The 1st color I thought of was red. No, it's not my favorite color but that's what spoke to me.
If you are not married to that end table, I would remove it entirly and put a very small, thin - maybe knee high book shelf right under the 'slope' since it's a reading area. You might want to add a small overhead light--something like this:http://remodelista.com/posts/high-low-metal-wall-mounted-reading-lamp. I'm sure you can get something like it way cheaper. Good luck.

My two cents.... I would find a wallpaper that echoes the colors of the chair..
I would then flip the chair and the side table to balance the look...
What a cute little nook!

To me, it doesn't really make a sense to have a chair there..can anyone sit there without hitting his head? I'd put a small english desk against the wall and put a nice rustic chair..and I'd also get a pretty table lamp on the desk.

I think paint that is the color in the upholstery pattern. I agree with norahl about flipping the chair and table. I love the table and it looks vintage-y. I don't know if you have an outlet there anywhere but a lamp like this hanging over it would be sweet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/116530796/vintage-blue-glass-and-mirror-wall-lamp?

Have fun!

Wallpapering the underside of the stairs would be pretty fun, kind of like a surprise. I would say the nook as a whole needs something in a non-neutral color and either a big pattern or a solid to bring it forward. Maybe either a bigger piece of art on the wall or a good pillow or paint the side table a color. Everything is just kind of floating as a neutral.

Definitely paint or paper the underside of the stairs in an interesting color. As others have said, the space needs something non-neutral.

I would flip the chair and table (and get a smaller table that's just one level) and install a wall sconce or get a table lamp for task lighting. That way one could actually read or do something enjoyable in the nook, without one's book, knitting, etc being obscured by the shadows cast by the stairs overhead.

I love your rocks

Inviting for ? one person, kids? The chair looks too big for the area. Is there room for two smaller chairs and a small table so two could have a glass of wine & visit; a mini lounge. Otherwise, maybe a small desk with a guestbook & or 'cabin related' photo album / book.

I would remove the table, pull the chair out of the corner so you don't hit your head sitting down, find some cute colorful pillows and a nice colorful side table/magazine stand for pops of color. I think if you paint that wall a bright color it's going to be overwhelming for the person sitting in the chair.

the chair is nice, but neutral. i'd flip the chair and table, except get a bookcase that isn't too wide but wide, but still wide enough to place that geode sideways. then i'd put a small table lamp on the shelf next to the chair, and books and other hobby stuff (like knitting accoutrements in a basket) on the lower shelves. although i also think a wall sconce would be great, if you can install one. above the chair i'd put something in a horizontal frame (i can't tell if your art is a pattern that can be rotated or not, but i like the frame size and color). as for the wall under the stairs, i think bold is the way to go. a quick search found me this and this. they're fairly different but they both bring a non-neutral color that will help the define this as a separate space while letting it pop, but the papers also have gold in them to tie with the neutrals of the chair and the gold in the geode. good luck!

also they're minerals, not rocks, ec05!

(breaking bad reference, anyone?)

i also like this wallpaper color, but if you use that then you definitely need a throw pillow and a matching lampshade in something vibrant like red.

My vote is for a peacock-y blue with some sheen, although i can't quite tell what color the chair is, so maybe play with some choices. also, i would nix the side table for something with a cleaner profile.

what a fun nook to read a book!

With Monica.

my first thought was anthropologie's wallpapers... it's had to make a cabin "chic" so you might as well not try and just make it whimsical and fun...

Here's one: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-wallpaper/974062.jsp
This one of metallic deer is on SALE and would look AWESOME! --> http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/shopsale-decorative/26073148.jsp

...but obviously that may just be my taste....

I too think you should flip the shelf and the chair so people don't bump their head. And the sky is not the limit for most people, so I don't agree with comments telling you to get new furniture. Just have fun with the old stuff. Add a throw blanket that compliments the new wall choice! If there is some cool wood under that white paint on the cabinet it might be fund to strip and stain it.

I rather like it the way it is. I'm getting Scandinavian vibes from it. The chair in the corner looks cozy, and I really doubt if anyone would hit their head because a person doesn't stand straight up from that kind of chair. Were it mine, I might introduce some medium-to-dark gray for contrast plus one small vibrantly-colored thing.

I like the idea of doing a bookshelf on the short wall next to the stairs. Have the chair to the right said, angled slightly towards the shelf. You could hang a mini chandelier/swag light between the shelf and chair, towards the back wall.

*right side

Now I want a big fancy rock, er, mineral.

Hands down, the best way to make it inviting is to add a low lamp, such as at head or waist hight for someone seated in the chair.

Switch the chair and table, agreed. If you take away the giant geode it would be a nice area for a lamp. Or put a tiny lamp in front of it so it sparkles, maybe. Or if you can't do lighting there, put some fresh cut flowers, herbs or greenery there.

You could hang something inviting, like a lantern or pom-pom light fixture or something that catches light, just so long as it isn't looming over someone seated in the chair.

Put a throw blanket on the chair (for winter, anyway).

I think you should paint the white wall/ceiling a warm color, like warm mossy green or brick red (be careful with those two, but I think a vibrant shade of either would work best), some color made up of red, orange and white, or possibly a dark eggplant dark turquoise. If you go dark be sure to add in metallics (gold would be best) to liven it up. Actually, putting some gold in that area would help-- try to keep it on the warm organic side rather than brassy, glitzy 80's nonsense. And if you do wallpaper, the same colors would work; the space can handle a bold pattern; don't go muted and mamby-pamby with this.

A small fluffy area rug, such as sheep skin or some sort of shag, would also help.

And if all else fails to make it inviting, put a bowl of snacks there. Done.

If you're still looking for ideas, 1920s 'craftsman' or 'bungalow' style and art nouveau do some cool things with aking a warm space that incorporates wood tone.

It is too confining for a place to sit. I would put a small bookcase, cabinet, table or small writing desk there (which would depend on a bigger view of the total space) and not a chair. It also needs a small lamp. Bad feng shui to sit under there IMO. The chair is really nice, but looks cramped and sort of stuck there to be out of the way instead of inviting as it should be. To me the space should be visually interesting and functional, yet not be seen as a seating area. Alternatively, if you have young children, you could make a special, cozy, child-sized space for them.

I agree that you could go with a bold color and/or wallpaper in your nook. What the color should be is up to you. In your picture the, the little side table looks to be a mint green. You could play off that and do a bold green.

I love the rock, but I'm not sure it quite works on that table. However if you decide to keep it there, maybe your paint/wallpaper should be (wait for it) SHINY!!!

I respectfully disagree with the commenters who say to use a color from the chair. The chair is neutral. If you pick up on a color in the chair, go over the top with it.

I don't really think it needs much. I don't think the geodes are doing anything for that space and the ottoman doesn't scream "cabin" to me. If I were your guest I would be afraid to use it for fear of putting my foot through it. But I like the chair and the table there. I'm having a strong nostalgic reaction to the table, in fact. Just take away the geology experiments, put a lamp and a couple of reading options on the table, and maybe a little box of letterpress coasters. You might not need an ottoman at all, but if you do, get a more cozy one. Save your paint/wallpaper money for other rooms or for some nice wine for your guests.

The space is delightful. I almost totally agree with Strawberryjam. Simplify the look with a bookcase under the stairs, showcase the geodes there. Wall sconce would work only if it is a swing-arm (reader's head would cast a shadow from a sconce). How about a small hanging lamp? I like the blue wallpaper with gold starry objects, but also love green. For me a bold print or red paint would be too strong to sit right up against (unless it were a muted red suchas tomato soup).