Becca - There are so many plants you could put in a big pot there! Here is a pic of a hibiscus that I love in its' pot. the other thought I had was to spend your money on a beautiful glazed pot and put an ordinary palm or whatever in it with some annuals in the bottom. I have a tea olive in my entry way because I love the fragrance but it's not a lovely thing to look at! Hope this helps, Hester

You want it to be cozy and inviting but what do you want/need the space to do? Start there before you buy anything. Do you need office space? Do you have or need a place to hang guest coats? Would you use it as sitting/entertaining space or is your lifestyle such that it would only collect dust while you use the space more connected with the kitchen? I could see it as a lovely reading retreat for adults or kids or adults reading to kids with bookshelves and comfortable chairs - but that fits my life.

I like the idea of leaving the floor space open as decoenthusiaste suggested. If you are looking for a quick easy solution try Ikea trones. They come in white or black and are an inexpensive solution. they also come in black, You could put a mirror above 1 or 2, They are for shoe storage but they can be used to store other items as well.

What do you need to make it more functional? It's difficult to tell from the photos how much room you have to work with. I'd definitely want a small table near the door. Some people want a bench and place to stash shoes and coats. If a mirror would make it more functional for you, I wouldn't hesitate to hang one!