How big is your niche area?

Looks like it is big enough to add cabinets for storage or to hide a mini fridge. Then a nice counter and microwave. Maybe a glass shelf for wine glasses.

Sounds great, What would be weird?

Is it weird because it's behind the couch? Could you move couch so short side goes against support pole and tv is put on niche wall?

For sure, pull the sectional away from the niche and turn those lights the other way around, so they shine down.

The spacing of the wall lights on the niche wall looks asymetrical. The distance between the one on the far left and the one in the middle appears to be different than the distance between the middle on and the one on the other side of the niche. Or is it just the photos making them look asymmetrical?

Also don't understand why the wall lights are there, what is their purpose?

The wall lights are there because this is a basement, and rather dark and dingy, and my husband has low vision and needs all the help he can get.

They are not symmetrical because unfortunately when we put them in we had to deal with a mess of pipes and electrical work on the other side of the wall.

Lois, my husband has the same problem re eyes. But if you have the light shine down, it will give him more light.

It doesn't look very deep so you might want to check out wall cabinets to use for the base.

I agree the depth will drive what you can put in there I don’t think you have space for a fridge.I would suggest you look at Besta from Ikea for the T.V wall Try moving the sectional as mentioned to see how it works.

I love the idea of the table and benches behind the couch, Rawket girl. Off in search! I don't want to turn the sectional because there is a nice fireplace wall on the open side that I want to be able to face, and this area is part of a big "L" shape area that goes on behind the long couch now, and I don't really want to look at that really long L" wall with the fireplace behind me.

We would have whatever shelving or cabinetry that we put in the niche custom made. It is just under 30" deep so I think we can find some kind of mini-fridge to put in there.

The lights are installed to give a soft light in the back of the room and bounce off the white ceilings. Without going into a lot of detail, the lighting has been installed for function rather than looks, and when we have the lighting turned up to what works best for him, it is uncomfortable for visitors, so we have all kinds of lighting that we can set for different needs.

Never thought I'd see the day when a poster feels like s/he needs to explain why there are lights in the house...

This is off-topic, but may I suggest a lovely rug for under your living room furniture, and perhaps adding a chair to go with the couch?

Ingrid, yes, we will be adding a rug, chairs, a tv console, art, plants, bar cart, etc.

I would put a piece of art between the two scones to the left of you niche so they would make sense to people. The niche will function well as a snack area. I do think adding a door would keep your look streamlined. What a great place to tuck a microwave and a small fridge. It was smart to add outlets there.

Thank you. We will indeed be adding a rug, chairs, a new tv console, art, plants, a bar cart, etc. We just finished putting up the drywall and painting so everything is pretty bare, and I don't want to start putting in accessories until the built-ins are completed.