" you will find many more ideas that will help you "get it right"!

I would try having all of the picture frames on your lowest shelves facing directly forward instead of angled like you have them now. Spread them out evenly across the shelf and see how that looks/feels.

The beauty of built-ins is that they're natural frames for anything you put in them. Therefore, if you complement their angles with those of the frames, it should feel more natural.

Too many small photos scattered around.... But a good start. Just simplify a little. Here's a clean but interesting arrangement

-- Note, to fill the space above a shelf, tap in a little tack and hang something on it as shown above.

Paint or wall paper the back wall of the built ins. Pick an accent color that will make the room 'pop'! https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/p480x480/1510807_564322603652687_987235680_n.jpg

I think the reason you don't like it is because it looks like a store display case, not a home. Find some knick-knacks or other items that you've had for a while to intersperse with the items.

The warmth, charm and funk in a home comes from the personal items that represent who we are, not the latest do-dads from the big box store. Look at your parents and grandparents home and notice the personal effects. That's what you want in order to make the room feel like a home. Right now it could belong t anyone as it looks like everything was bought yesterday.

I think you should add some hardware to the cabinet doors, maybe in oil rubbed bronze. Love the idea of painting the back wall something different or just add an accent pieces in various places in a color like red or orange. You will get that pop you want.

I like the idea of adding hardware and painting the back of the cabinet... I'll investigate. For now, here's my first cut on one of the sides. Critique away!

And here is the right side. I plan to mount the back photo to the wall as some had suggested. I feel like it's improved... Thoughts?

A bookcase NEEDS books. A bookcase without books is like a kitchen without a coffeemaker ;-)) Even if you are not an avid reader and do not have many books, arrange of few standing up and and others laying down with here and there a few of your favorite treasures and photos. It will give colour, personality and creativity to the room. Have fun!

i would suggest color and/or pattern. A few years ago I redid some bookshelves and painted them white and wallpapered the backs in blue and green polka dotted wallpaper. Since they are full of books, only hints of the color shows through and I was very pleased.

Agreed, which is why I tossed in a bunch of them. I covered random ones in craft paper to clean up the look but left important and special ones (like an original print of Gone With The Wind) uncovered and on display.

-- So much better - I can tell that you are working on the bookcases using a few new guidelines. The lowest shelves still look hungry and that is because there is still too much wall empty behind the shelf. 1/2 of the wall is still empty there while most of the wall in the other shelves has something shown on it. The shelves should have at least one thing on it that almost reaches the shelf above . . your middle shelf on the left, with the green vase, is well done and you did fill it nicely - side to side and bottom up. You could concentrate on finding more green objects or more vases and use that idea for accents.

Another idea would be to find more words like your "laugh" object - "love", "believe", "imagine" and many more are out there in the marketplace. One that hangs or stands in the background would work too.

So, you have a first edition of "Gone With the End"? That is very impressive but I don't see it . . . so, stand it up - front row, center on the shelf that has the best-fitting height -Feature it! Now, here is where luck comes in - do you have anything that would relate to this saga that you could set by the book? Militaria, horse &/or buggy figurine, antique glasses or binoculars, etc. - anything remotely connected to the plot? This is one way to develop the look/objects put in a bookcase.

Color.

Move the green vase to the first shelf in between the frames. Move the orange piece (it looks like a figure, I think) a little to the left, taking center.

An easy fix would be to put the wall colour on the back of the shelves. The eye will be able to travel across the wall far better this way. Good luck!

What about covering the books in shades and patterns of green? Maybe the odd one in orange also. Craft stores have hundreds of sheets if scrapbook paper in all colors and patterns. That will match the vase and little figure and easily provide color.