How Do I Deal With Awkward Nooks and Sloping Ceilings?
Discover how to decorate and furnish rooms with odd-shaped corners and tricky roof angles
Sloping ceilings and odd-shaped nooks are the focus of this next instalment in a series dealing with tricky-shaped rooms. Whether you have a low-slung attic room to furnish, an angular alcove you just can’t work out how to fill, or are keen to make use of that dead space under the stairs, three experts are here to help…
Professional advice from: Letiche Black of Amberth; Diana Greenhalgh of My Bespoke Room; Charlotte Ford of Cotton Tree Interiors
Professional advice from: Letiche Black of Amberth; Diana Greenhalgh of My Bespoke Room; Charlotte Ford of Cotton Tree Interiors
Embrace an awkward space
“Choosing the colour to paint the ceiling, how to position the lighting and how to dress the windows are the three main issues in spaces like these,” says Charlotte Ford from Cotton Tree Interiors.
“Rooms with sloping ceilings can also feel restrictive in terms of where you can stand and where you can position furniture,” adds Diana Greenhalgh at My Bespoke Room.
One tip recommended by all the designers is to embrace those awkward lines and make them useful, by installing bespoke furniture or cupboards. Here, sleek, handleless fitted cabinets are the same colour as the walls, making them visually unobtrusive yet practical in this small attic bedroom.
On the lighting issue, Charlotte points out that traditional ceiling pendants may not be right since attic ceilings are often low. “Instead, go for wall lights, or just lots of lamps on a 5amp ring main,” she suggests. Here, a warm-white LED strip provides a space-saving bedside light and shows off the room’s unusual lines.
“Choosing the colour to paint the ceiling, how to position the lighting and how to dress the windows are the three main issues in spaces like these,” says Charlotte Ford from Cotton Tree Interiors.
“Rooms with sloping ceilings can also feel restrictive in terms of where you can stand and where you can position furniture,” adds Diana Greenhalgh at My Bespoke Room.
One tip recommended by all the designers is to embrace those awkward lines and make them useful, by installing bespoke furniture or cupboards. Here, sleek, handleless fitted cabinets are the same colour as the walls, making them visually unobtrusive yet practical in this small attic bedroom.
On the lighting issue, Charlotte points out that traditional ceiling pendants may not be right since attic ceilings are often low. “Instead, go for wall lights, or just lots of lamps on a 5amp ring main,” she suggests. Here, a warm-white LED strip provides a space-saving bedside light and shows off the room’s unusual lines.
Hang furniture
Space can be an issue in angular areas, leaving little room for conventional furniture. Mounting side tables to your walls can be a good-looking and practical solution, as the lack of legs frees up valuable floor space.
Space can be an issue in angular areas, leaving little room for conventional furniture. Mounting side tables to your walls can be a good-looking and practical solution, as the lack of legs frees up valuable floor space.
Conquer your windows
“Window treatments can be a challenge in rooms with sloping ceilings,” says Charlotte, “as, quite often, these type of rooms have small windows, or a lack of light – especially in older properties. There may also be a lack of wall space for curtain stack-back.”
“Often there are smaller windows or Velux windows that can be trickier to dress and make attractive,” agrees Diana.
But there are various solutions. “For little windows,” suggests Charlotte, “cottage-style curtains on dormer rods can look pretty, or just a well-made roman blind. For bigger windows, especially on some more architecturally designed houses where there is no room for stack-back, try Silent Gliss Metropole, a subtle track-like pole system that allows curtains to sit on the window but with minimum stack, thanks to the wave-heading system it uses,” she explains.
“Window treatments can be a challenge in rooms with sloping ceilings,” says Charlotte, “as, quite often, these type of rooms have small windows, or a lack of light – especially in older properties. There may also be a lack of wall space for curtain stack-back.”
“Often there are smaller windows or Velux windows that can be trickier to dress and make attractive,” agrees Diana.
But there are various solutions. “For little windows,” suggests Charlotte, “cottage-style curtains on dormer rods can look pretty, or just a well-made roman blind. For bigger windows, especially on some more architecturally designed houses where there is no room for stack-back, try Silent Gliss Metropole, a subtle track-like pole system that allows curtains to sit on the window but with minimum stack, thanks to the wave-heading system it uses,” she explains.
Tailor your illumination
Space won’t necessarily be an issue in a room with slopes but, says Diana, “The space in which you can move freely may feel tight.” Her solution? “Include lots of light sources which can help harder-to-reach areas feel brighter, and which will help increase the feeling of space.”
Space won’t necessarily be an issue in a room with slopes but, says Diana, “The space in which you can move freely may feel tight.” Her solution? “Include lots of light sources which can help harder-to-reach areas feel brighter, and which will help increase the feeling of space.”
Shelve it
Built-in bespoke cabinets are only one storage option for quirkily shaped corners. If you’re looking for something more affordable, consider simple open shelving that makes use of your slanting ceilings. Consider what – and how – you’ll store on them to maximise the angles. If it’s books, for example, you might pile them upwards to eke out the space at the lowest ceiling points, rather than lining them side-by-side. Or perhaps use the otherwise dead space at the narrow ends for small, stylish ornaments, or a low, decorative bookend. Here, shoes are a perfect fit – and look pretty, too.
Built-in bespoke cabinets are only one storage option for quirkily shaped corners. If you’re looking for something more affordable, consider simple open shelving that makes use of your slanting ceilings. Consider what – and how – you’ll store on them to maximise the angles. If it’s books, for example, you might pile them upwards to eke out the space at the lowest ceiling points, rather than lining them side-by-side. Or perhaps use the otherwise dead space at the narrow ends for small, stylish ornaments, or a low, decorative bookend. Here, shoes are a perfect fit – and look pretty, too.
Build your own
If even horizontal shelving is too formal for your style, try this DIY wooden crate idea for making use of the slope under your stairs, which also creates an interesting decorative display area. “You can never have too many storage solutions!” says Diana.
More: 10 Clever Uses for the Space Under Your Stairs
If even horizontal shelving is too formal for your style, try this DIY wooden crate idea for making use of the slope under your stairs, which also creates an interesting decorative display area. “You can never have too many storage solutions!” says Diana.
More: 10 Clever Uses for the Space Under Your Stairs
Install feature beams
Another way to celebrate the odd angles of an in-the-eaves room is to emphasise the shape of it architecturally.
“If the style of the property allows,” says Diana, “make the sloping ceiling a feature by installing beams. These will give the space additional character and help to bring continuity to your home, especially if the sloping ceiling is because of a new loft extension.”
More: How Can I Make the Most of a Loft Conversion?
Another way to celebrate the odd angles of an in-the-eaves room is to emphasise the shape of it architecturally.
“If the style of the property allows,” says Diana, “make the sloping ceiling a feature by installing beams. These will give the space additional character and help to bring continuity to your home, especially if the sloping ceiling is because of a new loft extension.”
More: How Can I Make the Most of a Loft Conversion?
Go off-the-shelf with your storage
If bespoke furniture is off budget, there are plenty of modular units that can be created to fit awkward spaces.
The containers used here are all either white or transparent, so they blend with the white walls. This is a particularly good idea when you’re choosing storage for an area where clothes will be out on show, as a neutral backdrop will help to reduce visual clutter.
If bespoke furniture is off budget, there are plenty of modular units that can be created to fit awkward spaces.
The containers used here are all either white or transparent, so they blend with the white walls. This is a particularly good idea when you’re choosing storage for an area where clothes will be out on show, as a neutral backdrop will help to reduce visual clutter.
Design with your slopes, not against them
“The main challenge with sloping ceilings is what goes beneath,” says Letiche. “f you are tall, especially, you want to avoid having to bend your head each time you have to go to a particular side of the room.”
This clever, compact kitchen packs storage in – not only on the flat walls but also underneath the sloping ceiling – but it’s the position of that second workspace that really makes the design sing. Though it’s tucked into the eaves, its width means that standing room isn’t compromised. The horizontal window is a nice touch too, and celebrates the shape of the room.
“The main challenge with sloping ceilings is what goes beneath,” says Letiche. “f you are tall, especially, you want to avoid having to bend your head each time you have to go to a particular side of the room.”
This clever, compact kitchen packs storage in – not only on the flat walls but also underneath the sloping ceiling – but it’s the position of that second workspace that really makes the design sing. Though it’s tucked into the eaves, its width means that standing room isn’t compromised. The horizontal window is a nice touch too, and celebrates the shape of the room.
Sync surfaces
Rooms with awkward angles risk looking smaller than they are, as different shapes and surfaces butt up next to one another and break up the space. “Paint walls and your ceiling the same colour to avoid emphasising junctions,” advises Charlotte. “Use a pretty wallpaper with a small overall pattern on all the walls and the ceiling. This works especially well in older properties with lots of beams.”
Here, the contrasting prints of the blinds and the walls control how the rooms limited angles are defined.
Rooms with awkward angles risk looking smaller than they are, as different shapes and surfaces butt up next to one another and break up the space. “Paint walls and your ceiling the same colour to avoid emphasising junctions,” advises Charlotte. “Use a pretty wallpaper with a small overall pattern on all the walls and the ceiling. This works especially well in older properties with lots of beams.”
Here, the contrasting prints of the blinds and the walls control how the rooms limited angles are defined.
Carve out a home office
“Turn the space under your stairs into a truly functional space,” says Diana. “It works brilliantly as a desk area.”
Adding a simple filing cabinet means it is easy to clear away papers and stationery the end of the day, and, rather than standard office chairs, choose seating that mirrors other features, such as the wooden spindles shown here.
“Turn the space under your stairs into a truly functional space,” says Diana. “It works brilliantly as a desk area.”
Adding a simple filing cabinet means it is easy to clear away papers and stationery the end of the day, and, rather than standard office chairs, choose seating that mirrors other features, such as the wooden spindles shown here.
Get the right fit
Finding furniture that fits tricky corners and is functional, too, can be difficult.
Think beyond storage when considering built-in furniture, and be inspired by the perfectly formed combination of desk, comfy seat, cupboard, book niches (over the desk) and shelving in this child’s room. When furniture fits this well, it shows off the rooms shape rather than fighting against it.
Tell us…
How have you made the most of an awkward corner or difficult-shaped room in your home? Let us know in the Comments.
Finding furniture that fits tricky corners and is functional, too, can be difficult.
Think beyond storage when considering built-in furniture, and be inspired by the perfectly formed combination of desk, comfy seat, cupboard, book niches (over the desk) and shelving in this child’s room. When furniture fits this well, it shows off the rooms shape rather than fighting against it.
Tell us…
How have you made the most of an awkward corner or difficult-shaped room in your home? Let us know in the Comments.
“If a window is incorporated in the slope then you need to be mindful where to position the bed,” says Letiche Black. “Will you want to place it underneath the slope, to be met with direct light when you’re waking up?”
This might be the only available position for the bed, however. In which case, fitted blackout blinds are available from roof-light manufacturers which should resolve any potential issues.
The open shelving shown here, tucked at the bottom of the cavity created by the roof, offers a clever alternative to more conventional from-the-floor built-in cupboards, which would be blocked by the bed. It also means no space-filling bedside table is required.