Bookshelf vs diffuser panel. Who wins?

Books work well enough...so do a stack of records. So many functional ways to use traditional decor to accommodate acoustic benefits. For example I have no highly reflective surfaces in my living room except a 60" monitor on the side wall. I cover it with a wool throw blanket when listening. No picture frames with glass. All artwork is canvas or wood carvings. It's not perfect...but it looks like a living room and it works well enough to get some imaging and focus. 

If you’ve a 60ft room 12ft ceiling S… small sound system and nothing else, envision an echo chamber or living in a gigantic tin can. Throw in some wool carpet, tapestries, non-vibrating furniture, bookshelves, now you’ve defused and it looks great. Doesn’t have to cost A fortune nor look like a setting of an old Star Trek chamber Lol

Cheers

Isn't this accomplishing the same thing as a 3 x 5 diffuser panel?

And also providing way to sneak a diffuser past the SO (significant other) 😎

I am thinking about some veneer/laminated fish or manta rays, to hang on a macrame type of hanging.
(The SO wants to have some ocean wave type of macrame wall hanging behind the sofa, and I suggested some ~250mm square folded manta ray looking pieces to put onto it… she said, “Would you do that for me?”)

Basically anything moving away from glass and polished marble is a good direction, and if one likes books, then bookshelves are a very nice option to make a room comfortable and also sound good.

What do you like to read @jumia ?

Jumia likes to read scientific America which is an amazing magazine. If you wanna understand the horrors of climate change and fascinating quantum physics issues and cosmic stuff along with lots of other good stuff this is the magazine to read.  Don't read a lot of books. Also read the drudge report which is an exceptional diversity of stuff.

Thank you for asking

60 foot by ?? With 12 foot ceilings and a small system will sound fine for near field. 
 

I have a 18 x 22 room with 12 foot ceilings, bookshelf’s do function as defusers and have acoustic treatments. Norma 140B and several speakers, floor standers and stand mounts that sound fantastic in this room. 
 

Is it perfect acoustically like my  local concert hall?

Nope but sounds darn good to me and the bookshelf’s do work.

Scientific America is a fine magazine as is Nat Geo and Smithsonian.