put some kind of a down light in there and display a tall piece of glass?

looks like an art space.

Perhaps add a pot light on the inside/top of the arch and you could do a number of things...add some art inside, your decorative piece if it fits, a sculpture, shelves and ornaments. Whatever you do, I would remove the item on the left, so it's feels more simple.

You could also paint the inside a contrasting or complimentary color. Or a grass cloth or something similar to the inside for texture, then add art. Good luck! Play with it and make it fun. :)

A vase with twisty willow, with or without down lighting!

If you are already thinking of covering it up, then do. That was my first thought as well - it's an awkward shape and size, especially when placed so close to that arched opening. It would make much more sense if it had been used as a focal point at the end of a hallway, etc. Niches like this will always be in - with builders who like to create upsaleable "architectural interest" at minimal cost to themselves.

that looks really amazing!

Niches can be very nice...but this one's location may not be a good idea.

get rid of it.

Get rid of it. Take down the small piece of metal/wood and put a large nice piece of art there with some color it.

Noooooo! Don't get rid of it! I am sure I am prejudiced in this matter, but I am from the southwest and niches are very important, meaningful architectural features here.

I have just bought my first home and it has has various niches. I have a painting in one large, shallow niche, a statue in a narrow tall niche; tp (yes) in the bathroom niches; shelving/sculptures in the two large living room niches. My tv is in a niche!

Put something of great value to you there- a piece of art, a painting, a photograph, a vase with plant/flower arrangement (this saves you having a table there, or put a table or a chair, small bench under it if there is room and go from there). Paint it a contrasting color, paint a scene or design in it. Do a stencil border for it. Put a tray/bowl there for your keys. Could the metal wall décor next to it fit inside the niche? Lots of niches are so decorated. Make it a special place. It is a great feature that adds potential to an otherwise boring, flat wall. Enjoy!

i would totally close that dust collecting spot up. and this way you can put up two pieces or three of art on that hall wall. I totally agree that nothing ever really works here, at least in my eyes for 2014

...

Is it near the door? If so, then have a mirror set inside and a shelf that goes beyond the base (about 3") - can be wood or stone. You now have a place to check yourself out before leaving the home and a place to temporarily drop your keys and mail.
If not near the front entry, then I'd get rid of it - perhaps you can find a large piece of art to cover it.

Niches are nice but they should be designed to hold something specific...Is there something you would like to display...a favorite vase or piece of artwork...Think about what you want to have shown, and then design the niche accordingly. For example, if you have a large piece of artwork, maybe the niece should be taller? wider?...If you want to show a vase, maybe it should have a marble/granite counter... I agree, that an empty niche with nothing to show looks a little silly...

I also have some concern with its location as well as the shape...When used properly, niches should either be a focal point, or complementary to something else. Yours looks as if it is intended to be complementary to the larger arch (to the right) yet the radius at the top of the niche is not compatible with the adjacent arch...I am also confused because you have a piece of artwork hanging to its left, but not in the niche (I assume because it is too large)...

I like to use niches in my work because I think they add to the texture of the walls but they need to be designed appropriately for what you intend to put in them as well as their adjacent architectural elements...

I don't know enough to say get rid of it...but I would say rethink it...

Good luck!!!

This niche doesn't seem to fit in the place, it is to close to the wide opening from Hall to Dining room, so it makes the space some kind of unbalanced and more crowded. I would get rid of it! You than could place some bigger art or a collection of family photos or landscape photos on this wall. Also looks like you would be able to add light in the dropped ceiling part above. You can find ideas under pictures arrangement on the houzz website also. The mirror niche from DC interiors looks nice but it has more adjoining walls around it which are opening up because of the angel of the walls and the seating area niche right beside. Your niche is more closing in. Hope this helps :)

Or invest in a large scale piece of art that covers a good part of that wall, so that it covers the niche and replaces the smaller piece you have on the wall.

That would be the easiest way to do.

There shouldn't be any artwork next to the niche. The niche is the art. Put a sculptural vase or art piece that is tall and proportionally wide inside. Seems the lighting above is dim. I would not get too glitzy and put a light inside the niche, but instead, have a recessed wall washer installed in the ceiling to brighten the wall .

Here is another angle. It gives a better idea of the arches. Thank you for all of the wonderful ideas!

Hi Thamner1! You've had several great ideas on how to remove or cover the niche. AND you've received creative ideas on how you can showcase it. Which way are you leaning toward?

After seeing this latest pic, I notice you have - one squared entry, an arched niche and an arched entry all on the same wall.
Before you decide about the niche, you will have to decide which style entry you prefer, they should be consistent throughout the house. If the character of the house calls for arched entries, then the entire house should have that architectural detail .

Can you give us an idea whether the entries will be arched or square.

what about adding a clock?

I agree with southwest!…but I'm from New Mexico. where we would place a Santo or even a beautiful piece of driftwood. I've seen family crests in them. They can be charming and meaningful. If you can't abide it then by all means cover it with large art, but please don't fill it in with wall board.

Here is how we customized a niche for a home we did in Laguna Beach, California. The client has an extensive art collection and this was a perfect way to highlight a favorite piece.

Click on the photo for full view.

two options jumped out straight away, the two doorways don't match, if you decide to keep the niche, have the squared arch made into a rounded arch to match the niche and second archway. that way it will make more sense from a design point of view. BUT you need something in that niche that is a talking point, an unusual piece of sculpture, twisted root, if you have an unusual tall glass vase, maybe think about lighting it from below, to shine up through the vase (use LED lighting for this as it doesn't cause too much heat). The second idea that came to mind is turn it into a "secret" niche, by fixing a large framed picture to the wall, using piano hinges and a magnetic catch. In a hallway it could be a good place to hide away car keys, emergency torches, hats anything that would usually clutter up the hall