Some other thoughts about how to upgrade your entryway:

--Remove fake plant and side table from entryway--obstacles that don't add function.

--Get a beautiful wide and long flat rug or floor cloth from front door to the edge near the plant. You want to create a pathway into your home.

----Look for an attractive console table or cabinet to place underneath the niche. You might have to cut down the height so it lines up with the bottom of the niche.

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--Add really beautiful baskets beneath the console or get one with shelves.

--Add a really nice chair to the side of the console table for removing shoes. Check out antique shops for armless, upholstered dining chairs or a slipper chair. You only need one.

Please show us the living room. Your sofa is blocking the window. If there's a fireplace there or some other focal point, you could float the sofa and put a sofa table behind it. This layout creates a more defined entryway.

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Anyway, clear your entryway of scattered rugs and get one great rug that echoes your palette in the living room and creates a pathway into your house. Then start looking for the right console that will fit under the niche.

Whatever do you mean by aesthetic? If you have specific functional goal in mind, what is it? If there are specific design or décor styles you like, what are they?

That niche is causing issues . How high is the ledge on the niche ?

1. fill in the niche, so you can place an actual console on that wall and place a mirror or art above.

2. if I had extra flooring I would remove the niche and the partial height bump-out it sits in and level out that whole wall.

The niche looks like an odd height. Perhaps you should hang a floating console at the height of the niche and slide a low bench or structured pouf beneath to pull out for taking your shoes on and off.

Get a floating console with drawers so you can hide the junk. You can get custom sized floating consoles on Etsy.

Where will shoes and coats live?

I’d paint the niche the same color as wall, add an arched mirror, console and baskets for shoes. Volume will be important, given the large space. Imagine the look below, but with an arched mirror. Don’t add anything on ledge, just layer console.

P.S. Maureen's idea of painting the niche and putting a large mirror there is an attractive, budget friendly, and practical way to deal with the stupid niche. Whoever designs these things should be made to stand in a niche for 24 hours. Then get a really nice console as shown and one upholstered slipper or small accent chair.

Some inspro to use arched indent for mirror.

Celery, that console can not go in that spot ... it will be hit by the door. Nothing can go in that spot if you want to open the door fully to allow a group of guests in or only invite skinny friends and allow them in one at a time!.

Select or have a console table made that matches the width of the niche on the wall. Make sure it aligns in height. Place it in front of the niche, add a pull out bench below the table.

or

Cover the alcove with a large mirror, under the mirrror place a console table with poufs for when needed, a long runner.

Do you plan to live in this house for awhile?

While I like the workarounds suggested, that bumped out niche is so awkward and prominent that it may be worth it to just remove it so you can have a nice flat wall to create a really great foyer with console/bench/mirror.

Well oh my. I never expected all of the hate our niche has gotten! My husband and I believe it adds character! We are also Spanish, hence the ode to our heritage with the Spanish tiles we proudly added! I feel that covering it up with a mirror (which would have to be massive, mind you), or painting over it, does not bring any personality.

I was not looking for advice on any reconstruction. Was hoping for simpler advice on add-ins (table, seating, rugs, shoe/coat racks, wall art, colors, lighting, what have you). I will certainly follow a few of these tips here though!! Thank you!!

@housegal200 amazing ideas! @BeverlyFLADeziner great call!

The niche has a way of causing issues if the ledge on the niche is 30" then a nice console table with 2 small stools under it will work great Waht I see need for is an actual coat closet not huge but maybe just bit enought to be where the small wall is between entry and sofa. you will need to see how deep you can go there . I dislike coats hooks in guest entries if there is way to have acloset . I would probably do a nice piece of art inside the niche

With your existing tiled alcove...

@meladurango …. A question that hasn’t been answered ( I believe) is, how high is that ledge measured from the floor? There are many nice entry consoles available in the 29” H range.

Ya’ll are a disaster. The beautiful tile background does not need ugly plates or any additions. It just needs something pretty and practical underneath

It is 29” H! …so doable for a console.

Come in many options for finish, top & legs. Not cheap, but well worth it. There are many others on their site. Good luck.

I believe you got a lot of suggestions around the tiles as they feel a bit random. When updating, think big picture; create a connection so the tiles become an integral part of the overall design. Suggest a nod towards Spanish Revival, which would enhance the tiles. Start with a solid console and large earthy accessories (to counter balance the alcove’s size). Add shoe storage and if budget allowed, a runner and new pendant would pull everything together. Even consider painting the closet door same as wall, so it doesn’t feel as broken up. Probably too many suggestions lol.

I agree with an open console under the niche but you may have to decide which you need/want more, either storage for shoes or something to sit on to tuck under it. You are obviously limited because of the door swing. You may be able to put poufs under it and a basket for shoes in the corner where the shoes are now. I think some earthy accessories like above in Maureen's picture would look good with your tiles and woven blinds, and agree with painting the closet doors. With the closet right there, maybe you don't need too much shoe storage and a basket will be enough?

@K Laurence @Maureen @kcooz07 I appreciate your responses!! It is very helpful to hear suggestions that include our our well-loved tiles and not offering a renovations to have to improve the look of the space!!

I like the tile and think the bump out helps define the entrance area. @Maureen hit the nail on the head, the space is open and connected to the adjacent spaces and should be styled to be cohesive. Add the table and decor in front of the niche, relocate the sofa side table so it isn't in the entrance area and add a wide, long runner.

You're lucky to have a large closet where shoe racks can be placed inside and coats and bags stowed away. It's a matter of forming new habits to take 7-8 extra steps to get there but it prevents a mound of shoes from forming at the entry door because if you give shoes an inch, they'll want a mile.