Decorating
17 Inventive Ways to Decorate an Empty Corner
Get eclectic and turn a nondescript corner into one that gets noticed for all the right reasons
Everyone has one of ‘those’ corners in their home. You know the ones I am talking about – those plain spaces you are just not sure what to do with. They are often next to a window or door, or beside a piece of furniture, but regardless of where they are located, those 90-degree spaces can be tricky to decorate.
These challenging spaces can be a perfect match for eclectic style. Mixing and matching different textures, colours and decor can be just the thing to take that tucked-away corner from boring to beautiful. You could even display your favourite bits and bobs you’ve collected over time. Keeping things eclectic means that you can experiment with adding different styles and time periods together in the one area, which can often make for some beautiful results.
Draw inspiration from these inventive feature spaces and make every corner in your abode eclectically electric.
These challenging spaces can be a perfect match for eclectic style. Mixing and matching different textures, colours and decor can be just the thing to take that tucked-away corner from boring to beautiful. You could even display your favourite bits and bobs you’ve collected over time. Keeping things eclectic means that you can experiment with adding different styles and time periods together in the one area, which can often make for some beautiful results.
Draw inspiration from these inventive feature spaces and make every corner in your abode eclectically electric.
2. A suitcase stack
Old or vintage suitcases fit perfectly into most corners due to their square or rectangular shape. Stack them up and use them as a side table or fill them up and use as extra storage space. Even if you leave them empty, they still look good – particularly when arranged with a retro-style fan and pretty wall art, as pictured here.
Old or vintage suitcases fit perfectly into most corners due to their square or rectangular shape. Stack them up and use them as a side table or fill them up and use as extra storage space. Even if you leave them empty, they still look good – particularly when arranged with a retro-style fan and pretty wall art, as pictured here.
3. Double up
Ok, so technically this space has two corners – but I couldn’t resist not sharing this amazing decorative wall paper and framed mirror! The Mid-century chairs with black and white zebra-print cushions work beautifully within this simple and elegant eclectic space.
More: Wild Walls: How to Be Bold Yet Beautiful With Wallpaper
Ok, so technically this space has two corners – but I couldn’t resist not sharing this amazing decorative wall paper and framed mirror! The Mid-century chairs with black and white zebra-print cushions work beautifully within this simple and elegant eclectic space.
More: Wild Walls: How to Be Bold Yet Beautiful With Wallpaper
4. An antique clock
If on its own, this wall clock may look a bit lost, but it goes perfectly with this simple table with ornate spindle legs and adorned with a vintage typewriter and white pouring jugs. Using a pouring jug as a vase is a great way to showcase pretty blooms and ferns freshly picked from the garden.
If on its own, this wall clock may look a bit lost, but it goes perfectly with this simple table with ornate spindle legs and adorned with a vintage typewriter and white pouring jugs. Using a pouring jug as a vase is a great way to showcase pretty blooms and ferns freshly picked from the garden.
5. A pile of books
Books can make for a wonderfully simple display when piled up from the floor and topped with a pot plant. Add a retro chair and a side table (for your teacup) to the mix and you have yourself the perfect little reading corner.
Books can make for a wonderfully simple display when piled up from the floor and topped with a pot plant. Add a retro chair and a side table (for your teacup) to the mix and you have yourself the perfect little reading corner.
6. Repurpose a ladder
Turn that old ladder in your garden shed into a corner feature. Give it a good brush, a sand and a fresh lick of paint – and voilà! This white ladder looks gorgeous against the light mint-coloured walls. Adorn with a string of mini lanterns or a few pictures to create more interest and a personalised finish.
Turn that old ladder in your garden shed into a corner feature. Give it a good brush, a sand and a fresh lick of paint – and voilà! This white ladder looks gorgeous against the light mint-coloured walls. Adorn with a string of mini lanterns or a few pictures to create more interest and a personalised finish.
7. A music corner
Create a makeshift music corner for when you fancy a strum on the guitar, a bang on the tambourine or session on the didgeridoo. Add a packing crate as a corner table and a recycled jam jar as a vase and you have all the makings of a functional but quirky music corner.
Create a makeshift music corner for when you fancy a strum on the guitar, a bang on the tambourine or session on the didgeridoo. Add a packing crate as a corner table and a recycled jam jar as a vase and you have all the makings of a functional but quirky music corner.
8. Picture frames
Embellish the space under your stairs with assorted picture frames filled with your favourite artwork and photos.
Embellish the space under your stairs with assorted picture frames filled with your favourite artwork and photos.
9. Showcase artwork
I love how this artwork display resembles a marching line of paintings. The continuous line really gives this living room corner space a point of difference. The industrial-style pendant lighting adds to the distinctive line of collected works.
I love how this artwork display resembles a marching line of paintings. The continuous line really gives this living room corner space a point of difference. The industrial-style pendant lighting adds to the distinctive line of collected works.
10. Vintage posters
These artfully arranged vintage posters look stunning against the bright blue wall. This colourful corner draws you in and gives this room a fun and colourful talking point.
These artfully arranged vintage posters look stunning against the bright blue wall. This colourful corner draws you in and gives this room a fun and colourful talking point.
11. Divert attention
Draw attention away from an unattractive element in the corner, such as a power box, by adding items that will distract the eye. A leafy indoor plant on a simple wooden stool and woven basket will do the trick.
Draw attention away from an unattractive element in the corner, such as a power box, by adding items that will distract the eye. A leafy indoor plant on a simple wooden stool and woven basket will do the trick.
12. A handy desk
A beautiful frame, some coffee table books, a decorative lamp and ten-pin bowling replicas gives this corner console a unique, and fun, touch.
A beautiful frame, some coffee table books, a decorative lamp and ten-pin bowling replicas gives this corner console a unique, and fun, touch.
13. A display cupboard
Country eclectic at its best. The wall cupboard pictured here displays an assortment of treasures found lying around the surrounding property. A sheep horn holds a collection of sunhats and bags, and a 1960s wicker tub chair resides underneath.
Country eclectic at its best. The wall cupboard pictured here displays an assortment of treasures found lying around the surrounding property. A sheep horn holds a collection of sunhats and bags, and a 1960s wicker tub chair resides underneath.
14. A powder room arrangement
This bathroom corner display really gives this powder room a nostalgic edge. The combination of woven baskets, vanity mirror, vintage tray and jug of flowers is reminiscent of the days when there was no tap water and when basins and jugs of still water were the order of the day.
This bathroom corner display really gives this powder room a nostalgic edge. The combination of woven baskets, vanity mirror, vintage tray and jug of flowers is reminiscent of the days when there was no tap water and when basins and jugs of still water were the order of the day.
15. An aged packing crate
This rich, brown vintage packing crate offsets the lightly coloured surrounds. The addition of a smaller crate filled with a pot of flowers, plus a lamp, mix elements of cottage, vintage and industrial styles together splendidly.
This rich, brown vintage packing crate offsets the lightly coloured surrounds. The addition of a smaller crate filled with a pot of flowers, plus a lamp, mix elements of cottage, vintage and industrial styles together splendidly.
16. Floating shelves
Add a few floating shelves to a tricky corner and display some of your favourite bits and pieces such as decorative letters, pictures and ornately framed mirrors. Add a lamp for soft illumination.
Add a few floating shelves to a tricky corner and display some of your favourite bits and pieces such as decorative letters, pictures and ornately framed mirrors. Add a lamp for soft illumination.
17. Family photo wall
This is the perfect illustration of how you can make a boring corner into a fantastic feature. Keeping family photos in an album means they hardly ever get to see the light of day. This wall display showcases different generations of family photographs to be enjoyed by anyone who walks past. The retro chair and bright cushions also give the space some kick.
SHOW US
Have you been inspired to decorate an empty corner in your home? Tell us your plans and, if you can, post high-res before and after photos in the comments section.
MORE
A Dozen Novel Ways To Display Your Favourite Photos
Hidden Treasure: 12 Things to Do With Wasted Space Around the House
Step Back: How to Use the Space Under Your Stairs
This is the perfect illustration of how you can make a boring corner into a fantastic feature. Keeping family photos in an album means they hardly ever get to see the light of day. This wall display showcases different generations of family photographs to be enjoyed by anyone who walks past. The retro chair and bright cushions also give the space some kick.
SHOW US
Have you been inspired to decorate an empty corner in your home? Tell us your plans and, if you can, post high-res before and after photos in the comments section.
MORE
A Dozen Novel Ways To Display Your Favourite Photos
Hidden Treasure: 12 Things to Do With Wasted Space Around the House
Step Back: How to Use the Space Under Your Stairs
How cute is this collection of model deers and vintage birds? I love the way the birds are artfully displayed on tree branches in a simple white pot topped with green moss. The brightly coloured aqua bookshelf filled with books is also a standout.