Finding the space you need in your home is getting harder than ever, thanks to the rise in property prices and the fact that the average house is getting smaller. When striking the balance between living space and storage space, the latter is often the area where most people compromise, and understandably – devoting more of your living space to storage can make your life uncomfortable.
However, this makes it important to use whatever space you have available, no matter how impractical, so maximising awkward spaces with the options you have available.
Many homes have awkward spaces that are difficult to use; these may be alcoves, chimney breasts, cupboards or empty spaces under the stairs, spaces above and below windows or cupboards, or nooks created by oddly shaped rooms. In many cases, with the right approach and some creative thinking, you can get more out of these spaces, whether by turning them into decorative features of the room, or by transforming them into a storage solution that will make them much more practical.
Here, the storage solution experts at Clever Closet present some simple ways that you can transform an ‘awkward’ space to better meet your needs. In this way, you can stop thinking of the space as awkward, and start thinking about how to make it work for you.
What are the options for your awkward space?
There are lots of different factors that can make a space awkward: it might be too small to sit in, too shallow for a chest of drawers, or located right in the middle of a wall. It may be created by a quirk of your home’s architecture, or be an intentional feature that doesn’t work as intended – for example, a small alcove may be an attractive decorative feature, but if it doesn’t have a practical function, it can feel like wasted space.
Start with this list, and get inspired about the potential that your awkward space exhibits – but always keep in mind the practical limitations you’re working within.
Plants
No matter what type of space you have, if it is open and visible, a plant can be an excellent way to brighten it up. A floor-to-ceiling recess or alcove is great for a large and freestanding plant. If there is space to install a shelf or a hanging basket, this can be another novel approach that turns an awkward alcove into a frame for a decorative piece of greenery. If you are concerned about maintenance, a plastic plant will work just as effectively.
Show off
Sometimes, the downsides of a recess or alcove may be that it occupies a central position in the room, that it is too shallow to hold furniture, or that you cannot put furniture against the wall without blocking it off. However, these can also be advantages if you have mementos, hand-crafted items, artwork or attractive decorative features that you want to show off. The area around this kind of alcove can act as a frame that draws attention to the work at the centre. To make the best use of the space, arrange your furniture around it to draw the eye.
Storage
In many cases, awkward spaces of all shapes and sizes can be adapted into storage solutions. In fact, in some cases, you can install built-in storage that is customised to fit the space you have available, but without the expensive price tag of a bespoke solution. This gives you the best of both worlds, and you can take advantage of an awkward space storage solution to get organised and maximise the opportunities of your room.
By installing this type of unit, you can also hide the space from view – choose a unit with drawers that do not use handles, but instead use a push-to-open mechanism. The drawers can sit flush against the wall, hiding the recess and giving a peaceful and balanced appearance to the room. Alternatively, you may be able to install a multipurpose piece like a storage bench, which will give you somewhere to sit and enjoy your nook while also upgrading your storage capacity, maximising awkward spaces.
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