Waht the heck is the point of that shelf> It is too high and way to big for the tiny cabinet which BTW is too small for that wall. I do need to see the whole space too

On the top shelf, assuming you can't move it down, I would declutter and only place trailing plants to fill up the large amount of space between the shelf and the cabinet. You have a lot of vertical oriented items on that shelf which is already too high up on the wall. I think the trailing plants would pull the eye down. I would get one of those cable hiding things that are paintable and paint it the same color of the wall so it disappears. Then for the coffee station, I would use a brighter color tray on top of the cabinet.

The shelf was already there when I moved. I agree with you, its at a weird height. the best i could do was to put some art on too, which i did. I cant put anything heavy on it.

The kitchen is way too small. and i need storage.m, hence the cabinet.

I do have a sideboard across the room but its a nice piece if furniture and i dont want to hide it behind the dining table.

" The shelf was already there when I moved. I agree with you, its at a weird height. the best i could do was to put some art on too, which i did. I cant put anything heavy on it. "

Get rid of it, take it down. Art work on it looks off due to the shelf placement.

For renting: Remove the shelf contents. Add a lush green trailing plant. Do not put anything on the small white cabinet.

You can ask the owner how to remove the shelf.

The cabinet is much too small for the shelf.. Sounds like you need extra storage with your small kitchen so why not buy a wider cabinet that offers storage. The one I show is at an excellent price. As for the electric cord problem, look into cord covers which are easy to install.

Now that I see the rest of your pics, I would move the sideboard under the shelf and center the table on the sliding door and light fixture. But that is just me, and I have no interior design credentials. I do love your room, though.

It's probably impractical to remove the shelf in a rental. The wall will need repair/painting most likely. I imagine the little cabinet was not too expensive. If true, I'd get 2 more to add to it, or if you can get matching bookshelves, two of those to flank it, and maybe an inexpensive piece of something like butcherblock (ikea) across the top of all of them. It will unite them and make them a bit taller. Then I'd hang some large art pieces below the shelf.

Your room requires some adjustments.

Move the small cabinet to the end of the cabinets if you can't add more to it.

Where does it say rental only that the shelf was there .

@Patricia Colwell Consulting:

"The shelf was already there when I moved. I agree with you, its at a weird height. the best i could do was to put some art on too, which i did. I cant put anything heavy on it."

"Oh, and this is a rented home so i cant do much to the walls."