Decorating
10 Fresh Ideas for Living Room Alcoves in a Period Home
Not sure how to make use of the space either side of your chimney breast? Check out these alternatives to the bog-standard built-in bookcase
While the fireplace may be redundant in many period homes, the alcove space on either side of the chimney breast is ripe for a practical rethink. The typical combination of a cupboard with shelves above is a sensible staple for good reason – storage plus a spot for the TV – but before you opt for the tried and tested, why not consider a few alternatives first?
Could the space be better used: will your TV fit somewhere else, for example (or could you configure a discreet projector instead?), and could this ubiquitous space be given a more creative and quirky look? These homeowners think so…
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Could the space be better used: will your TV fit somewhere else, for example (or could you configure a discreet projector instead?), and could this ubiquitous space be given a more creative and quirky look? These homeowners think so…
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Mix old and new
Built-in cabinetry doesn’t have to be traditional just because it’s a period home. While the traditional fire surround and contemporary storage unit with its glossy handleless drawers sit well together, since they’re both white, the juxtaposition of old and new accentuates the distinctive features of each.
Built-in cabinetry doesn’t have to be traditional just because it’s a period home. While the traditional fire surround and contemporary storage unit with its glossy handleless drawers sit well together, since they’re both white, the juxtaposition of old and new accentuates the distinctive features of each.
Make a study nook
If space is at a premium and you’re reluctant or unable to give over an entire bedroom to work space, alcoves are often the perfect size for a chic desk. Or instead of trawling the shops with your measurements for the exact size, consider having a bespoke piece of toughened glass or rustic reclaimed wood cut to fit, and use metal poles for legs or sturdy shelf brackets for support.
As a backdrop, why not consider practical blackboard paint or an exposed brick wall to highlight the area?
If space is at a premium and you’re reluctant or unable to give over an entire bedroom to work space, alcoves are often the perfect size for a chic desk. Or instead of trawling the shops with your measurements for the exact size, consider having a bespoke piece of toughened glass or rustic reclaimed wood cut to fit, and use metal poles for legs or sturdy shelf brackets for support.
As a backdrop, why not consider practical blackboard paint or an exposed brick wall to highlight the area?
Add mirrors
If you’re hankering after a luxe look for relatively little outlay, mirrors can be cut to the size of your alcoves to create a wonderful backing to team with glass or metallic shelves.
Favourite vases and collectables will really sing in such a setting, or why not dot them with a few choice coffee table books displayed with the cover artwork facing forwards rather than the spines?
If you’re hankering after a luxe look for relatively little outlay, mirrors can be cut to the size of your alcoves to create a wonderful backing to team with glass or metallic shelves.
Favourite vases and collectables will really sing in such a setting, or why not dot them with a few choice coffee table books displayed with the cover artwork facing forwards rather than the spines?
Work the industrial look
A relatively affordable option is a bookcase made from scaffolding boards and steel pipes, which taps right into the trend for industrial chic. If you’re a competent DIY-er, head to your local builder’s merchant or reclaimed wood yard armed with the measurements?
Alternatively, ask a joiner to fashion something similar. Here, a grey backdrop highlights this quirky nook, but colourful paint or wallpaper could work equally well, especially if the shelves are full of books and only cheeky glimpses of colour can be seen.
How do you light a wood-burning stove? Follow these four simple steps.
A relatively affordable option is a bookcase made from scaffolding boards and steel pipes, which taps right into the trend for industrial chic. If you’re a competent DIY-er, head to your local builder’s merchant or reclaimed wood yard armed with the measurements?
Alternatively, ask a joiner to fashion something similar. Here, a grey backdrop highlights this quirky nook, but colourful paint or wallpaper could work equally well, especially if the shelves are full of books and only cheeky glimpses of colour can be seen.
How do you light a wood-burning stove? Follow these four simple steps.
Go for curves
The curved backs of these beautiful built-in storage units give this home a sense of grandeur and a wonderful backdrop to show off an array of quirky and eclectic objects. Paint shelves like these in the same muted shade as the surrounding walls to make the decorative objects stand out even more.
Find local carpenters and joiners in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The curved backs of these beautiful built-in storage units give this home a sense of grandeur and a wonderful backdrop to show off an array of quirky and eclectic objects. Paint shelves like these in the same muted shade as the surrounding walls to make the decorative objects stand out even more.
Find local carpenters and joiners in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Create built-in seating
Much like bay windows, alcoves are ideally placed for creating bench-style seats with a flip-up top and storage beneath. If you’re always having to bring in folding seats and dining room chairs for parties and gatherings, this could be the perfect permanent solution.
These seats can easily be updated by changing the upholstery fabric every few years, or opt for a plain fabric to give you the flexibility of swapping around cushions whenever you fancy a change instead.
Much like bay windows, alcoves are ideally placed for creating bench-style seats with a flip-up top and storage beneath. If you’re always having to bring in folding seats and dining room chairs for parties and gatherings, this could be the perfect permanent solution.
These seats can easily be updated by changing the upholstery fabric every few years, or opt for a plain fabric to give you the flexibility of swapping around cushions whenever you fancy a change instead.
Show off freestanding furniture
If you’re lucky enough to have more than one reception room and have ample storage elsewhere, you might favour the less is more approach. While the default mindset is often to fill every inch of space with built-in cabinetry, a bit of breathing space around these antique tallboys makes them stand out all the more, like exhibits in an art gallery.
Browse hundreds of armchairs in the Houzz Shop.
If you’re lucky enough to have more than one reception room and have ample storage elsewhere, you might favour the less is more approach. While the default mindset is often to fill every inch of space with built-in cabinetry, a bit of breathing space around these antique tallboys makes them stand out all the more, like exhibits in an art gallery.
Browse hundreds of armchairs in the Houzz Shop.
Incorporate lighting
Any shelving will be instantly elevated with some inset LED spotlights or strip lighting. Floating box shelves like these are particularly well suited, as the boxes appear to glow, creating a wonderful atmosphere at night.
Although the primary function may be to highlight ornaments and pictures, it also adds an extra layer of lighting to the whole room, so a dimmer could be a good idea, too. You could even use shelves with built-in lighting designed for kitchens.
Any shelving will be instantly elevated with some inset LED spotlights or strip lighting. Floating box shelves like these are particularly well suited, as the boxes appear to glow, creating a wonderful atmosphere at night.
Although the primary function may be to highlight ornaments and pictures, it also adds an extra layer of lighting to the whole room, so a dimmer could be a good idea, too. You could even use shelves with built-in lighting designed for kitchens.
Style a log store
Whether it’s a practical solution for a log-burner or a purely aesthetic choice, an alcove packed with logs is certainly an eye-catching feature. If this is a functional feature for your home, perhaps a rolling library ladder could be a valuable addition to reach those top logs?
Tell us…
How have you utilised your living room alcoves? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
Whether it’s a practical solution for a log-burner or a purely aesthetic choice, an alcove packed with logs is certainly an eye-catching feature. If this is a functional feature for your home, perhaps a rolling library ladder could be a valuable addition to reach those top logs?
Tell us…
How have you utilised your living room alcoves? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
Cabinets attached to the wall will instantly maximise the sense of space in a living room. As with wall-hung bathroom fittings, when the floor can be seen, the room feels so much bigger.
To accentuate the crisp and unfussy feel in this room, the storage is simple, with clean lines and no handles – and these units are in fact customised Ikea cupboards.
See more of this creatively renovated Victorian house.