Renovating
6 Clever Ways Small Spaces Have Been Used Well
Check out these ideas by designers on Houzz for maximising awkward corners and underused areas
Take a look around your home: are there any small spots that are being wasted? Could you slot in a desk, seat or storage anywhere? Browse these designs for inspiration.
Slot in a multi-purpose seat
This little space at the end of a run of kitchen cabinets could have been filled with another, slim cupboard, but instead, Hannah Morris of Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design created a little seat by a large window onto the garden. “Someone can perch there while you’re working away. It’s nice,” homeowner Lou says.
Hannah also incorporated a drawer. “It’s one of those catch-all drawers … somewhere to tuck bits left on the table when I need to clear up quickly,” Lou adds.
In addition to storage and seating, the narrow space also offers the chance to display attractive textiles, adding so much more than a simple small cupboard would have done.
Discover how the whole of this kitchen was redesigned for a busy young family.
This little space at the end of a run of kitchen cabinets could have been filled with another, slim cupboard, but instead, Hannah Morris of Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design created a little seat by a large window onto the garden. “Someone can perch there while you’re working away. It’s nice,” homeowner Lou says.
Hannah also incorporated a drawer. “It’s one of those catch-all drawers … somewhere to tuck bits left on the table when I need to clear up quickly,” Lou adds.
In addition to storage and seating, the narrow space also offers the chance to display attractive textiles, adding so much more than a simple small cupboard would have done.
Discover how the whole of this kitchen was redesigned for a busy young family.
Divide and conquer
The whole of this wall in a boy’s bedroom was originally earmarked by designer and homeowner Kirsty Niven of Kirsty Elizabeth Interiors for a walk-in wardrobe, but pausing to consider how much space he realistically needed made the room so much more functional.
“The run was too long to use just for a wardrobe,” she says, “so I cut it off to create a nook where we could make a desk area for him to do his homework.”
This brilliant decision means Max has a desk and shelves in addition to clothes storage, plus the area adds interest to the room in terms of display and an eye-catching backdrop. “I had a bit of fun with it and added some wallpaper featuring planes,” Kirsty says.
See how Kirsty revamped the whole of her Edwardian home.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The whole of this wall in a boy’s bedroom was originally earmarked by designer and homeowner Kirsty Niven of Kirsty Elizabeth Interiors for a walk-in wardrobe, but pausing to consider how much space he realistically needed made the room so much more functional.
“The run was too long to use just for a wardrobe,” she says, “so I cut it off to create a nook where we could make a desk area for him to do his homework.”
This brilliant decision means Max has a desk and shelves in addition to clothes storage, plus the area adds interest to the room in terms of display and an eye-catching backdrop. “I had a bit of fun with it and added some wallpaper featuring planes,” Kirsty says.
See how Kirsty revamped the whole of her Edwardian home.
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Think big for your understairs area
Most of us have some storage space under the stairs or perhaps a cloakroom, but what about creating a full utility room?
Designer Eva Byrne of Houseology did just that in the home she built for herself and her family in Dublin. The thermally lined cupboard houses a washing machine and tumble dryer – with a useful worktop spanning the machines – a couple of hanging rails, and the hot-water cylinder. The latter creates residual heat sufficient to air clothes and the space is vented to the exterior. There’s even space to tuck a clothes airer.
The whole side of the stairs is covered in birch ply, meaning the utility can be tucked away almost invisibly when not in use.
Explore the whole of this brilliantly flexible family home.
Most of us have some storage space under the stairs or perhaps a cloakroom, but what about creating a full utility room?
Designer Eva Byrne of Houseology did just that in the home she built for herself and her family in Dublin. The thermally lined cupboard houses a washing machine and tumble dryer – with a useful worktop spanning the machines – a couple of hanging rails, and the hot-water cylinder. The latter creates residual heat sufficient to air clothes and the space is vented to the exterior. There’s even space to tuck a clothes airer.
The whole side of the stairs is covered in birch ply, meaning the utility can be tucked away almost invisibly when not in use.
Explore the whole of this brilliantly flexible family home.
Harness a hallway corner
This neat unit by Andrew Jonathan Griffiths of A New Day incorporates storage for outerwear and a seat for putting on shoes – and all in a relatively small alcove.
The cupboards – which include a long one for coats – are made from tongue-and-groove for subtle texture and painted in a rich plum. Along with the patterned cushion, this sets the tone for the home’s bold and beautiful design as soon as visitors walk in.
Take a look at the rest of this colour-rich home.
This neat unit by Andrew Jonathan Griffiths of A New Day incorporates storage for outerwear and a seat for putting on shoes – and all in a relatively small alcove.
The cupboards – which include a long one for coats – are made from tongue-and-groove for subtle texture and painted in a rich plum. Along with the patterned cushion, this sets the tone for the home’s bold and beautiful design as soon as visitors walk in.
Take a look at the rest of this colour-rich home.
…but, thanks to a hidden compartment, the room can also be freed up for use as a music studio (there’s a large desk opposite this wall).
The bed rolls on soft castors so as not to mark the floor, and is fixed to a custom-made frame. “We rebuilt a section of the roof structure so the bed fits perfectly into the eaves space,” Kieran says.
Tell us…
Have you made good use of a small or awkward area in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments.
Tell us…
Have you made good use of a small or awkward area in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments.
This landing in a Victorian house was dead space; now it has amazing functionality.
By losing a small window to the left, Ellen Cumber and Alice Bettington of Golden Design managed to fit in a coat cupboard, a little shoe cupboard and a seat.
The depth of the landing meant the designers had to think cleverly about the configuration. The cupboard had to be slim, so they went for hooks inside, as hangers on a rail would have been too deep, and fitted a bifold door, as there wasn’t space to open a full-width one.
As well as being useful, it’s so much nicer to look at than before. As Ellen says, “It’s a beautiful little vignette now rather than an afterthought.”
Tour the whole of this restored Victorian house with a boutique hotel vibe.