Today’s designs and planning can end up making some awkward corners. Those weird spaces can be the corners formed in a bid to hide the pipes, the window sills, the half walls, spaces under the stairs, or any area with no perfect function or utility. However, these awkward corners can become one of the cosiest corners in the house if treated cleverly.
Let’s have a look at some awkward corners and work out ways to make them lively.
10 Creative Ideas to Transform Awkward Corners
01. Space Under Staircase
The space under the stairs is always a corner with a lot of potential for creative design ideas. You can make the area more inviting by introducing some functionality and life to the space. Let us look at a few awkward corner décor ideas that can help us transform a boring under-the-staircase area.
01. Shuttered or Open Storage
By adding some storage space or a subtle study corner. Embrace it with remarkable joinery and maximize the space by transforming the space into a great shelf. Make the area more dynamic with the help of some patterns, colours, and decorations on the wall adjacent to it.
02. Shoe Space
You can have your shoes arranged in a boring bunch of space. Introduce some creative ideas and fit all the shoes you have in one corner of the house.
03. Planters
Planters and greenery can bring much-needed freshness to any awkward corner of the house. A bunch of plants that require less sunlight kept under the staircase will make the space bloom with colours.
Other ways to utilize the space under the staircase and fill it with interest are: a place to hang gym bags and school bags, you can even make it your blazer station, a place to store empty trolleys, vacuum, mops, or cleaning products, etc.
02. Landings
The space in the middle of your stairs can be made interesting and more comfortable with some awkward corner ideas, such as adding a piece of furniture.
01. Cushions and Bean Bags
Choose your favourite colour and bring a bulky bean bag to your landing. You can also add an interesting play of textures and colours with the help of cushions in variable sizes.
02. Small Plant Family
If your staircase falls on the external wall and your landing touches a window, then it can be a perfect place to add some plants. Invite some greenery to your landing and make it fresh and lively.
03. Embrace it with a Series of Frames
Another way of transforming the landing of your staircase is by adding a number of memories you like to cherish every time you climb up and down the stairs.
Some other awkward corner décor ideas include adding a bookshelf if the space allows, a stand with art pieces, or simply adding wallpaper to the corner.
03. Corner of Two Adjacent Dead Walls
These corners are typically small, but can be big in high-rise apartments; hence, they have the scope to include function as well as a corner of decor.
01. Wall Stencils
Stencilling your wall gives it some character. You can choose any design pattern or art to bring this out. Use good-quality acrylic paint, as it works well on walls.
02. Wall of Frames
A photo wall in the house makes it a corner filled with a bundle of emotions and memories. A small corner created with a composition of photo frames may decorate the boring and dead part of the house. Such awkward corner décor can bring life to a dead space.
03. Walls with Quotes
These tight corners often fall near door openings, or at places where there is generally no scope for putting a furniture piece. Hence, putting a frame with quotes or painting your thoughts on them can also bring your inner feelings out on the walls.
04. Light Fixtures
Luminaires of any size, shape, and style complementing the design language of the house may bring in the light and brighten the small, sleepy awkward corner.
You can even think of putting a small seating, or a composition of tables and chairs if the corner is big enough. If the nook is tiny, you can also go for a stool with a small indoor plant on it.
04. A Half wall
Many half walls come into existence inside the house while planning spaces like the kitchen and putting partitions in-between spaces. These are not full-length walls. Hence, placing living room furniture there is not a good idea. This calls for some smart, awkward corner ideas. Some ways to treat such shooter walls are:
01. Hang Decorative Mirror
Decorative mirrors have become popular nowadays. Introduce them wisely in the active places of the house on the walls of shorter length with bits of decorative elements on the same wall and a piece of coloured furniture on the opposite wall and witness the mirror magic.
02. Add Some Playful Paint
Half walls are big enough to display paintings of personal choice. You can choose to get the wall painted or even try your skills with wall stencils.
03. Picture Frame
A big picture frame on the wall is one of the best awkward corner décor ideas that can instantly breathe life into a dead corner. Frames do wonders wherever they go, be it your portrait or any of your favourite paintings, they will highlight the wall.
05. The Corner Between a Window Wall and a Blank Wall
Generally, we find a weird small patch of wall after a large window opening, forming a dead corner with the adjacent wall. It gets a bit tricky to tackle this corner because it is neither too big to pass off as a wall nor too small to be called a corner! Let us see how we can treat such an awkward corner in the living room.
01. Add a Cozy Seating
Because the wall space is smaller, we can put a furniture piece on the floor to partially cover the wall.
02. Big Planter
A big planter can splash some greenery on the small dead corner and fill the space with the green reflection of the plant.
06. Sills and Jambs
Sills and jambs are always a place for dust and insects. Treating them may make the space livelier and reduce the settlement of dust and other living creatures. Let us see how to decorate an awkward corner at the sill and jamb.
01. Put Planters
Planters can add a green tint to the light entering the room through the window. Add some small plants that require less water to the sills to avoid the mess on the walls under the sills.
02. Add Art
Bring in some metallic art pieces and add some creativity to the room.
03. Scent Some Candles
Go for some heavy candles, with or without a stand, and keep them as a decorative element on the windows. Light these candles at night when you shut the windows.
07. Balcony Corners
Balconies are always welcoming and the most visited places in the house if treated well. It becomes necessary to add some interest to the balconies because, at present times, there are no other open spaces in the apartments.
01. Coffee Corner
Treat the balcony corners with some coziness. Add a point of interest to your balcony by introducing some fancy furniture to enjoy morning and evening sips of energy.
02. Reading Corner
Balconies have abundant natural light and beauty all around. They are undoubtedly the best place to have a reading corner. If your balcony overlooks some park or green land, then it is a perfect tip.
Some other ideas to treat balconies include introducing a swing or a hammock, adding a pop of colour with a bulky bean bag, or simply making it a space for the planters.
08. Tiny Corners in the Kitchen
In kitchens, there are numerous corners formed due to overhead cabinets, windows, and other utilities. Let’s look at some awkward kitchen corner ideas and ways to arrange the kitchen in a better way.
01. Fill with Green
Put some small green planters in the dead corner near the sink area and get rid of the unpleasant look and smell.
02. Put Shelves
Introduce some layers of shelves and arrange the stuff on them.
03. Add Hooks
Put some hooks on the corners and use them wisely to hang commodities. This way, a lot of counter space can be created.
09. Embrace the Corner at the Entrance
Treat the entrances creatively to make a lasting impression. Though the most favourite practice among house owners is to place a picture or figurines of gods, along with nameplates, there are many other possibilities. Let’s check it out and know how to fill an awkward corner at the entrance.
01. Console
A table at the entrance with an art piece or any idol or portrait of god adds a gesture of warmth and kindness at the entrance door.
02. Nameplate with Planter
Include an artistic nameplate and enhance it with the presence of life near it. Choose the best one for your home and make a mark of your personal choice at the entrance.
03. Shoe Unit with Seating
Generally, the footwear worn outside is not allowed inside the home to avoid germs and dust. Hence, we all keep the footwear out at the doorstep. Transform the typical shoe rack and bring in some interesting details with colours in the shoe unit and enhance the look of the entrance.
10. Space above Overheads in Kitchen
The kitchen counters are usually crowded with stuff; shift all the less used items to the overheads.
01. Loft Storage
Don’t forget to add the loft storage in the kitchen; use the space and cover it with shutters.
Any corner, wall, space, or area can become part of your daily routine; all you need to do is gather some thoughts and find out what exactly you want to add to your home. Get some ideas and bring in cheerful colours and decorative items to fill in the awkward nooks.
FAQs
01. How to tackle the Awkward Corners in the House?
Treating any awkward corner in the house is not that difficult, hang some decorative elements, put planters, install light fixtures, or just bring in any colourful furniture, install hooks and hang decoratives. Try any of these and lighten up the odd space in the house.
02. What are the things that can be Placed at the Door Entrance?
Door entrances should be treated well. It is good to put the signature of a god at the entrance along with the nameplate. As per Vastu, it is auspicious to keep an idol or portrait of God at the entrance.
03. How to Bloom a Nook Space or an Awkward Corner in the House?
Install some shelves, bring in small plants, collect all your books and assemble all these in the nook space and let the magic happen.
04. What can be done to a Dead blank wall in the House?
A dead blank wall can be brought back to life by various means, such as, introducing some colours that may bring interest to the space, making it a frame wall, transforming it into an art wall, furniture piece with a planter, picking any idea and implementing it will transform the space around the wall completely.
Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.