Decorating: 13 Smart Solutions for Styling Fireside Alcoves
From shelving to chic display areas, these inspirational ideas will help you tackle those tricky fireside spaces
The same original features that attract us to Victorian houses in the first place can become the awkward areas we struggle to utilise. Dreamy fireplaces in almost every room mean potentially dozens of differently sized alcoves, each requiring a perfectly proportioned piece of furniture or expensive custom joinery. Thankfully, there are many styling options for elegant period homes. Check out these inspirational images to help you conquer those tricky corners.
Consider contemporary storage
If typical alcove cupboards are too traditional for your taste, consider custom joinery in a streamlined style. Instead of cupboard doors, try slab-front drawers, which maximise storage space while maintaining a modern, minimalist look.
If typical alcove cupboards are too traditional for your taste, consider custom joinery in a streamlined style. Instead of cupboard doors, try slab-front drawers, which maximise storage space while maintaining a modern, minimalist look.
Adapt a Victorian kitchen
When designing a new layout, a fireplace in the kitchen needn’t be a burden. Alcoves can provide useful additional worktop and shelving space for storing essential items within reach. Or go back to your home’s period roots and install a useful built-in pantry.
When designing a new layout, a fireplace in the kitchen needn’t be a burden. Alcoves can provide useful additional worktop and shelving space for storing essential items within reach. Or go back to your home’s period roots and install a useful built-in pantry.
Design a bar area
Turn the slightly awkward bottom shelf of a built-in unit into a dedicated bar area on which to store and display your favourite tipples. Use a decorative tray so that precious plonk can be moved away from the fire when it’s lit.
Turn the slightly awkward bottom shelf of a built-in unit into a dedicated bar area on which to store and display your favourite tipples. Use a decorative tray so that precious plonk can be moved away from the fire when it’s lit.
Switch your focus
Sometimes it isn’t practical to accommodate an open fireplace. In this bedroom, for instance, the bed has been positioned in front of the chimney breast to make the most of the space, while matching bedside tables and shelves have been fitted into the alcoves for a very neat solution.
Sometimes it isn’t practical to accommodate an open fireplace. In this bedroom, for instance, the bed has been positioned in front of the chimney breast to make the most of the space, while matching bedside tables and shelves have been fitted into the alcoves for a very neat solution.
Fit custom cupboards
Filling the alcoves with floor-to-ceiling built-in cupboards will make the most of every inch. However, when designing large cupboards, consider how they will coordinate with the rest of the room so they don’t overwhelm the space. In this bedroom, dark grey on the floor, pendant light, duvet cover and cupboard doors creates a cohesive feel.
Discover how to gently bring your Victorian home into the 21st century
Filling the alcoves with floor-to-ceiling built-in cupboards will make the most of every inch. However, when designing large cupboards, consider how they will coordinate with the rest of the room so they don’t overwhelm the space. In this bedroom, dark grey on the floor, pendant light, duvet cover and cupboard doors creates a cohesive feel.
Discover how to gently bring your Victorian home into the 21st century
Find freestanding furniture
If you’re renting, or you don’t want to commit to built-in pieces, freestanding furniture could be your best option. Scour second-hand shops for a decorative matching pair of wardrobes then simply paint in a modern shade. Pale colours are often less obtrusive than bare wood – try crisp white or pale grey. Here, baskets that match the bed frame help utilise every bit of space.
See how to find freestanding storage solutions for your living room
If you’re renting, or you don’t want to commit to built-in pieces, freestanding furniture could be your best option. Scour second-hand shops for a decorative matching pair of wardrobes then simply paint in a modern shade. Pale colours are often less obtrusive than bare wood – try crisp white or pale grey. Here, baskets that match the bed frame help utilise every bit of space.
See how to find freestanding storage solutions for your living room
Play with scale
Although it can be tempting to squeeze in the largest furniture your alcoves can accommodate, it’s important to consider the scale of the fireplace and the space as a whole. In this kid’s room, small, vintage pieces work in harmony with the simple mantelpiece and ensure all toys are accessible to little hands.
Although it can be tempting to squeeze in the largest furniture your alcoves can accommodate, it’s important to consider the scale of the fireplace and the space as a whole. In this kid’s room, small, vintage pieces work in harmony with the simple mantelpiece and ensure all toys are accessible to little hands.
Link spaces with floating shelves
If the wall separating your two reception rooms has been removed, try linking the two chimney breasts with floating shelves. These can then be used to great effect for displaying artworks, family photos and small treasures.
If the wall separating your two reception rooms has been removed, try linking the two chimney breasts with floating shelves. These can then be used to great effect for displaying artworks, family photos and small treasures.
Supersize your storage
In open-plan period homes where the downstairs rooms are particularly grand, shelving and cupboards need to reflect the size of the space. Here, a low sideboard runs the length of the alcove before incorporating full-height shelving that finishes at the cornice. The scale of the room also means it can carry a contrasting colour on the woodwork.
In open-plan period homes where the downstairs rooms are particularly grand, shelving and cupboards need to reflect the size of the space. Here, a low sideboard runs the length of the alcove before incorporating full-height shelving that finishes at the cornice. The scale of the room also means it can carry a contrasting colour on the woodwork.
Add an elegant console
If pared-back elegance is your style du jour, furnish your alcoves with simple console tables and add a chic upholstered armchair. It can take an age to find furniture to fit each recess, so bypass the hassle and instead choose a piece that’s small but sophisticated. This half moon style is ideal for shallow alcoves.
If pared-back elegance is your style du jour, furnish your alcoves with simple console tables and add a chic upholstered armchair. It can take an age to find furniture to fit each recess, so bypass the hassle and instead choose a piece that’s small but sophisticated. This half moon style is ideal for shallow alcoves.
Create a cosy corner
A pocket of ordered chaos can enhance the feel of a room, bringing warmth and charm. Books, magazines, travel mementos, pictures and flowers are all everyday items that can be used to create a cosy corner for you to enjoy. In this living room, the restricted colour palette of black, white, red and natural browns gives the eclectic collection a degree of cohesion.
A pocket of ordered chaos can enhance the feel of a room, bringing warmth and charm. Books, magazines, travel mementos, pictures and flowers are all everyday items that can be used to create a cosy corner for you to enjoy. In this living room, the restricted colour palette of black, white, red and natural browns gives the eclectic collection a degree of cohesion.
Leave alcoves open
Sometimes, the best option is to do nothing. If you have sufficient storage elsewhere, keeping your alcoves bare can make a room feel more spacious and luxurious. With no obstructions, the rich blue walls in this reception recede into the background, allowing the mantelpiece collection and feature furniture to remain the stars of the show.
TELL US…
What have you chosen to do with your alcoves? Please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Sometimes, the best option is to do nothing. If you have sufficient storage elsewhere, keeping your alcoves bare can make a room feel more spacious and luxurious. With no obstructions, the rich blue walls in this reception recede into the background, allowing the mantelpiece collection and feature furniture to remain the stars of the show.
TELL US…
What have you chosen to do with your alcoves? Please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Dedicated bibliophiles can store significant numbers of books on simple fireside shelves and create a cosy area in which to read them nearby. For maximum style points, set all shelves an equal distance apart and try to keep your two alcoves reasonably symmetrical.