Should we put shelves in the alcove?

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Ignore the cobwebs. We are getting shelves put in the alcoves with the painting and clock (like the white photo). They will hoouse books, board games, crafting stuff, play station and general life detritus. Our sofas sit in front of those alcoves. There is a chest of drawers in the plain alcove which we're keeping.

Husband wants top shelves in the plain alcove too however I think shelves there would be shelf overload. I think the plain alcove should have no shelves but move the clock there.

Nb: Everything is being redecorated. The shelves will be painted the same colour as the wall, a picture rail is being added and the TV lowered a little. The chimney breast next to the plain alcove has a mirror.

YABU - put shelves in the plain alcove
YANBU - no shelves in the plain alcove.

I agree with you that it would look better without a third set of shelves

I was going to agree with you until I saw the last photo. That said, that's clearly a different room as the dividing opening is deeper. So I think I still agree with you. Depends how many books you have, I suppose.

Agree with it depends how much stuff you have. Personally, I'd always go for maximum storage.

This was exactly our set-up, we put shelves of books in all the alcoves and I think it looks great!

Aesthetically, I don't reckon you can go wrong - both options work well.

However given this is your aim "They will house books, board games, crafting stuff, play station and general life detritus." I think you need all three sets. Those two sets aren't big enough for all that stuff.

Are the 2 alcoves each side of the chimney breast the same width? If so I'd just do those two. If not I'm not sure it matters so much if you do the third, but I probably wouldn't and maybe get a freestanding cupboard in there with clock above

I agree with you

Yes, the painting and clocks are the same size. The empty one is wider.

The shelves in the painting and clock alcove will go to the floor. However some will be hidden by the sofas so will hold things we dont need very often.

Im just a bit concerned that 12 or 13 shelves of higgeldy piggeldy crap will be overwhelming.

If it was mostly books then I would have all the shelves.

I'd consider getting cupboards with sliding doors at the bottom of the two definitely-shelved alcoves. Cupboards to hide some of the crap; sliding doors for easier access behind the sofas.

Shelves with doors - either the bottom of each alcove can have doors, or the third alcove does completely. Then all the messiness is tucked away and the books stay on display.

You wont be able to see the bottom shelves behind the sofas anyway. There is no where else for the sofas to go.

Cupboards at the bottom do look much nicer but would have increased the cost significantly with no real benefit.

We have a chest of drawers in the plain alcove which we are keeping.

The sofas will hide the bottom few shelves on the clock and painting alcoves. You wont be able to see the shelves and their contents. There is nowhere else for the sofas to go.

We did consider cupboard doors on the top of the alcove (like Victorian housing would have had) but it would have felt oppressive I think in a small room.

I like Shelves with cupboards underneath which are deeper so you get a surface in two alcoves

Yes, that would have been my preference but the sofas need to stay in front of the alcoves and you wouldnt be able to see the cupboards so I cant justify the extra cost of them.

If the sofas could go somewhere else, I'd get the alcove cupboards and move the TV because I hate TVs on walls.

But that's the space we have.

What about looking for a second-hand pair of small cupboards/ bedside tables that can fit in the alcoves that could be painted to go with the room and shelves above? Would be cheaper than getting made to measure.

I discovered that my alcoves are exactly the right size for Ikea kallax units.

We’ve got shelves to the top but cupboards at the bottom, the cupboards are both sides of chimney breast but shelves just on one side. Looks great and works well. We put the crap in the cupboards and the books (I have a lot) on display.

I think being able to see all your stuff will feel far more 'oppressive' than cupboard doors on the top half. Especially if everything is painted the same colour, they'll just disappear into the wall so to speak.

I'd definitely do everything possible to cover up the stuff. Unless it's very organised in nice baskets / kallax type boxes.

Or have I got the wrong end of the stick, haven't had coffee yet...

To answer your actual question, I agree with you, I think 3 lots of shelves will look cluttered if all your stuff is visible (not behind doors or in very organised nice-looking containers)

I would do a cupboard with doors in the 3rd alcove painted same as the wall. It will hide SO much more stuff and there's less dust.
What's the plan for the lamps?

The "wall" between the clock and plain alcove is only 28cm deep. The fireplace walls are about 38cm. So any cupboard would need to stick out. That means that the sofa will need to be pulled out which affects the rest of the room.

If you have lovely books and bits to display and they wont get overcrowded, all shelves.

If your shelving is likely to be stuffed and not full of perfectly spaced out beautiful objects youll need to keep one alcove free of shelving otherwise it'll look overwhelmingly cluttered.

Your stuff and use of shelving will guide you.