First of all I would paint them a color darker than your walls - a color that compliments your wall color.
Maybe that's all you need.

Depending how creative you want to get... How about wall decals? a dandelion in the first then blowing off to the rest? Or trees, or birds flying, etc.

I was also thinking maybe a pretty graphic and reflective wallpaper.

The problem with just drywall the niche, you'll still have the problem of what to hang up there.

The modern niches don't really match the traditional staircase. Get 4 large flat baskets and put them in the boxes. See how that looks...if it still isn't right paint the back wall of each niche a medium gray.

All good ideas-and simple. I think my problem is over-thinking it. Artwork would be nice, but hard with 4 of them. The decals look really cool, but I think something a little less feminine will get my hubby's approval. I saw 3d wall panels with different patterns online. Would it look silly (they are about 3/4 in thick) in that deep of a nook

Get four peices of interesting colorful contemporary fabrics with large scale designs. Pull the fabric tight on a 4"-5" thick/deep wood frame that has been padded first to make it look like frameless art and hang them in the nooks. Make the frames yourself this way you can make them as large as you like. You can always paint the nook a complimentary color to the fabric you are using.

Wow those are huge.....my first thought was maybe treat them like windows. But then decided there are too many of them and they are too large. So what if you drywall over the two outside ones? Then in the remaining two, insert mirrors with a window pane treatment over them. Similar to below.

hang patchwork quilts in geometric patterns in the nooks.

good idea R H K and B Ltd.
And needn't cost too much!

Were they originally supposed to be open to the upper room. What is up there. Can you open it up. Mirrors would reflect some light there. Also sconces could be mounted in each for extra lighting. It would remind me of a curved stairwell in a grand home with torch lights.

The master bedroom is behind them, so no-cant be opened up. I like the fabric idea.

I am not a fan of the niche either- I would definitely drywall over them. Yes, you will still have a space to fill, but won't be limited by the size, shape and placement of the nooks.

I would wall paper them with something that compliments the rest of the decor

Maybe hire a iron worker to create something for your space

what about a series of four metal art pieces that coordinate and compliment but are not the same - around 36" - 42" round or square would be large enough to "fill" the niche if hung in the center. Adrianne has it - but you may be able to shop artists and find a series . . .

Paint the air registers the same as your wall color so they disappear.

I would look for 4 art prints from the same series, all slightly different that will be proportional to the nooks.
Add some recessed lights to highlight the art.

Or, drywall over all of them. Add some sound insulation before walling them up.

I like the fabric idea & also the idea of closing some up.

But I also like mirrors in the nooks.

Or some stained glass art (but not to make it look like a church). There are some beautiful pieces on Etsy. I bet you could get the artists to custom make something to fit the space.

Lyvonne

Google an artist named Janelle Lindley to see her cloud series. She did some very cool West Texas sunsets that a friend had hanging in a similar space. Clouds would make the niches become like windows.

Large fans, umbrellas or decorative weaving could be the "art " for the niches.

how about you build different dry wall blocks and cover some with wall paper or different color
something like this picture

Here is a "free" option. Head for the hills and cut some manzanita branches and put a branch in each niche (vertically). 3 - dimensional natural "art". The second photo is a sandblasted manzanita branch. PS...I took a manzanita branch, took the leaves off and painted the branches yellow for my granddaughters bedroom. Looked great.

!!! Darzy you are brilliant - a friend of mine has an entire manzanita tree standing filling his high ceilinged living room = they don't call it mountain mahogany for nothing! she may not be from a place with manzanita, but any hardwood could do

Thank you libradesigneye! Your ideas are always so good. I enjoy reading your suggestions and think..oh yeah..that's it!

Looks like you just moved in? What's your style of decor? Casual? Traditional? Modern? etc..Depending on your style, maybe painting the insets a color and or placing a iron wall decor in it would be enough. www.ironaccents.com

4 niches = 4 seasons paintings. Or 4 separate parts of a japanese screen?

I don't think there are many branches of any kind in Vegas. We prefer modern style, and yes, it does look like we just moved in, even though we've been here since October. Finding something for these seems like it has held up the whole process. I finally ordered a 3' x 5' piece for the wall to the right if the nooks. Other than that, it has been hard.

If you like contemporary, I would paint your railings white to match your other woodwork. Paint the handrail to matchcolor inside the niches. This takes away the traditional/country look. Paint the interior back walls of the panels Sealskin from Sherwin Williams. Then, follow Darzy's idea about the branches in a pattern that flows from space to space. A wow factor as you enter the room.

HI -- My first thought is - how the he-- are you going to dust those ledges ?!! This to me just looks dated . Builders that do this think they are being so clever with their design , when these just turn into a nightmare for interior design . I would have the wall re-dry walled so you have a nice flat surface , then you could have some big Art there .

All of the woodwork is the same color as the railings (kitchen, bathroom cabinets) This picture is deceiving because of the shutters, which are popular in Vegas because it keeps the hot sun out.

Pictures for inspiration...

Weathered doors or windows?

Darzy does have it. Don't fill in we're all creative enough. We got it. Turn the niches in to black and white movie images - your favorites.. okay if you have to fill in with dry wall dry wall the scene ..curve the base like terrain ( skyscrapers or a desert ..eliminates the need to place to place something in there.

I would not put colorful artwork there, with the light that is coming in from the windows, anything with color would fade. And as it is a chore to get up there to change things, make sure it is something you love!

I like the idea that others have had of a metal sculpture, or some artwork that has a "relief" to it, meaning it is somewhat 3 dimensional. Think of things you love: animals, abstract, floral, etc and then go from there. Search for "hanging wall sculpture" and I am sure you will find something that attracts you.

Consider placing small lights that would feature the suggested art art work, Everyman has a feminine side, it just has to be highlighted with a romantic glow of the art work in each nook, place a diner switch, so you have control of the light, and yes the lights can be accessible for changing.

gilbert1958 check out the dates of posts before commenting - this posting is over a year old.
Project probably completed by now.