Maybe you could add a horizontal painting with a picture light over it.

I'd shop your house first or find a lamp to use as inspiration. I personally would use a lamp that doubled as a piece of art/sculpture and then build from there. Something like this (just for an idea of what I mean, not specifically horses or owls) maybe? Not too tall, of course...

I'd first paint out the register cover so it blends into the wall better. I'd probably do an arrangement of a few items and then put an up light behind them so it would cast interesting light and shadow. Maybe something sculptural, or glass or textural and hang art on the wall above.

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Thank you all! I like the idea of the lamp as art/sculpture. I think I have exhausted the options for something I already own as I've been going through everything since we moved in and putting it somewhere. Though I might have some things still packed away at our weekend lake place that would be worth looking at. That stuff is probably too north-woodsy for this house but there might be something. Unfortunately for now I'm not going to do any painting. I have no touch up paint and will eventually be repainting the entire room so will have to hold off until then. I haven't really noticed the mismatched register cover but I never look up there because there's nothing to look at. Once I have something up there it will probably drive me nuts....

You could put a nice high quality artificial plant arrangement, succulents or accent type plants... in a nice looking container.

A dough bowl or rectangle basket would be nice with greenery/faux flowers, that can be changed out for the seasons.

I wish I could find the picture I saw last week of a dough bowl with a row of Hydrangea flower heads. Beautiful!

Here's a picture but I don't like the greenery used in the bowl.

I used to have a low, long basket on top of mine, and that worked best. I have found that anything else makes the armoire look too tall.

I'd be tempted to try a fiber optic spray lamp. I had one in the past and loved it. It sat on top of a bookcase and cast a beautiful glow over the room when turned on.

Mine had two modes: steady white light and rotating rainbow colors. The ceramic base was shaped like a round, ball-like vase. Not a bright light suitable for reading, for example, but perfect for soft, dim lighting when watching TV.

Online pictures of similar lamps:

What about a collection of demijohns? Simple, unobtrusive, and tall.

To me a lamp would be odd. Not sure why but it just seems difficult to turn on and off. Maybe if you plugged it into a clapper?

The armoire in my bedroom has a stack of folded antique quilts and a silk plant I kept trying to get rid of. It landed there and has stayed.

Re: the lamp - the switch right next to the armoire turns the outlet behind it on and off. Low bowl with hydrangea heads - good idea as I have hydrangeas! Do you have to do anything to preserve them or just naturally dried?

Take any lamp you have and try it out. I'm thinking a lamp up that high might look strange. Maybe a floor lamp next to the armoire as in Annie's third picture would look better and then artwork, vases, plants etc on top.

3katz, You can use either dried or faux heads. I have Hydrangea outside but faux Hydrangeas inside. lol. At a distance you can't tell them apart.

Dee, I love demijohns, but they're sooo expensive. I like the idea of having several in different sizes though.

How about a large round metal tray? Do you need a light there? You could flank the tray with a couple of tall lanterns on one side with flameless candles on a timer.

The light would be helpful and there isn't really a good place for a floor lamp. I'm thinking small accent lamp along with a couple other things.

I have a small halogen light in front of a metal basket and some metal leaves and a cat tail piece. It casts beautiful shadows on the wall and ceiling.

Dolores - what kind of light do you have up there. John - the three vases look nice.

It is a puck light that I got at Lowe’s for about $15.00. I also use them as under and over cabinet lights.

Dolores, thank you for the info about those 'puck lights'. I have never seen them before and I have a perfect use for one on top of a cabinet in a hallway. I wish I didn't have to wait 4 months til I get back to Florida for the winter!

Dolores - are the puck lights hard wired or battery?

This is about he only place my cats don't go. If anyone gives me flowers this is the only place I can put them.

These are electric. I have it plugged into an extension cord that goes down the back of my armoire.