6 Smart Ideas That Maximised Small UK Spaces
Check out these ideas from UK designers on Houzz, which made clever use of awkward corners and underused areas
Take a look around your home: are there any small spots that are being wasted? Could you slot in a desk, seat or storage anywhere? Browse these designs for inspiration.
2. Slot in a multi-purpose seat
This little space at the end of a run of kitchen cabinets could have been filled with another slim cupboard. Instead, Hannah Morris of Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design created a little seat by a large window looking onto the London home’s garden. “Someone can perch there while you’re working away. It’s nice,” says Lou Edwards, the homeowner.
Morris also incorporated a drawer. “It’s one of those catch-all drawers … somewhere to tuck bits left on the table when I need to clear up quickly,” says Edwards.
In addition to storage and seating, the narrow space also offers the chance to display attractive textiles, adding so much more than a simple small cupboard would have done.
This little space at the end of a run of kitchen cabinets could have been filled with another slim cupboard. Instead, Hannah Morris of Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design created a little seat by a large window looking onto the London home’s garden. “Someone can perch there while you’re working away. It’s nice,” says Lou Edwards, the homeowner.
Morris also incorporated a drawer. “It’s one of those catch-all drawers … somewhere to tuck bits left on the table when I need to clear up quickly,” says Edwards.
In addition to storage and seating, the narrow space also offers the chance to display attractive textiles, adding so much more than a simple small cupboard would have done.
3. Divide and conquer
The whole of this wall in a boy’s bedroom was originally earmarked by designer and homeowner Kirsty Niven of Kirsty Elizabeth Interiors for a walk-in wardrobe. But pausing to consider how much space her son realistically needed made the room in Surrey, UK so much more functional.
“The run was too long to use just for a wardrobe,” she says, “so I cut it off to create a nook where we could make a desk area for him to do his homework.”
This brilliant decision means Niven’s son, Max, has a desk and shelves in addition to clothes storage, plus the area adds interest to the room in terms of display and an eye-catching backdrop. “I had a bit of fun with it and added some wallpaper featuring planes,” she says.
Find an interior designer near you for bespoke solutions that maximise every centimetre of your home
The whole of this wall in a boy’s bedroom was originally earmarked by designer and homeowner Kirsty Niven of Kirsty Elizabeth Interiors for a walk-in wardrobe. But pausing to consider how much space her son realistically needed made the room in Surrey, UK so much more functional.
“The run was too long to use just for a wardrobe,” she says, “so I cut it off to create a nook where we could make a desk area for him to do his homework.”
This brilliant decision means Niven’s son, Max, has a desk and shelves in addition to clothes storage, plus the area adds interest to the room in terms of display and an eye-catching backdrop. “I had a bit of fun with it and added some wallpaper featuring planes,” she says.
Find an interior designer near you for bespoke solutions that maximise every centimetre of your home
4. Think big for your under-stair area
Many of us have some under-stair storage space, but what about creating a fully equipped laundry?
Designer Eva Byrne of Houseology did just that in the home she built for herself and her family in Dublin, Ireland. The thermally lined cupboard houses a washing machine and dryer – with a useful benchtop spanning the machines – a couple of hanging rails, and the hot-water heater. The latter creates residual heat sufficient to air clothes and the space is vented to the exterior. There’s even space to tuck in a clothes airer.
The whole side of the stairs is covered in birch-ply cupboards, meaning the laundry can be tucked away almost invisibly when not in use.
Many of us have some under-stair storage space, but what about creating a fully equipped laundry?
Designer Eva Byrne of Houseology did just that in the home she built for herself and her family in Dublin, Ireland. The thermally lined cupboard houses a washing machine and dryer – with a useful benchtop spanning the machines – a couple of hanging rails, and the hot-water heater. The latter creates residual heat sufficient to air clothes and the space is vented to the exterior. There’s even space to tuck in a clothes airer.
The whole side of the stairs is covered in birch-ply cupboards, meaning the laundry can be tucked away almost invisibly when not in use.
5. Harness a hallway corner
This neat unit in London by Andrew Jonathan Griffiths of A New Day incorporates storage for coats and a seat for putting on shoes – and all in a relatively small alcove.
The cupboards – which include a tall one for long coats – are made from tongue-and-groove for subtle texture and painted in a rich plum. Along with the patterned cushion, this sets the tone for the home’s bold and beautiful design as soon as visitors walk in.
Browse more beautiful and thoughtful entrances to inspire your own
This neat unit in London by Andrew Jonathan Griffiths of A New Day incorporates storage for coats and a seat for putting on shoes – and all in a relatively small alcove.
The cupboards – which include a tall one for long coats – are made from tongue-and-groove for subtle texture and painted in a rich plum. Along with the patterned cushion, this sets the tone for the home’s bold and beautiful design as soon as visitors walk in.
Browse more beautiful and thoughtful entrances to inspire your own
…However, thanks to a hidden compartment, the room can also be freed up for use as a music studio (there’s a large desk opposite this wall).
The bed rolls on soft castors so as not to mark the floor, and is fixed to a custom-made frame. “We rebuilt a section of the roof structure so the bed fits perfectly into the eaves space,” says Hawkins.
Your turn
Have you made good use of a small or awkward area in your home? Tell us your tricks in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Reimagining your home? Read 8 Beautiful Ways to Add Curves to Your Interior
Your turn
Have you made good use of a small or awkward area in your home? Tell us your tricks in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Reimagining your home? Read 8 Beautiful Ways to Add Curves to Your Interior
This landing in a Victorian house in London, UK, was dead space; now it has amazing functionality.
By losing a small window to the left, Ellen Cumber and Alice Bettington of Golden Design managed to fit in a coat cupboard, a little shoe cupboard and a seat.
The depth of the landing meant the designers had to think cleverly about the configuration. The cupboard had to be slim, so they went for hooks inside – as hangers on a rail would have been too deep – and fitted a bi-fold door, as there wasn’t space to open a full-width one.
As well as being useful, it’s so much nicer to look at than before. As Cumber says, “It’s a beautiful little vignette now rather than an afterthought”.