What do you have on your shelves/ mantelpieces/ windowsills?

[parrotonmyshoulder]

We’re having a long (years) overdue sort out/ freshen up.
For many years, any shelves or windowsills have been a magnet for DC putting stuff down, like bits of lego, contents of school bags, books, lumps of blu tac etc. Periodically I clear them and announce that they’re not for just ‘putting stuff on’.
What I actually feel ready for is putting ‘nice things’ on these surfaces. Not too many. But some. However, I don’t have such ‘things’. We have lots of bookshelves full of books, so they’re taken care of.
What do you suggest? Mostly plants?
Photos of shelves or windowsills welcome! Thank you.

Plants, vases, candles (we also have lots of books but sounds like that won’t work for you).

Have no idea how to put pictures on here. Most of my window sills now have nothing! That's dog related. I live in a bungalow with big 1960s windows,and therefore low window sills. It's open plan,(very fashionable again now,stand cooking in the kitchen,chat to folk sitting in the lounge end) plants in the kitchen, I would always go for plants, but it has to be right plant, right place. Our bedroom has pictures of the DGKs,and a couple of funky fish ornaments (check out the nickname)

We’ve never really bought ornaments, even when I see ones I really like, as we think ‘there’s nowhere to put them’. There are lots of places, it’s just that they’d have been hidden by kid stuff. ‘Droppings’.

Absolutely nothing which is how I like it.

Thematic books
Candles
Photos in frames
Pot pourri
Plants
Trophies
Ornaments
Things the DC's have made
Souvenir s from holidays

Our windowsills are bare due to having a cat. Our shelves have plants, books, pictures, folded blankets, a bell, a radio and vases on them.

To reduce clutter I aim to put few things on and ensure what goes on is bigger as little items end up as clutter.

Mostly photo frames and a few ornaments. I’m fairly relentless when stuff gets out on surfaces by kids and DH i remove it to their room the same day and the only person who doesn’t really seem to learn is my DH

Magazines

Shelves cannot really be used for anything other than books, of which there are shedloads.
Windowsills all have stained glass fire screens for privacy, with various lamps, skulls, globes on them. In one room I have two windows, each with a collection of Italian glass bottles, in varying shapes and colours.
Mantelpieces are where I went over the top in my “parlour”, because I like over the top. In another room, I have a more normal mantlepiece, (even though it is a false fireplace) with clock, candlesticks, a pair of cloisonné vases, a small stuffed woodpecker and the usual invitations, postcards, etc.

We have quite a few shelves dotted around our house.

The kitchen shelves mainly have plants on them, a small lamp and some candles.
The living room ones have some photos in frames, a plant, a couple of nice glass vases and candles.

I try to keep them very minimal, I don't like clutter. Shelves are dust traps, the less they have on, the better!

Looking at them - shelf 1. Vintage striking clock flanked by two large vintage ornaments.
Shelf 2. The stereo & its speakers; 'quirky' zebra ornament on top of one speaker.
Shelf 3. Lamp, our wedding photo, photo of me and my sister.

@Giggorata That could not be further removed from my choices but I love it, it’s fascinating. I expect a ghost.

I have books, pictures/artwork and ornaments on my shelves. Mostly 'meaningful' ornaments (e.g stuff my dad bought my mum, bottles filled with seaglass collected by the kids) and some antique stuff in keeping with the age/style of the house. I would love plants too but the cat likes to destroy eat them

Nothing!

Windowsills - mostly I keep bare as I have nice roman blinds but two either side of the TV have a silver clock and art print (wedding gift)

In the main room I've a lot of plants and photos

Every windowsill in the house has a plant in it and usually something that bounces or reflects light like a little mirror ball or sun crystal catchers. Shelves are filled with books.

…….dust……

Cats, mostly.

Not a lot. Not a fan of over crowded shelves, mantles and fireplaces. Minimal but with a story. The odd piece we have purchased from special trip, eg Venetian glass bowel, Syrian copy piece from the British Museum. Not expensive but eclectic & collected with meaning over years.

We have lots of eclectic stuff we've collected over the years too....things we treasure for one reason or another.

Our shelves are mostly full of books with the occasional candle holder perched on top, although the highest of one set of built-in shelving has my collection of Art Nouveau Bretby jewel ware pottery.

Window sills - all fairly deep as our home is a 400 year old stone building - have plants, lamps, more art nouveau pottery, the occasional taxidermy bird etc.

The main window sill in the kitchen has some Liberty pewter, a life-size bust of an art nouveau maiden, a faux orchid, candle holder and some small vases/pots one of which contains scissors and pens....

Here's a couple of recent(ish) pics...

Don't have windowsills (due to design of apartment) but have a couple of bookshelves and TV unit in the living area. TV/cables/Apple TV/speakers/Wi-Fi box etc. Bookshelves have the obvious, plus framed photos, some decorative bits and bobs picked up from around the place on various travels.

One bookshelf is mine, so I try to keep it tidy looking and pare back the decorative items from time to time. Other bookshelf is my partners + seems to double up as his dumping ground for things he doesn't know what to do with.

Plants, fairy lights, plants ... lots of plants!!

Plants, candles, lights, none matching and all tatty really.
It's starting to look like a bric a brac shop, and getting on my nerves lately.

I don't have many shelves, just a tall glass fronted cabinet that houses three shelves of books, the rest are full of things I collect, so snow globes and ceramic mini houses, candles, a couple of photos and my cats ashes! In previous houses I've had lots of bookshelves, but I just don't have room in this house for them.