8 ways to improve those awkward spaces in your home

We all have that one spot in our homes (you know the one ) that just feels super awkward to decorate, whether it's an annoying sloped ceiling getting in your way or a small lonely wall that you can't quite figure out how to fill.

Don’t worry, we’ve called in our design experts to rescue those pesky, hard to love spaces and turn them into your new favourite spots. Get ready to finally show those awkward spaces some love!

Stumped by tricky spaces? Book a free call with our lovely, professional designers who can help to solve your design dilemma:

1. Under the stairs

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Some homes have so much room below the staircase, just crying out to be maximised, so don't let that space go to waste and instead fill it with something useful to you!

Bespoke solutions

A go-to understairs storage solution for us is choosing built-in options - bespoke storage solutions, with cupboards or pull-out drawers, make the perfect fit for stashing shoes, bags, and other bits and bobs.

If "bespoke" sounds pricey, don’t worry – fitted furniture is more accessible and budget-friendly than ever, and our designers can even recommend the perfect style of joinery, including door styles, colour and handle suggestions to take to your chosen joiner, ensuring that new piece of storage works effortlessly into your room design.

Create a cosy seating area

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Not only is under the stairs perfect for storage, but it may also be that extra seating space you've always been dreaming of!

If you've always wanted a quiet reading area away from the hustle and bustle of the living space or perhaps a perfect spot to slip on your shoes before you head out the door, then an understairs bench could be exactly what you need to fill that awkward space in your home.

There are many ways to achieve one of these benches, from DIYing a little nook by yourself or discussing it with an architect if you're going through a large-scale renovation! 

Understairs shoe storage

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We've all been there... you kick off your shoes as soon as you step through the front door and begin the habit of shoes being permanently tossed throughout the hallway.

In narrower hallways (we're talking more about these in a moment), often shoe benches aren't an option as they take up all that precious space. Instead, understairs shoe storage could be perfect for hiding away your shoes without gobbling up valuable floor space – plus, your guests will be seriously impressed!

Want to say goodbye to awkward, unused spaces? Then transform your space from just £395, and work with one of our expert designers to start maximising every inch of your home!

2. Narrow hallways

Place your storage vertically

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As we all know, narrow hallways aren't exactly blessed with space, so when it comes to storage, things can get a little tricky.

One of the best narrow hallway storage ideas is to keep things vertical, making use of the wall space rather than the floor space, think slim shelves for your keys, instead of console tables, or plenty of hooks for your coats.

Your hanging storage doesn't have to be boring; like this peg board for instance, which is adaptable to your storage needs allowing for miniature shelves and coats galore!

Use clever hacks to trick the eye

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Sometimes all you need is a little trick of the eye to improve your narrow hallway, as interior designers we have so many simple tricks up our sleeves that can really give the most impact, so if you want to make your narrow hall feel that little bit bigger why not try...

Placing floor planks horizontally across the width of the wall, instead of vertically, creating the illusion of a much wider space, drawing the eye sideways and breaking up that narrow feel.

Painting details such as radiators, skirting boards and trim around doors the same colour as your wall helping to build continuity which minimises any visual interruptions and can make your narrow hallway feel so much airier and more open.

Talking about continuity, if you use the same flooring in all of the rooms that break off from your narrow hall, you create a better visual 'flow'. You avoid any contrast and instead make your hallway feel like an extension of all the other rooms it leads off into.

Bounce that beautiful light

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Mirrors are an age-old hack to make any space feel a bit bigger, so when you're decorating your narrow hallway, a great addition is always a generous-sized mirror which will bounce all that beautiful light around the room, making it feel bright and bigger!

Decorating your hallway? Read our complete hallway styling guide.

Wondering how to make the most of your space? Chat with one of our professional designers for free and get expert advice for those tricky areas

3. Bay window decorating ideas

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Bay windows are definitely a blessing and a curse! They're a desirable feature, allowing stunning natural light to flood into your space, however, how do you fill that awkward extra space?

In larger living rooms, you can simply place a luxurious sofa or comfy armchairs, allowing you to bathe in the glory of all that natural light, but in rooms where you're a bit more stuck for space, our designers have a few ideas on how to maximise your bay window...

A calm working space for one

Natural light is a game-changer for a work from home set up, helping to motivate and energise you during your workday, so if you have a lonely looking bay window, maybe introduce a desk into the space, helping you embrace that light all day long.

A dreamy bay window seat

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If you love the idea of slipping a sofa into a bay window, but don't quite have enough room or just want to take your seating up a level... in comes the built-in bay window bench!

A built-in bench will maximise that bay window space, avoiding sofa legs spilling out into the rest of the room and even offering up extra storage beneath!

Every inch of your home deserves to shine! Start collaborating with one of our professional interior designer to fall in love with your home all over again:

4. A lonely corner

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Once you've placed all the essentials in a room, you're often left with an awkward corner or two which you can't quite figure out how to fill.

Our expert designers have all the best furniture ideas for corners to make it lonely no more!

Light it up!

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An empty corner in your living space is the perfect opportunity to work on that layered lighting look which makes your home feel oh so cosy and warm.

Placing a feature standing lamp will enhance the corner and highlight the pieces around it - just remember to keep the lamp in proportion with the size of the space and furniture around it. For instance, a dramatic arched lamp may look stunning, but if you only have a small sofa for it to loom over, it may look a little more scary than stylish.

Bedroom corner decorating ideas

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Especially for those lucky enough to have a large and luxurious primary bedroom, you may be left with some sad looking corners which are screaming for a touch of decor.

A great option for bedroom corners is a cosy little chair which is perfect for changing, relaxing reading or perhaps for those clothes that are too clean for the wash, but too dirty for the wardrobe... you know which ones we mean!

You could also consider a larger standing mirror, a potted plant or a stylish wash basket to decorate that pesky bedroom corner.

Loving these spaces? Why not view our portfolio of stunning client projects below:

Small corner storage ideas

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Tall and slim storage pieces make the most of your vertical space in tight corners. Lower cabinets can offer storage, while the higher shelves can hold decorative pieces to elevate the space.

And if you have a little more space like in the room above, don't be afraid to place a large storage piece which can become a statement with some finishing touches like vases and plants and maybe even a mirror or art piece on the wall above.

Sprinkle in a little fun

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And who says that every lonely corner needs to be made totally practical, if you're lost for ideas for your room's corners, why not add in a splash of something you love?!

Whether it's a cheeky bar cart featuring some stylish bottles and sophisticated glassware or a vintage record player and some of your favourite vinyls, every corner can be made better with a little fun!

Got a challenging corner? Our experienced designers are here to help! Book a free 30-minute call to see how we can transform your awkward space."

5. Sloped ceilings and annoying eaves

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Attic conversions are an excellent way to gain extra space in your home, but it does often mean you have to fight against eaves and sloped ceilings for space.

Once again, this is where we would call in the bespoke, fitted furniture - this way you can have a snuggly fit wardrobe or storage shelves which are designed especially for your space, maximising every single inch!

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Open shelves placed in your eaves can really add a lot of character and are a great opportunity to add personality to any space with the opportunity to place storage baskets, decor and a hanging plant or two.

In other rooms, these bespoke open shelves, in your eaves, could become an excellent library or display for your most prized collectables. 

Struggling to style those hard-to-fill spaces? Chat with one of our friendly designers for free and get expert tips for even the trickiest areas.

6. What to put behind the sofa?

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Sofas are an excellent way to divide up a large living room or an open plan living space, creating two different zones whilst keeping the open and airy feel. But what do you place behind the sofa?

Behind sofa table decor

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In small open plan spaces, decorating behind the sofa with a dining table may be the perfect solution, breaking up the two spaces and anchoring down your furniture without the need of placing it against a wall.

To define the space even more, you could hang some artwork above or place a rug below, so the furniture doesn't feel like it's aimlessly floating across the room.

Create intimate seating areas

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Layouts can be tricky in long living rooms, you want to avoid the dreaded long wall of sofas that offer way too many seating options and never looks great, and you're constantly fighting to create an intimate feel.

That's why splitting up the room with a sofa is such a great way to bring the cosiness back in, and you can then decorate behind the sofa with more intimate seats and a coffee table, setting up the perfect space to chat with a cup of tea or perhaps play a board game or two.

You can then decorate behind the sofa with a wow-worthy feature art piece or perhaps craft your own gallery wall.

Working with an interior designer means your home is not only beautiful but functional too! From just £395 you can collaborate with a designer to choose the best layouts, colour scheme and furnishings for your home:

7. Small wall decor ideas

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Those tiny, awkward walls may not feel statement-worthy, but they can take your space from drab to fab. By simply hanging a piece of artwork, that wall goes from shameful to stunning!

You can also transform that small wall in the following ways...

Magnificent mirrors

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As mentioned earlier, mirrors are ideal for bouncing around natural light, making your space feel bigger - perfect for those awkward small walls.

Especially for small walls in your hallway, these mirrors can be super handy for a quick final check before you head out the door!

Handy console tables

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Console tables are a small wall's best friend, perfect for decorating the space and making it feel like a feature in your home.

Not only can a console table offer you a touch more storage, but you can place books, lamps (for that layered lighting look), decor and maybe even a tray to pop keys and other essentials in.

And by placing one of those mirrors or a piece of artwork as we said earlier, you can really make that small wall the star of the show!

Ready to style those awkward spots without the hassle? Book a free call with one of our lovely designers and begin to transform your space with ease!

8. Decorating around a radiator

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Radiators can sometimes be placed in the most awkward places, getting in the way of the whole feng shui of your space. But instead of ignoring them try to embrace them, like in the living room above!

You can decorate around the radiator by slightly disguising the piece with vented woodwork and painting it the same colour as the wall, letting it seamlessly blend into the space. You can then place finishing touches on top of the cover, like a sideboard, and even place a gallery wall above, completely transforming the space around the radiator.

From just £395 you'll have your own professional designer who'll get to know you and your home, helping you to create a stylish and practical space that works for all!