Corner the Market on Extra Storage
See how better to utilise corners in your home, to create that most coveted commodity – extra storage
Amanda Pollard
3 September 2016
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If you think you’ve run out of space in your home, it’s worth casting your eyes outward to the corners of your rooms. By using these areas wisely, you’ll be surprised by how much storage and space you can gain. Check out these brilliant ideas for making the most of your property’s angled walls.
Maximise fireplace alcoves
The area next to a chimney breast is a great place to erect handy shelving. If you want to make even more use of the space, consider carrying the joinery around the bend to create extra, perpendicular storage.
Here, the alcove shelving has been continued at a right angle to utilise an unused space. The shelving and cupboards beneath help to frame the room, and zone it off from the area beyond. Glazing behind it allows light to spill in as well as providing a useful back to the shelves. By building this simple yet stunning unit, the space has been given some really useful storage.
The area next to a chimney breast is a great place to erect handy shelving. If you want to make even more use of the space, consider carrying the joinery around the bend to create extra, perpendicular storage.
Here, the alcove shelving has been continued at a right angle to utilise an unused space. The shelving and cupboards beneath help to frame the room, and zone it off from the area beyond. Glazing behind it allows light to spill in as well as providing a useful back to the shelves. By building this simple yet stunning unit, the space has been given some really useful storage.
Create a pantry area
This run of kitchen benches has been cleverly broken up by dividing the corner area. A neat glazed panel separates the space from the rest of the room to form a pantry.
This is a good way to keep all your preparation gear out on the benchtop without it encroaching on the rest of the room. Shallow wooden drawers for small items, such as spices, help to differentiate the zone, while attractive jars keep dried foods and ingredients tidy.
This run of kitchen benches has been cleverly broken up by dividing the corner area. A neat glazed panel separates the space from the rest of the room to form a pantry.
This is a good way to keep all your preparation gear out on the benchtop without it encroaching on the rest of the room. Shallow wooden drawers for small items, such as spices, help to differentiate the zone, while attractive jars keep dried foods and ingredients tidy.
Weave in some kitchen drawers
There are so many ways to maximise corners in the kitchen. These nifty drawers feature angled fronts and backs that fit neatly into the area and allow access to all of the space. Drawers are often more practical than cupboards, as all of the area is used, and they require no awkward reaching into the back.
If you’re not keen on angled drawers, you can easily incorporate standard ones by designing your benchtop to form a flat edge at the corner. This will allow you to fit your drawers in flush to that edge.
A kitchen drawer for everything…
There are so many ways to maximise corners in the kitchen. These nifty drawers feature angled fronts and backs that fit neatly into the area and allow access to all of the space. Drawers are often more practical than cupboards, as all of the area is used, and they require no awkward reaching into the back.
If you’re not keen on angled drawers, you can easily incorporate standard ones by designing your benchtop to form a flat edge at the corner. This will allow you to fit your drawers in flush to that edge.
A kitchen drawer for everything…
Get the most from a kitchen cupboard
It can be difficult to access the back of your corner cupboards, which is a shame when there’s so much space inside. A good way to make the most of the under-utilised area is to install a system like this one. The front part is attached to the door and is pulled out when you open the cupboard. At the same time, the rear shelves slide over from the unreachable corner.
This isn’t the only system available, however. Carousel attachments with circular shelves that swing round are easy to find and offer another great way to access the corner.
It can be difficult to access the back of your corner cupboards, which is a shame when there’s so much space inside. A good way to make the most of the under-utilised area is to install a system like this one. The front part is attached to the door and is pulled out when you open the cupboard. At the same time, the rear shelves slide over from the unreachable corner.
This isn’t the only system available, however. Carousel attachments with circular shelves that swing round are easy to find and offer another great way to access the corner.
Design a room within a room
Think you don’t have space for a home office? How about setting one up in a corner? This combination of desk and shelving fits rather neatly into the space, and is tucked away so as not to encroach on the room.
The angled recess creates a triangular desk that’s a perfect spot for a computer screen. The shelves are carried almost to the ceiling, maximising the vertical space. There is so much storage here that it feels as if a whole office room has been created in a very small space.
Think you don’t have space for a home office? How about setting one up in a corner? This combination of desk and shelving fits rather neatly into the space, and is tucked away so as not to encroach on the room.
The angled recess creates a triangular desk that’s a perfect spot for a computer screen. The shelves are carried almost to the ceiling, maximising the vertical space. There is so much storage here that it feels as if a whole office room has been created in a very small space.
Enhance your hallway
Entrance halls are often quite small, but they also require a lot of storage space. This is the place where you keep your coats, shoes, boots, hats and everything else you need when you go out of the house. So it’s important to use the space effectively in order to gain as much storage as possible.
This corner hallway furniture is a perfect use of the area, as it allows for extra coat hooks and wider shelves. The curved shape is an attractive design that prevents it from looking obtrusive.
10 hallways with heart
Entrance halls are often quite small, but they also require a lot of storage space. This is the place where you keep your coats, shoes, boots, hats and everything else you need when you go out of the house. So it’s important to use the space effectively in order to gain as much storage as possible.
This corner hallway furniture is a perfect use of the area, as it allows for extra coat hooks and wider shelves. The curved shape is an attractive design that prevents it from looking obtrusive.
10 hallways with heart
Slot in a reading nook
An unused corner of a landing could be the ideal spot for a cosy reading corner. The whole angled space here has been filled with shelves from floor to ceiling. It resembles a library, but in fact is just a small hallway area.
Beneath the shelves is a mattress with some cushions, which adds to the snug feel. It’s a wonderful use of a spot that would usually be left empty.
An unused corner of a landing could be the ideal spot for a cosy reading corner. The whole angled space here has been filled with shelves from floor to ceiling. It resembles a library, but in fact is just a small hallway area.
Beneath the shelves is a mattress with some cushions, which adds to the snug feel. It’s a wonderful use of a spot that would usually be left empty.
Big up bench seating
Give yourself extra dining space by building a bench. Position the table in a suitable corner and install seating along the angled walls.
Corner benches are an extremely practical use of space, as they prevent the table protruding too much into the room while still allowing several people to be seated. They also have the added bonus of extra space below, which is perfect for storage.
Give yourself extra dining space by building a bench. Position the table in a suitable corner and install seating along the angled walls.
Corner benches are an extremely practical use of space, as they prevent the table protruding too much into the room while still allowing several people to be seated. They also have the added bonus of extra space below, which is perfect for storage.
Make a statement
It makes sense to the use corners to maximise space, but don’t forget that angled walls can provide an attractive feature too. This loft storage unit is a perfect example of how a functional corner can also be highlighted as a beautiful structure.
Instead of seeing the sloped roof as an awkward space to fill, the designers have made a feature of it. The bright red, triangular shelving looks attractive and provides extra storage at the same time.
It makes sense to the use corners to maximise space, but don’t forget that angled walls can provide an attractive feature too. This loft storage unit is a perfect example of how a functional corner can also be highlighted as a beautiful structure.
Instead of seeing the sloped roof as an awkward space to fill, the designers have made a feature of it. The bright red, triangular shelving looks attractive and provides extra storage at the same time.
Dress up a bedroom recess
If you like the idea of having a dressing table but don’t have much space, consider using a corner of the room. This neat shelf table makes great use of a tiny alcove. The corner is an ideal spot for propping up a mirror and there’s plenty of room in front for brushes and make-up. It’s a simple construction, but even has a small drawer incorporated into it.
There’s a lot going on in this room, so a large dressing table could have looked too cluttered. By using the corner, the owners have managed to pop a little table in without it encroaching on the space.
Browse more bedroom nooks
TELL US
What do you think of these ideas for making use of corners? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more useful storage stories
If you like the idea of having a dressing table but don’t have much space, consider using a corner of the room. This neat shelf table makes great use of a tiny alcove. The corner is an ideal spot for propping up a mirror and there’s plenty of room in front for brushes and make-up. It’s a simple construction, but even has a small drawer incorporated into it.
There’s a lot going on in this room, so a large dressing table could have looked too cluttered. By using the corner, the owners have managed to pop a little table in without it encroaching on the space.
Browse more bedroom nooks
TELL US
What do you think of these ideas for making use of corners? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more useful storage stories
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I'm amused by some of the TV interior designers. If there are existing storage cupboards or shelves either side of a fireplace, they declare them ugly and old-fashioned and pull them out. If there is clear space either side of the chimney breast, they say it ought to be filled: with shelves etc.
Anoushka Tamony Designs, that's very few books for bookworms!