Inside: Stylish Ideas for Odd Spaces around the House. Collaborative post.
The majority of houses in the UK can boast a few awkward spaces. We’re talking about awkward nooks beneath sloping ceilings, the recesses on either side of a chimney breast, and the voids created above and below a stairwell.
In older buildings, where recesses might have served a purpose that’s now obsolete, you might find that the wasted space is considerable.
Fortunately, in most cases, these are solutions to these problems. Let’s take a look at some creative ways of filling unused space.
Shallow built-in wardrobes
You might find that you have a built-in wardrobe that’s just a little bit too shallow to accommodate hanging clothes. The best solution here might be to use the space as a study or creative nook. All that you need to do is install a few hanging shelves, a hanging desk, and a few wall lights.
Wall-mounting the monitor will free up a little more space on your desk.
Attic Eaves
If your roof is sloped, then you’ll end up with an awkward wedge shape just beneath it. This can pose a bit of a challenge. You might solve the problems with the help of a specialised storage area. A few fitted draws, shelves, or hanging rails can help you to ensure you’re making use of the vertical space. The same principle applies to that forty-five-degree space beneath your stairs.
Alcoves
You might find that you have a few alcoves in your home, particularly if there’s a chimney breast in the room. You can fill these in a range of ways. You might install hanging shelves to create an unobtrusive, space-efficient bookcase.
You might install a seat that can convert the space into a little reading nook. Alternatively, you might use the space to create a pocket of accent colour, creating a visual landmark to help break up an otherwise bland-looking room.
Shallow Mantels
Small, shallow fireplace mantels might present you with a bit of difficulty. You’d like to inject some style into the fireplace, but you haven’t got much space to work with. Here’s where you need to choose the right visual detailing. Paintings, mirrors, and photographs can all be effective. There are no real rules here, other than that you should let your taste lead the way.
Entryway into the House
In some properties, there is no porch to speak of. The front door opens directly into the living room, or into some other space. This tends to mean that you get a bigger living room, but only at the expense of seperation between the entrance and your living space.
It’s easy, fortunately, to define an entry area without throwing up a stud wall. Lay down a mat, and add a bench and some clotheshooks. Outdoor essentials like hats, shoes and scarves can be stored on special racks.