Hole in the wall entrance

Clara Rivera
by Clara Rivera
Hello, I have this hole in the wall of the main entrance of my house and do not know what I can do?
  62 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 05, 2015
    I would put a picture inside of the whole.
  • Esmee Shunikian Esmee Shunikian on Oct 05, 2015
    Make it into a curio display
  • Z Z on Oct 05, 2015
    This is an art niche. I'd add a lovely piece of art work, if you want to add a few ceramic pieces you could add a wood shelf on the bottom. Her's a Google search I did for art niches. https://www.google.com/search?q=art+niche&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMI_s6Tx-eryAIVyms-Ch1aUgMd&biw=1600&bih=775
  • JUlie Boyer JUlie Boyer on Oct 06, 2015
    I'd put up some chicken wire and put live suckling air plants make your own picture
  • Luz Vicente Luz Vicente on Oct 06, 2015
    Yo pondria una estanteria para poner un vaciabolsillo y el mando a distancia
  • Sass Sass on Oct 06, 2015
    Hi I would install small Led down lights at the top of the niche, get some glass shelves cut to size and then display beautiful items on the shelves will look lovely with the lights on.
  • Jonnie Hammon Jonnie Hammon on Oct 06, 2015
    Paint a motto, saying, quote, or anything else that means something to you, centered in the hole. Then stencil a scroll work, or flowers around it. Add a longer narrow basket at the bottom, be sure to attach it, so it won't get knocked off, and use it for mail, keys, etc...
  • Karen Sue Karen Sue on Oct 06, 2015
    Find a wreath close to that size. I have a grapevine one right outside the door and I just tuck picks from craft section of store to celebrate seasons. Grapevine has enough open "weave" that you can do a lot of things and never need to glue. So you can just swap around. I have bows and flowers and leaves in different zip lock bags and just grab the season and change it out. It's being recessed would make it less apt to get bumped all the time.
  • Wanda.ll Wanda.ll on Oct 06, 2015
    could make a place to hang keys when you come in the front door. Decorate it some way and put up pretty hooks.
  • Emily Antonecchia Emily Antonecchia on Oct 06, 2015
    I hung a clock on a shelf in there and hung plates around it on the outside
  • Hereisjunebug Hereisjunebug on Oct 06, 2015
    It a mirror cut to size. Dress the bottom with wood to make it look like a finished cabinet. Leave it clean from items of clutter.
  • Judyms9 Judyms9 on Oct 06, 2015
    Seems like a natural spot for a collage of pictures of little ones or pets in your life.
  • Rachel Rachel on Oct 06, 2015
    how about making a picture frame fit to size and slides into it and fits flush with the wall
  • Lisa B. Lisa B. on Oct 06, 2015
    Paint the inner sides to make it look like a frame, then collage the heck out of it, or put a seasonal wreath in there. You could also mirror the back, put narrow glass shelves inside and display a collection of small items or some flameless cadles on timers for instant ambience. That niche was likely built to feature a prized statue or figurine of some kind originally.
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Oct 06, 2015
    Paint it a darker neutral color and then hang a framed painting or print inside it. You could also frame some beautiful art paper, 12 x 12 scrapbook paper or even wrapping paper.
  • Jmj1869452 Jmj1869452 on Oct 06, 2015
    Perhaps a message board of sorts. Paint the interior with chalk paint to welcome guests, keep the family informed of upcoming events, homework, etc. frame it in cork to pin latest invites, rsvp, pics etc
  • Grace Grieco Grace Grieco on Oct 06, 2015
    Its unique. Hang art. You can buy a battery operated light that attaches with velcro and have your art illuminated. Maybe tall candles. The collage of pictures is a nice idea. Place decorative hooks for keys.
  • Buster Evans Buster Evans on Oct 06, 2015
    perfect place for special photos.. they can be changed out periodically if you like. depending on size of photos you can put 2 smaller ones on either side and a lager one in the middle with the 2 smaller ones lower than the larger one, and add some candles on the ledge below to accent the arrangement
  • Sharon Bourque Betsill Sharon Bourque Betsill on Oct 06, 2015
    I love that... Paint inside an accent color to make the adjointing room and hang art work or place art piece..
  • Tonia Tonia on Oct 06, 2015
    You can make a hidden cubby for keys and things. Add a shelf and some hooks then find or make a hinged mirror (think medicine cabinet) to place over the niche. You will have a place to keep things organized and hidden.
  • Jennifer Jennifer on Oct 06, 2015
    Tonia mentioned a good idea, if that works for you. Or maybe just get a small piece of granite and attach it to the bottom as a shelf (extend it out a little more than it is not though). Then you could place a vase of flowers (real or fake)
  • Ann Ann on Oct 06, 2015
    It looks like it's low, close to the floor. Perhaps was a pet door at one time? You should be able to cut a piece of drywall and fill it in. But if that's more than you can handle on your own, put a chair or a basket in front of it and ignore it.
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Oct 06, 2015
    Depending on how wide and/or how light/gloomy your entryway is, you might consider having a mirror cut to fit the large wall portion. Then, have some glass shelves cut to fit across it and place small treasures and photos on the shelves. The mirror will reflect light and the objects on display. The space seems high enough to safely showcase whatever you choose to put there.
  • Charles Prock Charles Prock on Oct 06, 2015
    Do a venetian plaster with an accent color, add a battery powered puck light and a nice piece of sculpture and you're good to go.
  • Barbara Parsons Barbara Parsons on Oct 06, 2015
    I had two of them in my entry in a former home. They had glass shelves on them. We removed the shelves and brackets, then widened the bottom area andlined the back wall with a very deep green paper. I added an African mask that we got on our travels in one--in the other I put a substantial vase with a large dried flower arrangement in it. It looked pretty darned good, and it removed that "blah" look. You can actually put almost anything you like in there, but I certainly suggest adding color to the back wall.
  • Connie Connie on Oct 06, 2015
    If it is close to the front door, you could put hooks up for your car keys and small umbrella. Then enclose the area with saloon shutters in your favorite color with decorative knobs. It looks like it is a good place to make functional.
    • Pis2225486 Pis2225486 on Oct 06, 2015
      @Connie I second this motion... what a perfect space for it! Most of the time key holders stick out from the wall and are visible... you end up knocking into it, the cat tries to hang from a lanyard, etc. lol. I love the shutter idea!
  • GAyle GAyle on Oct 06, 2015
    Hang a picture in it.
  • Judy Judy on Oct 06, 2015
    Here's what I would do, stencil a warm greeting on a pretty background so your guests will be awed when they enter.
  • Betty-Ellen Betty-Ellen on Oct 06, 2015
    I would add shallow shelves and a place to hang keys
  • Marra Marra on Oct 06, 2015
    I'd add a deeper shelf on the bottom for a basket for keys or mail, then use the space above for seasonal wreaths, wall hangings, inspirational sayings, greetings - if you're an informal family use chalk paint and leave happy messages for one another.
  • Susan Susan on Oct 06, 2015
    A nice colorful picture over it.. could even hide things behind it and then hang a picture. Another idea is to paint it with chalkboard paint.. I would use black..frame it and every day write a uplifting quote for others to see or messages for the kids or husband. The possibilities are limitless!
  • Cheryle Fuller Cheryle Fuller on Oct 06, 2015
    I think you have some great suggestions from other ladies. I use my space beteen jambs for glass shelves to display collections, but my space goes all the way through. i like the idea of some kind of artwork on the back wall. Glass shelves are not too expensive if you go that route.
  • Madhulika Madhulika on Oct 06, 2015
    Have a carved wooden floral or buddha motif, preferably in wood...just ensure its the same shape that is squarish like your hole and paint the edges golden..it will be like a natural frame for the artwork
  • Madhulika Madhulika on Oct 06, 2015
    Another cheaper idea is to fix a magnetic sheet and then put magnets collected from your travels
  • Pat Moran Pat Moran on Oct 06, 2015
    I like the ideas of keys and art....mount an art lite above - build a frame with an interior-hinged top - dimensions should allow for 1 inch margins around and 1 inch depth margin within the recess. Mount 2 or more slats to the back (remember the margins) for screw in cup hooks or measure out and mount the cup hooks directly into the wall. Mount a lovely piece of art onto the surface of the top of the box. Secure the box into the recess - just open the box and hang your keys inside - now you have convenience without a bunch of keys visible in the entry way and a pretty piece of art, which is the function of the recess.
  • Debbie Debbie on Oct 06, 2015
    How about a beautiful picture-frame to cover the space on hinges. You can then store your keys, dog leashes, etc on little hooks behind the picture.
  • LaL2128725 LaL2128725 on Oct 06, 2015
    A colorful piece of artwork on the inside, with an interesting custom frame on the outer wall. This would give the opening some depth.
  • Kelly Kelly on Oct 06, 2015
    how about some glass shelves?
  • LD LD on Oct 06, 2015
    I would have a mirrored glass cut to size to fit the inside, then add a wall shelf across the front of the space, and add decorative coat hooks for hanging guest coats or that every day coat/sweater.
  • June Jaillet Robertson June Jaillet Robertson on Oct 06, 2015
    How about a little display case for candles and nick knacks you have?
  • Carly Carly on Oct 06, 2015
    make frame a little less wide than your niche, attach battery operated fairy lights, or, white light string for backlight, install in niche, then hang a beautiful picture.
  • Iberkeley Iberkeley on Oct 06, 2015
    Hang a picture over it.
  • Chalk board paint inside, then hang a square old vintage window frame inside of that, hang keys from hooks on window & send chalk notes to each other within the window panes.
  • Rhf2193417 Rhf2193417 on Oct 06, 2015
    I would make this my family emergency center. I would hang hooks for car & house keys, make a shelf to hold flashlights, candles & matches. I would then cover the area using a decorative framed picture or mirror using a piano hinge so that it could be opened or closed. I would do this so that everyone in the family knows where everything is but it is both functual & beautiful at the same time!
  • Maggie Maggie on Oct 06, 2015
    It is called an "Art Niche" , you are to hang a favorite piece of art or something eclectic. Be imaginative. It's your space.
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Oct 07, 2015
    It's for showcasing canvas art.... but you could make a gallery of family photos to hang inside (sort of like a scrapbook page but on the wall) embellish with word stencils to make a phrase like "Love lives here" or just random words. Attach trinkets, etc. if you have family memorabilia to go with photos. The photos could be hung in individual frames or make a collage and frame as one picture to hang. You could also attach a stick on light bar across the top to give the niche a little pop. Use some decorative wallpaper, napkins or other type of patterned paper you like, or contrast paint color for the back of the niche.
  • Renata Renata on Oct 07, 2015
    I would paint a hill and hang a Jesus on the cross there . I do not know what they are called but it's metal and like a big necklace of Jesus on the cross.
  • Margita Margita on Oct 07, 2015
    I had the same recess in my entry way. The picture below shows you how I dealt with it.
  • Janet Janet on Oct 07, 2015
    I learn something new everyday on hometalk. Wish I could find more time.
  • Kimberly Saxton Scruggs Kimberly Saxton Scruggs on Oct 08, 2015
    Cover the back wall with a plain mirror. Then mount an 'under cupboard' likelihood bar at the very top; something not too tacky. Have a header to cover the light bracket. You might get an electrician to install it and a light switch. Do this before you mount the mirror! Then, mount a couple of glass shelves and display some art glass, with the light shining down through the colorful pieces.
  • Mary Mary on Oct 08, 2015
    Highlight with a contrast color like yellow, burgundy and hang a nice picture and tea candle at the bottom
  • Deb Deb on Oct 08, 2015
    I just bought a house in FL that has one in the dining room, I think I'll hang a large mirror over it. Glad to know finally what it's called " art niche "
  • Judy Gordon Judy Gordon on Oct 08, 2015
    I notice some of the newer art pieces are just plain wood planks in a frame, you might try something like that if you are into wood. If not, whatever you come up with, just make sure you are bringing attention to it, not from it.
  • Luz Vicente Luz Vicente on Oct 09, 2015
    prueba
  • Luz Vicente Luz Vicente on Oct 09, 2015
    poner unos floreros o un perchero con sombreros o poner una estantería con cristal o un cuadro.
  • Donna Donna on Oct 09, 2015
    I made mine into a quilt rack. It was a closed in window
  • Marilyn McCormick Marilyn McCormick on Oct 09, 2015
    Make a "frame" for it, then have a favorite photo converted to black & white. Then take it to a place that will enlarge (search on google) and crop the photo to fit the space. Put the photo onto foam core and adhere it to the cut out area with spray adhesive. It will become a recessed framed black & white photo of your favorite (vacation spot, dance move, yoga pose, movie star, beach, flower, etc No one else will have a home feature quite like it!.
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Oct 10, 2015
    You can put a picture in it or glass shelves to display your collectibles. You may want to install a light to attract the eye to your treasures.
  • Trudy Trudy on Oct 11, 2015
    Hang a wreath or add a collection of tall candles.
  • Debra Debra on Oct 11, 2015
    Paint the inside an accent color, then add faux tall plants in narrow linear pots.
  • MagnoliaMama MagnoliaMama on Oct 14, 2015
    You are lucky to have a built-in display niche! I love Debra's idea of painting at least the back of it in an accent color. You could then set up a still life of a painting or mirror with a plant, flowers, some candlesticks, or other pretty accessories. Change it with the seasons for a display that will probably become your favorite part of your house.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 31, 2023

    Add a Mirror or mirror tiles to look like s window. Add a Flower Arrangeent, or Piece of Sculpture or a Painting or even Tiles. Let that place say something about the people that live in the home!