if there's an outlet nearby, I would suggest a lamp. Nice to have a little light on at dusk in the hallway.

could you do a grouping of vases?
http://deciture.com/poslie-dimensional-ceramic-flower-vases-set-of-2/

http://deciture.com/myanmar-vases-set-of-3/

Hope this helps you!

I like the idea of a light but there is no outlet in the hallway.

How about a grouping of candles with various heights and shapes of bases?

Are you up for covering what looks to be a crooked mural? A mirror, which would provide function for people to check themselves out before heading downstairs as well as bouncing around some light, could certainly liven it up and take the focus off the books. http://www.afandar.com/get-your-mirror-dressing-well-with-mirror-frame/dressing-table-with-mirror-white/
The house picture ([houzz=]) shows the mirror above a cupboard and stuff on the cupboard.
For your space, keep the paint and rug, decide if you want to swap the shelf, hang a white framed mirror over the mural, get a group of 3 candles and a family photo.

I like the idea of tall vases or pieces of pottery that play up the colors in the art. It will fill in the wall space and make the colors work together.

The white doesn't work well....I would play up the richness of the floors and the hand railing on that wall. The mural is too diminutive for that space....A piece of furniture that is tall and slim...Or waist height with a matching mirror etc above but tallish.
.Gantt's dec. is dead on advice.

I presume the mural is tile and not crooked. It is too small for the area, but this is easily fixed by painting a large decorative frame around it, not plain but rich. Hire a local artist if this is not up your line. Put a wrought iron and glass half table below, a lamp with motion detector on it, and things will be scaled right and be useful.

Is that a mural or a picture. If it's a picture, I'd lower it. Or perhaps you could find a larger console table to store your books. If it were me (not trying to be rude about the book case) I'd either get a larger console (as pictured above) or I'd do what kiturah above suggested, i.e., enlarge the mural (if you want to keep it)...I believe that bookcase is way too small for that area.

Or perhaps you could get some 2 x 4's and work around the mural and whatever that door is on the wall ... to make a sort of shadowbox of that entire wall, floor to ceiling, in effect hiding the door (I'm assuming it's either electrical panel and/or laundry chute? in the 'shadowbox' and sort of framing the mural. You could put shallow depth books on the shelves and/or just plain items you or your children (I'm assuming there are children) collect along your travels. Kind of a memory wall.

I'm assuming you have kids from the door poster....you can put a cluster of battery operated candles in different heights. The ones with built in timers are great! They will also work as a nightlight in the hallway.

without a plug I would think a higher table that's wider would be a better fit. You could get a simple table, put a pretty table runner on it to give the space color, anchor it with a pretty vase or unusual glass bowl. You can do any number of things but if you want to completment the picture which I think is pretty neat, then you should go for a softer look as opposed to a rustic heavy look or too fancy. I think if you have kids I would get a solid wood table based on their ages.....You could even get a cabinet with doors like a painted cabinet which would be really pretty and have storage in it. You can have some books on top for decor as well....Also you can get a pretty candle lamp that holds a tea lite or a votive if you ever need to use it and now they have electric tea lights. Without a plug this is hard.... There are pretty pieces of pottery that would also look great... I have this same issue in a space near the bottom of my stairs because there is no plug. There ma be lamps that operate on batteries?

Depending on your personality and tastes, you can either place a lamp, a vase with flowers or photos of your loved ones. A Sculpture can also work wonders; just have to be careful about not creating “noise” with the painting above. In our opinion a lamp would probably be the best solution.

I would paint the handrail white... it would freshen the entire area.....

By the theme of the mural, either a wrought iron candle holder or an oil lamp with plate.

The scale of your elements seems to be a little off--too small. Even though its not a generous space, I would add several more pieces of wall art to create a mini-gallery. Think about some 3-D pieces--shadow boxes, framed pieces of clothing. Or a grouping of images with oversized mattes in a color pulled from your wall mural, with frames painted a darker version of the wall color. I would add a slender tall vase snugged up next to the table in a contrasting color, filled with tall curly willow or reeds that could be enhanced seasonally with other items.

I love the little table, but it is way too small for this space. I'd find something wider and hang a mirror above it.

Personally I agree that what you've got is to small there. The little bookshelf would be better as a nightstand perhaps. For that area, I'd look for a taller piece that could take the place of the table and the picture, with a generous vase like item on the floor next to it.

A console table with a stack of books to camouflage the white box thing

The small white door is a laundry chute. At that end of the hall, the hallway is not wide, about 3 feet. Any furniture I put on the mural wall cannot be too wide.

It is a mural and it is not crooked. It does appear that way in the photos.

The handrail matches the downstairs handrail. Not willing to paint it.

I like the idea of a battery operated lamp especially for the kids.

A narrow console table will work

A window frame would fill up the space and if you need it to be even wider, put curtains on it. A small bench would be really cute below also.

I mean a window frame over the mural .

Okay....here is what I would do. Paint the laundry chute the same color as the wall...it will seem to disappear. It appears you want to use your little bookstand....I would put a tall plant or vase with stems in it, on the floor between the bookstand and your stair railing. Might have to move your bookstand over so it is not directly under the mural....the vase/plant and bookstand will be centered under the mural. For the top of your bookstand, I would look for a set of candlesticks, (tallish and put on the left side of your bookstand) along with a plate, bowl or picture of your family.

If your intent on keeping the pieces you have I agree with erinsean above and would paint the laundry chute door the same as wall color. The battery operated candles are wonderful indeed, especially with children, and the timer feature gives you great flexibility as a nightlight. They also come in many shapes/sizes. I got mine at QVC but they are available from many vendors.

Perhaps adding another book case if it would not take up too much space--as is it is, it is too small. Or, you could add a largish floor plant near the railing. I would paint the laundry chute (love them) the same as the wall so as not to be a focal point.

I did mean a duplicate book case.

Do you like the mural? I think a console table with a mirror above it would look better.

You wouldn't have bought the little book table if you didn't like it so don't change it as suggested multiple times. I must admit my first thought was that all the elements seem too small but using add on's will make everything feel bigger and "fuller". A floor plant if you have a green thumb, or a vase with tall curly willow would look great. Adding lantern like wall sconces with LED candles would provide light when entertaining and add to the mural area. A couple not bulky candlesticks with led candles, an interesting bowl or basket would be a great place to corral keys and I like the suggestion of a family picture to personalize the space. Paint the wall box to match the wall and make it "disappear". At some point you should consider painting your stair rail since all your trim is white. It would update the space as well...I know it's a lot of work!

I like the little bookcase, very sweet and practical. To me, the mural evokes a feeling of being in a tower room with a small window over the landscape. You could place a small tabletop lectern with an open book on top of the bookcase: when you look up from your reading, stuyding or browsing, you can look out of the 'window' at the 'scenery'? Argh: 3 million-plus photos on Houzz and no nice bookstands. Here's one just to give you an idea:

To me, the mural above the little bookcase seems overpowering.

I think an attractive floor lamp, particularly with a pretty lampshade, would work and look great in the corner area.

I would shift the bookcase a little to the left and put a simple wooden chair in the corner between it and the stairs. This would add some height to connect the bookcase with the mural without being too bulky for the space, and invite you to sit and pick a book. Put a lovely potted fern (I would probably cheat and get a good faux one) on the top of the bookcase to add some volume and texture and pick up the green in the mural.

I agree paint the laundry chute the wall color. It's fighting your 'stuff'. Can you get a second bookshelf? Offset the mural and use a tall vase or lamp opposite the mural. I wouldn't put a chair there - furniture with no use is annoying...I really like the bookshelf it just needs to be bigger/longer for space.

OOPS - Offset the 2 bookshelfs - mural is perm on the wall!

Hi Joanie!
I'd get a wooden shelf that's about three inches larger on each side and front than the current top on your bookshelf. Stain it the same color as the railing or floor and attach it to the current top using screws from underneath or replace the current top. A floor vase with tall fronds or even bamboo sticks on the railing side and a shorter one on the little door side. An oval tray made of silver or brass on the left or shorter side and matching candle stick holders ( in differing heights ) on the taller plant side. I'd get the wider candle stick holders and battery operated candles also in staggered heights. I'd also try to frame the mural using a repeating stencil that looks like a frame. I go to thrift stores all the time and come up with amazing deals on trays and containers and even candle holders. A can of spray paint can keep everything in the same metallic color. The cast off lumber box at the home improvement stores can help you out with the shelf and a sander can help you round the edges on the shelf. Your completed wall should have shorter items on the left and slowly graduate to the tallest ones on the right. This will incorporate that cute laundry door into the whole vignette! Have fun!

I think the little white book table is too deep and not wide enough for a hall table. That's a pretty long wall, so something closer to the wall and wider, decorated with (fill in the blank) will have a little more interest/impact.

Has a touch of Tuscany, planter next to table, looks a bit lonely, small candle sconces each side of mural, candles, lanterns on table, especially if you can get them in that orange rust colour

vases

I think you need a bigger table or desk with a small lamp

The Italianate looking mural is the real misfit here. Can you remove it? Since you obviously have kids, add a floor cushion or child size TOGO chair so they can have a reading nook by the bookcase which can move right or left to make room for the TOGO once the mural in no longer dictating its placement.