Decorating
6 Ways to Maximise Dull Corners and Overlooked Spots in Your Home
Lift a boring corner, squeeze in extra storage, make a bland feature bold – here's how and where you can do it
Don’t let empty walls and awkward corners bring you down. With a little imagination, you can transform them into anything from an eye-catching feature and a cosy nook to a handy, extra storage space. Three interior designers reveal where to look and six smart ways to add some magic.
Or, for something truly luxurious, install a corner fireplace. Be sure to choose the right fuel source to suit your needs. A wood-burning fire has ambience but it’s messy and you’ll need to source wood, plus the hearth requires plenty of room. A gas fire is clean, requires minimal room and it’s easy to use, but it can be more costly to run.
Whichever one you choose, it is important to have the proper checks done ahead of installation to ensure there’s sufficient ventilation.
For a simpler heating solution and quicker installation, consider an electric fireplace.
Whichever one you choose, it is important to have the proper checks done ahead of installation to ensure there’s sufficient ventilation.
For a simpler heating solution and quicker installation, consider an electric fireplace.
2. Beneath the stairs
The area under the stairs provides the perfect spot for extra storage, seating or even a fun cubby for young ones. Consider adding a built-in cupboard or open shelves, taking them as high as you can to maximise what you’ve got.
You could also install a bench seat, which is sure to make a useful and inviting spot when you have guests over or simply want somewhere to pull on your shoes.
If you only plan to use the seat for short periods, look to make the seat around 500 millimetres deep; for longer periods of lazing, make it at least 800 millimetres deep. For comfort, specify a seat cushion that is at least 80 millimetres deep. Having the cushion custom-made is a wise option as it ensures a perfect fit.
The area under the stairs provides the perfect spot for extra storage, seating or even a fun cubby for young ones. Consider adding a built-in cupboard or open shelves, taking them as high as you can to maximise what you’ve got.
You could also install a bench seat, which is sure to make a useful and inviting spot when you have guests over or simply want somewhere to pull on your shoes.
If you only plan to use the seat for short periods, look to make the seat around 500 millimetres deep; for longer periods of lazing, make it at least 800 millimetres deep. For comfort, specify a seat cushion that is at least 80 millimetres deep. Having the cushion custom-made is a wise option as it ensures a perfect fit.
The space under a bench seat makes a practical spot for shoe baskets and you can then use the back and sides for bookshelves.
For any stair enclosures, be sure to maintain the same style as your staircase and the architecture of your home. For example, if your staircase is Georgian, use timber panelling, even if you’re painting it white for a modern feel. If you have a contemporary home, opt for a clean, pared-back look such as a Polytec laminate in Ultra White for the structure and add interest with a patterned fabric for the seat cushion.
If you want to create something magical for your little person, a cubby under the stairs would have to be it. Enclose the space and, if possible, use panelling such as VJ boards so the door is almost hidden, which adds to the fun. Keep the interior light and bright by painting the walls in Dulux White on White or Snowy Mountains Quarter. Add in good task light via an overhead lighting for reading and play, oversize cushions, colourful wall decals and fairy lights.
Best of the Week: 41 Great Under-Stairs Ideas
For any stair enclosures, be sure to maintain the same style as your staircase and the architecture of your home. For example, if your staircase is Georgian, use timber panelling, even if you’re painting it white for a modern feel. If you have a contemporary home, opt for a clean, pared-back look such as a Polytec laminate in Ultra White for the structure and add interest with a patterned fabric for the seat cushion.
If you want to create something magical for your little person, a cubby under the stairs would have to be it. Enclose the space and, if possible, use panelling such as VJ boards so the door is almost hidden, which adds to the fun. Keep the interior light and bright by painting the walls in Dulux White on White or Snowy Mountains Quarter. Add in good task light via an overhead lighting for reading and play, oversize cushions, colourful wall decals and fairy lights.
Best of the Week: 41 Great Under-Stairs Ideas
Lynne Bradley, interior designer and principal at Lynne Bradley Interiors, says:
3. Maximise kitchen storage
Short on kitchen storage? Look to make the most of what you’ve got by taking overhead cabinetry right to the ceiling or adding shelves or drawers to your kitchen island.
Pro Reveal: 9 Great Kitchens’ Storage Secrets
3. Maximise kitchen storage
Short on kitchen storage? Look to make the most of what you’ve got by taking overhead cabinetry right to the ceiling or adding shelves or drawers to your kitchen island.
Pro Reveal: 9 Great Kitchens’ Storage Secrets
This idea also works in a bedroom that is lacking in storage – simply take built-in cupboards above the bed.
if you are adding additional joinery to a kitchen island or extending overhead cabinets to the ceiling in a kitchen or bedroom, I suggest using a contrasting material or colour to the surrounding ones so that the addition creates a striking feature.
if you are adding additional joinery to a kitchen island or extending overhead cabinets to the ceiling in a kitchen or bedroom, I suggest using a contrasting material or colour to the surrounding ones so that the addition creates a striking feature.
Image: Ikea
Tabitha Lage, interior designer at Ikea Australia, says:
4. Under the bed
Don’t let the area under the bed go to waste – instead use it to add in practical storage for out-of-season clothes or bulky blankets and duvets.
Generous, lidded storage boxes are a smart option as they will keep out the dust and allow you to organise your belongings with ease. Ones on castors that slide in and out from under the bed make access easy.
Tabitha Lage, interior designer at Ikea Australia, says:
4. Under the bed
Don’t let the area under the bed go to waste – instead use it to add in practical storage for out-of-season clothes or bulky blankets and duvets.
Generous, lidded storage boxes are a smart option as they will keep out the dust and allow you to organise your belongings with ease. Ones on castors that slide in and out from under the bed make access easy.
Vacuum bags are another good idea as they can significantly reduce the size of items you need to store under the bed – large items can often be reduced to half their actual size so you can pack in more.
Alternatively, use under-bed boxes to store paperwork that you need to keep so it doesn’t take over your desk or other more-visible areas of the home.
Alternatively, use under-bed boxes to store paperwork that you need to keep so it doesn’t take over your desk or other more-visible areas of the home.
5. Under-utilised walls
Utilising the full length of your walls and drawing the eyes upwards is a clever way to create the illusion of height – ideal in a room with low ceilings or little space.
Use your walls or the area above the door for shelves to store books or other smaller items that you don’t use regularly. Adding trailing greenery adds interest and helps soften harsh lines.
How Do I… Choose Indoor Trailing Plants?
Utilising the full length of your walls and drawing the eyes upwards is a clever way to create the illusion of height – ideal in a room with low ceilings or little space.
Use your walls or the area above the door for shelves to store books or other smaller items that you don’t use regularly. Adding trailing greenery adds interest and helps soften harsh lines.
How Do I… Choose Indoor Trailing Plants?
Hang spare, folding chairs on the wall to ensure that you are host-ready when the time is right. Or, frame doors or bland walls with mirrors or pictures to turn a previously ignored spot into an accent or feature.
6. A boring range hood
Farrow says:
The kitchen range hood is often a central focus of the kitchen. And while it has a very practical role to play – removing smoke, steam and food odours while you cook – why not turn it into the design feature a focal point deserves?
Style-wise, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to range hoods; choose from a copper-hooded canopy in a grand country kitchen, a sleek island range that suspends from the ceiling in a contemporary kitchen or a concealed range hood housed in a beautiful VJ-panelled cabinet for a Californian bungalow.
Farrow says:
The kitchen range hood is often a central focus of the kitchen. And while it has a very practical role to play – removing smoke, steam and food odours while you cook – why not turn it into the design feature a focal point deserves?
Style-wise, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to range hoods; choose from a copper-hooded canopy in a grand country kitchen, a sleek island range that suspends from the ceiling in a contemporary kitchen or a concealed range hood housed in a beautiful VJ-panelled cabinet for a Californian bungalow.
You might also consider tiling it. Had your eye on a bespoke tiled splashback but your budget didn’t quite stretch to it? Consider applying these statement tiles to the smaller (and more affordable) facade of your range hood. Herringbone, marble, curved and metal-inlay tiles are all on-trend and will add drama to your kitchen.
Your turn
How have you lifted a dull or under-utilised corner of your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more smart ideas from the experts? See this Pro Reveal: Secrets of 6 Great Kids’ Storage Set-Ups
How have you lifted a dull or under-utilised corner of your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more smart ideas from the experts? See this Pro Reveal: Secrets of 6 Great Kids’ Storage Set-Ups
Rebecca Farrow, interior designer and founder of Elska Interiors, says:
1. A dull bedroom corner
The corner of your bedroom can be more than just somewhere to kick off your shoes or pile up washing. Instead, why not turn it into a cosy, quiet spot to read and enjoy a cup of tea? First step, add in a comfortable upholstered chair with a wide seat, then pair it with a floor lamp or reading light and a side table for your cup of tea.
To up the impact, hang an artwork on the wall or a couple of easy-care potted plants from the ceiling, such as a Boston fern or devil’s ivy (as an added bonus, both of these varieties can help purify the air in your bedroom too).
Is your home long overdue for a makeover? Maximise its potential with the help of a local interior designer on Houzz