Decorating
11 Smart Ideas for Tackling a Dead Corner
Take a look at these effective ways to refresh empty and underused spaces in your home
Whether it’s a hard-to-access spot in the kitchen or a gloomy corner of the living room, there are areas in most homes that are crying out for invigoration. Sometimes, the positions of doors and windows make it hard to use a space, while other rooms have structural features that seem difficult to accommodate.
Take a look at these inspirational schemes in which dead corners have been cleverly brought to life.
Take a look at these inspirational schemes in which dead corners have been cleverly brought to life.
Use clever storage solutions in the kitchen
Accessing corners in a run of kitchen base units is often a problem, but there are various solutions that can help you make the most of the space.
One option is to have right-angled doors that open up the whole corner and a rotating carousel inside. Or you could go for a set of angled drawers, as these homeowners have done here.
Alternatively, you could choose a one-door entry and a blank corner. For this, you really will need some sort of access mechanism, as kitchen equipment that’s been relegated to these spaces rarely makes an appearance. A kidney-shaped pull-out shelf on a sliding track is very handy.
None of these options will make full use of the space, but they will certainly improve access.
Accessing corners in a run of kitchen base units is often a problem, but there are various solutions that can help you make the most of the space.
One option is to have right-angled doors that open up the whole corner and a rotating carousel inside. Or you could go for a set of angled drawers, as these homeowners have done here.
Alternatively, you could choose a one-door entry and a blank corner. For this, you really will need some sort of access mechanism, as kitchen equipment that’s been relegated to these spaces rarely makes an appearance. A kidney-shaped pull-out shelf on a sliding track is very handy.
None of these options will make full use of the space, but they will certainly improve access.
Slot in some linen storage
Most bathrooms aren’t blessed with acres of spare space. Practical concerns such as drainage falls and the positions of windows and doors can restrict where you place the shower, bath, toilet and basin.
However, what might seem like a dead corner in a bathroom can often be a fantastic opportunity to incorporate storage. Here, the shower wall provides an excellent niche for a set of towel shelves and a base cupboard, too.
Discover more clever bathroom storage solutions
Most bathrooms aren’t blessed with acres of spare space. Practical concerns such as drainage falls and the positions of windows and doors can restrict where you place the shower, bath, toilet and basin.
However, what might seem like a dead corner in a bathroom can often be a fantastic opportunity to incorporate storage. Here, the shower wall provides an excellent niche for a set of towel shelves and a base cupboard, too.
Discover more clever bathroom storage solutions
Dress it on the diagonal
Cupboards that slot into corners on the diagonal are a space-maximising solution for both wall-hung and floor-standing storage.
Placed neatly at the end of the desk, this cabinet is a similar shade to the walls, so it blends in. It offers some useful storage, and leaves the area above the desk clear for inspiration and to-do lists.
Cupboards that slot into corners on the diagonal are a space-maximising solution for both wall-hung and floor-standing storage.
Placed neatly at the end of the desk, this cabinet is a similar shade to the walls, so it blends in. It offers some useful storage, and leaves the area above the desk clear for inspiration and to-do lists.
Nestle in some bench seating
It’s lovely to have a table in the kitchen for informal meals and a social vibe. A built-in corner bench can make a cosy and comfortable addition to the room. In this kitchen, the bench seating fills a spot under the window.
It’s also a great idea to build storage into bench seating, and consider installing a radiator beneath it to keep diners warm.
See ways to sneak a dining table into a tricky space
It’s lovely to have a table in the kitchen for informal meals and a social vibe. A built-in corner bench can make a cosy and comfortable addition to the room. In this kitchen, the bench seating fills a spot under the window.
It’s also a great idea to build storage into bench seating, and consider installing a radiator beneath it to keep diners warm.
See ways to sneak a dining table into a tricky space
Revive with a reading nook
Under-stairs space is often strangely shaped and probably a little murky. However, it’s the perfect spot for a hideaway with a purpose.
Quite a lot of thought has gone into this neat reading nook, with its built-in shelving and comfy seat. Storage doors underneath provide a good space to stash items, the colourful fabric makes the space feel inviting and all-important lighting is provided with the wall lamp.
Under-stairs space is often strangely shaped and probably a little murky. However, it’s the perfect spot for a hideaway with a purpose.
Quite a lot of thought has gone into this neat reading nook, with its built-in shelving and comfy seat. Storage doors underneath provide a good space to stash items, the colourful fabric makes the space feel inviting and all-important lighting is provided with the wall lamp.
Glam it up with a bespoke bar
Corner alcoves either side of a chimney breast are often the site of beautiful bespoke or freestanding shelving and cabinets. However, why not designate an alcove for a slightly more glamorous purpose and build in a bar? With its glass doors, dramatic lighting, copper tones and mirrors, this glitzy cabinet ensures the corner is very much the place to be.
Corner alcoves either side of a chimney breast are often the site of beautiful bespoke or freestanding shelving and cabinets. However, why not designate an alcove for a slightly more glamorous purpose and build in a bar? With its glass doors, dramatic lighting, copper tones and mirrors, this glitzy cabinet ensures the corner is very much the place to be.
Amplify with mirrors
A run of tower units in a kitchen is incredibly useful for integrating eye-level appliances such as ovens, or hiding a fridge behind closed doors. However, in an L- or U-shaped kitchen, this can sometimes create a dingy corner where the run of units drops back down to base level.
Why not make a feature of this space with under-cabinet lighting and a mirrored splashback? This glowing spot is used as a coffee bar, with the shining surfaces reflecting back into the room.
A run of tower units in a kitchen is incredibly useful for integrating eye-level appliances such as ovens, or hiding a fridge behind closed doors. However, in an L- or U-shaped kitchen, this can sometimes create a dingy corner where the run of units drops back down to base level.
Why not make a feature of this space with under-cabinet lighting and a mirrored splashback? This glowing spot is used as a coffee bar, with the shining surfaces reflecting back into the room.
Shape up with shutters
Smaller appliances, such as toasters and kettles, fit neatly into corners on the work surface. However, if you’d prefer they weren’t on display when not in use, why not create a shuttered corner?
Using a system called a tambour, the strips of aluminium (or glass if you prefer) roll from the top down to a closed position and back up again. You’ll need to check you have enough space to conceal the mechanism above.
Plan in advance with your electrician to get items such as the microwave and coffee machine plugged in at the back, then you won’t even need to take them out to use them. Make sure you always leave the shutter open when the appliances are in use, as they’ll need the ventilation.
Smaller appliances, such as toasters and kettles, fit neatly into corners on the work surface. However, if you’d prefer they weren’t on display when not in use, why not create a shuttered corner?
Using a system called a tambour, the strips of aluminium (or glass if you prefer) roll from the top down to a closed position and back up again. You’ll need to check you have enough space to conceal the mechanism above.
Plan in advance with your electrician to get items such as the microwave and coffee machine plugged in at the back, then you won’t even need to take them out to use them. Make sure you always leave the shutter open when the appliances are in use, as they’ll need the ventilation.
Channel your inner bibliophile
The blank walls and returns of a staircase are the perfect place to inject some interest with shelving. You may not have room in your house for a dedicated library, but slimline recessed shelving alongside stairs adds interest to the walls and is a perfect solution for storing reading matter.
Obviously, a design on this scale (complete with glowing lights within each shelf) needs careful planning at build stage, but it’s worth considering whether there’s a spot on your staircase where you can apply the same idea. Often, the half-landing on a turn has extra space that seems unusable – could it be waiting for a colourful array of novels?
The blank walls and returns of a staircase are the perfect place to inject some interest with shelving. You may not have room in your house for a dedicated library, but slimline recessed shelving alongside stairs adds interest to the walls and is a perfect solution for storing reading matter.
Obviously, a design on this scale (complete with glowing lights within each shelf) needs careful planning at build stage, but it’s worth considering whether there’s a spot on your staircase where you can apply the same idea. Often, the half-landing on a turn has extra space that seems unusable – could it be waiting for a colourful array of novels?
Conceal your make-up in a slim corner space
This neat dressing table, hidden within a run of wardrobe doors, is already a neat solution for keeping the bedroom serene and clutter-free. However, the stacked shelving to the side adds lots of extra storage. It’s subtly hidden away and probably barely noticeable when shut, but excellent for storing all manner of little bottles and pots.
Have you made clever use of a dead corner in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
This neat dressing table, hidden within a run of wardrobe doors, is already a neat solution for keeping the bedroom serene and clutter-free. However, the stacked shelving to the side adds lots of extra storage. It’s subtly hidden away and probably barely noticeable when shut, but excellent for storing all manner of little bottles and pots.
Have you made clever use of a dead corner in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Sometimes, all a corner needs is a colourful surprise to catch the eye. The muted hues in the rest of this kitchen are beautiful and work well together, but it’s the bold blue of the tall cabinet in the corner that demands to be noticed.
Whether it’s furniture or simply a grand vase of flowers, most corners will wake up when you bring in bright tones.