Boy that's a tough one because anything you put up there you'll eventually have to dust! LOL Sorry, but that's a fact.
With that in mind I'd make whatever you put up there something easy to clean. In other words something solid/hard surfaced.
Also is that the kitchen we are seeing through the door or is the photo taken from within the kitchen?

We have switched outlets on a large soffit, with big flourescent light fixtures (shoplights, installed upside down)

It's great for uplighting the living room, and they get dusted every few years.

Maybe an uplight highlighting a large piece of art hung on the wall. You could put the light on a timer if there isn't a switch for the outlet.

I was thinking of doing it seasonally. Being that I'm design challenged I wasn't sure if that would look good or not though lol. This is a picture taken from outside of the kitchen with me on an 8 foot ladder. I'll take some more pictures when I get home tonight.

If possible, lean a large rectangular woven (think of wicker or rattan) flat-bottomed tray up there .... perhaps one in a dark brown?

Or perhaps a single large black-and-white or sepia photo of something simple like a large tree .... maybe just matted -- but not necessarily framed .... easy to lean up there ....

It's hard to tell how big the space is or how it relates to the room, but I'd be inclined to do a backlit stained glass piece...kind of like one of these panels.

So these are a few more views of the ledge. I think I need to change that bulb out because WOW is it bright.

View walking in the front door:
{{!gwi}}

View coming in from the garage:
{{!gwi}}

View from the rest of the house:
{{!gwi}}

Excuse the walls only being half painted haha. I had to stop this weekend and haven't had a chance to start up again. The light wood thing is a shoe organizer. I planned on painting it (not sure what color yet) and hanging that round mirror above it. I needed somewhere to set my things down and keep all of my shoes when I come in. That was the only place it really worked. I also plan on doing a paneling area where the door opens up as a place to hang coats. I'll attach a link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Entryway paneling DIY

Looks as though you have another ledge on the angled wall too. We've never lived in a house with a ledge so I'm only guessing here, but I'd still stick with something like ceramic pots. You could put some found dead branches in them since they could be easily hosed off when needing a dusting.
If the angled wall has a ledge I'd be tempted to put a trailing vine on it, but it would have to be a good fake or you'd have to climb a ladder to water it or buy one of those hose attachments. Then you have the worry of "am I over watering" so probably not a good idea.
Sorry for my rambling, but I'm going to leave it as who knows what might inspire you? I know I've been inspired by ramblings before.

Is there another switch used for lights when entering from the garage to kitchen? The only thing I can think of is adding a light and love Oly idea of stained glass. It doesn't have to be large or fill the whole area. Ooops, now I see the light there. Do the switches actually turn the plugs on/off? Adding another light could be overwhelming. Now I have no clue what they have those plugs for.

The switch on the left right below the ledge doesn't do anything so I think it's connected to that outlet. I'll have to get my christmas lights and test this out. I have 3 swiches that control that overhead light lol. I do like that idea of that stained glass. I would just have to find out where to get something like that and then I'd hook up a strip light behind it.

justgotabme - There is another ledge, a triangular one. I was thinking about doing some vases up there since I have a few. I also thought about some plastic vines coming down. I'm decor-challenged though so I worried there was something better I coudl put up there.

To be honest I was thinking about getting a couple of mini christmas trees and putting those up there for christmas season. And then maybe some pumpkins for fall. I love decorating for christmas and fall so I thought up there would be a great place to put things that my dogs/cats would usually break.

Kelli, if you don't mind climbing to change things seasonally I think that's a great idea. Christmas trees on the ledge with the outlet would be darling! You could always just change the decorations for other holidays instead of removing the tree. Just use clear lights.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I definitely don't mind climbing up there to change things out. I guess my dad just won't get his 8 ft ladder back lol. Having a softer strip light up there or string lights might be better than that foyer light. That thing is a pain to change the bulb on and is way too bright right now.

If you don't mind me changing the subject a bit, what do you guys think about the shoe organizer with the mirror over it and the faux paneling by the door. Would this look okay in there? I was initially just wanting to get a coat tree but I think with as narrow as this entryway is the coat tree would take up too much space. I initially wanted another shoe organizer, but it was $130 versus the $20 I paid for mine. I still may switch them out.

{{!gwi}}

Kelli-I loved the coat hook wall you linked to. I have always wanted a wall or cabinet like that. I have a closet at the main entrance, but does anyone open the door to hang their coats up. No- they put them on the nearby banister. I have been tempted to deck out the closet like that because I think I could get everyone to use a hook in there.

congrats on your first house! It if were me, I'd put some subtle lighting up there to add ambiance (because ('m ALWAYS about the mood lighting!)

I have a rope light on top of my kitchen cabinets, with a single metal sculpture -- gives a nice glow and silhouette without a lot of clutter. But I have to plug it in every day --You're very lucky they put an outlet and the switch up there.

Also, I wouldn't want to be climbing up there all the time to switch out -- not even seasonally. But maybe you're younger and spryer than I am!

This post was edited by Violet.West on Mon, Oct 28, 13 at 17:36

Countryatheart - my parents have a coat closet at the top of their stairs. No one ever uses it lol. They all put their coats on the banister or on the back of the dining room chairs. I really wish I had a coat closet but I think that paneling would be the next best thing.

Violet - I really want to do rope lights above my cabinets! I was planning on adding some fake crown molding to the top of them and then placing the rope lights behind it. I have an outlet for my microwave/exhaust already so all I need to do is drill a hole into the top to stick the plug through. I was considering getting a surge protector so all I have to do is reach up and press the switch to turn it on.

I'm turning 24 in about 3 weeks. So younger maybe. I think the motivation for me to do all of this is that I HATE having a boring house. When I moved in the house looked like this:

{{!gwi}}

I moved in July 3rd, so 4 months next week.

I haven't been on this site in a long time, but when I saw your post I just had to reply. I have two plant shelves in my family room, one is above the opening to the kitchen. I love them. Only one has an outlet (with a switch) I had that put in when the house was built. I plug in a couple of up lights that are concealed with the objects I put up there, vases, large decorative pieces. It adds a lovely ambience to the room, sometimes I only light the ledge. On the smaller ledge I do not have any electric so I used a candelabra with battery candles with a built in timer. Love it also. I am will send some pictures when I get home

I love the idea of holiday decorating up there then something simple when its not a holiday. Maybe a stained glass picture leaned up there with a light behind it. That way you would only have one thing to bring down and store when its time to spruce it for the holidays.

I really like the idea of the stained glass. I just need to find a place that sells it. I think a flurescent light would work pretty well up there too. It wouldn't be as bright as the light I have now.
msannie48 - I thought about doing that but I'm waiting for some clearance sales to buy some nice tall vases I like. Do you put anything in the vases or leave them on their own?

Kelli - Where did you find the show organizer that is more expensive? My daughter needs something like that for her shoes. I think an organizer near the front entrance is ingenious. Pretty new home!