Hello! You could do something fun and wallpaper the space above the mantle and built-in shelves. If you don't want to do something quite so bold, you can just paint it a lighter color. You could also add a mirror above the mantle to bounce light and help brighten the space. Your layering of accessories on the mantle is a good start, but try using accessories with reflective surfaces to help it look lighter. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Fantastic ideas! I have been considering a lighter shade in that space! And will look for pretty reflective accessories. Thank you!

HI -- Your mantel is up so high you don't really have to have anything on it ... or you could maybe just have one long low item that is set off from center. Just a pair of big bowls or standing plates , one on each side on top of the bookcases... that's all. Simple and tasteful is the best !

Thank you all. Are there any great sites to do a mock up of wall paper or lighter color on that wall? Thanks!

Lighter pattern drapes.

I love the mantle in this room with that window on it......hope that is what it is. Would you consider taking the candles off and maybe placing them together on the top of the shelf to the left, in the corner? Do you have a try for the ottoman to cozy up that space a bit? I think just little touches will get rid of that cave feeling.

Maybe put the ottoman back with the chair and the dog bed over in the corner by the fireplace if the dog loves this room.

Thank you for all your suggestions. I'm working on it! :) Does anyone recommend a site to do a mock up/virtual picture of this room with lighter walls ? Thanks!!

I'm such a chicken about painting. Are there any sites that really work to see a mock up of this room lighter? TIA!

I think most, if not all, major paint manufacturers have a paint visualizer tool. I find Sherwin-Williams' one easy to use.

I agree that the darkness above the mantel is the problem. You have overhead lights on each side, but no light source in the middle, which is what creates the cave-like effect.
My solution would be to figure out a way to get light into the middle area above the fireplace. If adding another recessed light is out of budget, what about running a rope light behind the decorations you've got up there? It would light up the area and could be hidden behind your leaded glass window.
Agree with idea of glass items on top of the shelving units to refract light.
If rope light doesn't work, you could go with the old chestnut of a picture above the mantel with one of those brass picture lights above it. (Like the old pictures of the English rider on the horse.....(

dont love the pattern on the new drapes but helps to lighten the room.

I am not liking the height of the bookcases compared to the mantel. I would either shorten them by one shelf on each side so mantel is most prominent OR complete each of them to the ceiling by adding a shelf and moulding so they make the room seem taller. Love the window pane over the mantel !

Try taking everything off the mantle except the vase. Put that in the middle to see if it seems to expand the space. I also agree that less is more. When we had our house staged, we were told to only put 2 or 3 items on each of our bookshelves (a stack of books would count as one item). It did look much nicer. Another trick is to paint the walls behind the bookshelves the same color as the walls.

I like the new drapes, blue like couch still. I think they'll grow on you. Did you add sheers? If do pale blue or off white.