A grouping of 12 identically framed 8X10 photos (4 across, 3 high) that were taken during your travels together?

I was going to suggest a mirror, but it looks like you already have one. And I guess if you had some great art, it would already be up there? What's the style of the rest of your home? An overized vintage travel poster with bright bold colors immediately comes to mind.

What's your budget?

a mirror might be useful, though I do like bepsf's idea.

What about a change in wall color? The yellow feels jarring, not the soothing feel you want when entering your home.

It could do with a very pretty light fixture.

I 3rd the idea of small, grouped photos or prints.

I do like the yellow. Do you know what color it is?

I believe this calls for a gigantastic piece of art.

I don't know if you are up for painting, but the yellow color seems a bit precious for such a dramatic space. I would choose a more sophisticated color. Charcoal grey is in jeopardy of being over done, but would be beautiful in this space. Aubergine, green so deep it is almost black, navy blue and dark chocolate brown all come to mind. If it is wired for one, a chandelier would be beautiful, and a great big mirror or arrangement of small mirrors would help keep the area light with such saturated colors.

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-7155-63-step-mirrors.aspx

http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-6016-63-montclair-mirror.aspx

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Prisca_Mirror_II/450/

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p11081/index.cfm?pkey=cmirrors

I'm with melanie 100%, especially her fab use of "gigantastic."

One dramatic piece with a new light fixture and complementary area rug. A small pedestal table would work for the key drop spot.

Just some thoughts!

I agree that a pendant light fixture of some kind would help dress up the space, and I would do a gallery-type arrangement of photos on the wall. A mirror would be great also, but it looks like you have one just around the corner, and you wouldn't want to be too mirror-y. Perhaps also a narrower runner instead of the rug you have there, which looks a little big for the space.

Thanks for all the comments! The yellow paint looks a lot more jarring, and.. well.. yellow, than it does in real life. It's actually pretty neutral.
I was thinking about art but I really like the idea for the 8x10 of travel photos and a new light fixture.

Thanks again!!

A large mirror and a row of hooks to maximize your landing strip.

How about a mural? It would go with the architecture of the apartment and not take up any space....

LOVE the yellow. Cheerful, welcoming, warm.

But... is that a phone in the middle of the wall? Can it be moved?

Gallery wall. That's a great spot for a gouping of various sizes and shapes of items, maybe including a few framed rectangular pieces (photos, drawings, paintings), plus a few irregular items (plaques, carvings, 3-d items, plates, etc.)

I'd suggest using what you've got. Do you have a shoebox of small mementos you could make a shadowbox or art collage with? Or photos you've been meaning to get framed?

We've used wall space for storage too - we have 2 guitars hanging on the wall. It's decorative plus practical!

I vote for a large modern unframed canvas... something with enough details so that "reads" at both a very close distance and from one farther, as seen for neighboring spaces.

It also seems wide enough for a carefully-chosen narrow bench or console table.

And I'd change the rug to a runner.

Yeah, good call on changing the runner, Patrick...

..oops, I mean rug.

A gigantic piece of art. Maybe a vintage movie poster?

Artwork will make your entry way pop and set the tone for the rest of your home. Go large and unframed.

change the paint color to something dark (including ceiling but not molding). and what about 2 mirrors facing each other in the hall way to expand the space more? i see ceiling lamp so maybe change them to great pendent lamps to hit the top of the moldings. i don't think you need the rug there.

We have a very similar hallway, incedently it is the same color yellow. We've bought some Ikea gallery style lights to go down the long wall, and hung a picture rail about door top height along the wall. We now use it to rotate paintings in and out, making a great gallery wall. It always gives our guests something to talk about at our parties. In yours I would get rid of the rug, but keep that long bench or something similar for people to admire your art.

Are you very attached to that yellow... it's not doing anything for me. I think a dove gray would be stunning especially with the great ceiling and moulding as a contrast.

Definitely a runner-rug (sisal?) and a lamp... nothing too precious, maybe a big cylindrical shade in dark gray and a bright colour (red, turquoise, lime green?).

And definitely some art on the big wall... one big painting or the grouping suggested earlier.

Also could the mirror frame be painted white to go with the rest of the woodwork or black like the bench?