What could I put in place of a bookcase in my living room

[CollectingAllTheACEs]

Decided to get rid of all the books I have as I only read things on my kindle now and feels also some look a little childish (I have had them since my teens some of them). I was going to get rid of the bookcase anyway but replace it with another, now I’m wondering what I can put there instead. Also ideas for items to put on the shelves (don’t want to remove them as would then need to redo the wall behind). Have attached a pic of wider living room so you can see the kind of vibe I’m going for. ChatGPT suggested a small chair but it would look silly with the existing furniture

I’d move some of the framed photos onto the shelves as it looks cluttered where they are now. Then add a vase or bowl, perhaps gold to tie in with your side table and lamp.

Look at ‘styling shelves’ on Pinterest for more ideas.

You could replace the left hand bookcase with a side cupboard for storage and another display surface for the rest of the framed photos.

A big plant

Copy the shelves so the two alcoves match, then either have an accent chair underneath with a tall plant next to it, or have a small cupboard if you need storage.

A drinks cabinet!

I’d also add some lamps as you only seem to have the big ceiling light at the moment?

@HappyHacienda I love that idea but I'd have nothing to put in it!

I have a floor lamp which has never worked but I love the style, a table lamp and a decorative lamp but these are just out of shot on the photo - I thought about maybe some led lights under the shelves but warm light

OP, your room is a similar shape to ours - we have the TV and stand one side, and a bookcase the other side of the fireplace. You’d have to move the sofa so it’s opposite the TV. Originally these houses would have had cupboards at the bottom with either cupboards or shelves above, which is what my DS has done in his house - his cupboards are quite low. He has his television on top of one of the cupboards in the alcove.

I know that not everyone is as emotional about their books as I am, but I’d be worried that I’d regret getting rid of them!

A few years ago there was a popular interior design trend that involved having book spines facing the wall - so you only see the white of the pages and it looks “cleaner.” While I wouldn’t do it myself, perhaps it would satisfy your need not to have the childish ones on display, and you wouldn’t need to go out and get a whole new set of things?

that said, I think battery operated lamps - e.g., the mushroom style ones - always look good on a shelf.

This is what I’m talking about: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-great-bookshelf-debate-of-2018-spine-in-or-out-1517167114

Put the TV there. Much better than dominating the window. Probably on some kind of swivelling support so it can face the viewers. In the old days you would have had your sound and video stuff on shelves above. Broadband hub maybe if it connects to the TV. Shelf for remote controls. Phone charger. You will need a multiway electrical outlet.

Shelves to match the other side. If you don't want open shelves, fit top-hinged sprung doors as used in high kitchen cabinets. You could have glass fronts if you want to display your collection of silver teapots or something.

Consider concealed lighting or table lamps in the alcoves.

@sesquipedalian @PigletJohn I don't know if it's just the angle of the photo but the TV is too big to fit into that alcove, and I wouldn't be able to see it properly from the sofa even if it swivelled - the sofa is directly facing the TV where it is now and I'm replacing it with a corner sofa and getting rid of the chair

Standard lamp. Round side table with lamp and plant. Large plant.

Display cabinet and keep a few very special books to put in there and then fill it with random treasures.
Or a chest of drawers and keep board games or craft projects in it.

To me it looks off-center. I'd put a small chest of drawers under the shelves on the right, and get a similar over to the left, and put something taller on it to counterbalance the shelves.
I'm not really fond of the white standing out so much. Can you get two wood dressers, then paint out the shelves the same as the wall?

Display cabinet with your photos on- get them off the floor. You can also stick a candle/ couple of ornaments in it and you could have the shelves in it back-lit if you wanted extra lighting. And a nice made or plabt on the top of it

How about an armchair to introduce a pop of colour?

Sorry, just saw you're not keen on this idea.

I've got rid of all my books, many 1000s of them because I never re-read and prefer e books now.The grittier bookcases are now in the garage but I do have some similar shelves in alcoves like yours. I just love the space and lack of clutter.
The main thing I have in their place is plants and the odd photograph but not too much. One or two lovely plants on an otherwise empty shelf.

A big plant.
The answer is always a plant.

Good shout getting rid of book cases
get some rechargeable wall lights
and matching low level cupboards like this and paint them to match wallpaper

A standard lamp or wall lights and low level cupboards as suggested above sound like a solid idea! You can try uploading the plan if you have it into a furniture layout tool (like this one or similar apps) and try out different combinations to see what would go best in there, what size should you go after, etc. I personally wouldn't get a plant as I'm not a plant person if that makes sense, but for some rooms it works amazingly and maybe this is your case as well.

Yes, exactly. Well, in this case, anyway.

Please don't get rid of that lovely bookcase 😔 A home without a bookcase is so cold and soulless. It's a perfect spot for a bookcase as well.

Ahh you and @kleenx are making me have a crisis about the books (and this is from someone who resisted a kindle for so long because I wanted the physical books to read) I think I'll keep it but move it to the office upstairs...

I think books are seen to be a measure of the occupant's culture and I used to love having wall to wall bookcases full of books. I only read on kindle now and don't miss the paper books at all.
Bookcases are good for plants as well...