Tips & Ideas For Decorating Awkward Spaces in Your Home

Feeling lost when it comes to styling the strangest of places in your home? If so, I'll be giving you seven tips for decorating awkward spaces.

You know, those hard-to-envision spaces like underneath your stairs, in random nooks, or even behind your front door. With these tips, you’ll become a pro on how to decorate an awkward space in minutes.

Entryways

For many of us, there isn't much space in and around our entryway. But since this is typically our first stop when entering our homes, we really need this area to be multi-purpose. Even if it's a small entryway, having a small table to place our keys, our mail, or other frequently used items is helpful.

How about needing somewhere to sit when you come through the front door? Perhaps you need to remove your work boots, hang up a book bag, or simply rest your feet.

A small bench, built-in or not, is a really good option here.

Maybe you have a long, narrow space, so building out a mudroom storage area may be really useful here as well.

Or like many of us, we have just enough room for coat hooks, umbrella holders, and a mirror or artwork.

Hallways

Okay, so maybe your small entryway is a long, narrow hallway. You can still make this space beautiful and functional. Perhaps this time a small ledge or table with a mirror above it will do.

I've seen many people install IKEA shoe holders in their hallways. This is a very efficient use of space too.

Adding low, unobtrusive bookcases also works here.

And if it’s simply too narrow of a hallway, creating a gallery wall is also beautiful.

Stairs

For those of us who have staircases in our homes, we are always thinking about how we can use that space under the stairs. It's usually a decent amount of space, so how can we utilize it better?

Well, creating a dry bar may work for you. No plumbing is needed here, but it still looks great.

Or if you can run plumbing to this space, a wet bar will work here too.

Note the bar can be a coffee bar, a juice bar, or even spirits, whichever you like.

You can also use the space to create shelving. The shelving can be simple or elaborate.

How about creating a built-in wine bar? What a focal point that would make.

Or could you use a half bath? This is a great value-added space.

How about a room for your pet and workspace, seating?

Or, built-in storage drawers, and a closet?

Whatever you do, see that awkward space as found space and create something useful with it.

Corners

Okay, so do you have a small corner in your house that's too big to be ignored, but too small to know exactly what to do with it?

Well, oftentimes the solution is something unique, like using a corner table or shelving.

Create seating for your little ones.

Or, a small bistro table with bench seating may work.

When you just can't figure it out, use a screen or some plants on a plant stand to fill the space.

Whatever you do, don't leave that awkward corner looking like it's missing something. Fill it.

Closets

In some homes, if there was a little space left over during the build process, the builder just turned that space into a closet. It makes sense, but sometimes those closets weren't even deep enough to hang a coat comfortably, or perhaps the closet was in a location that didn't seem to make sense.

If you have a shallow closet or an extra closet, perhaps you can turn it into a beverage center or a bar area.

Maybe you can use a bookshelf in this space.

Or, perhaps build a bench with storage.

Even a small home office will work. Just make the space work for you.

Nooks

So if they didn't turn that little shallow space into a closet that I mentioned earlier, oftentimes, they left this little nook here for you to figure it out. Well, here are some suggestions on how you can fill in your nook.

Perhaps you can build shelves and create a little reading nook.

Or again, a little bar area will work here as well.

A little workspace is also a good option. Now most of us have needed to incorporate workspaces in our homes over the last two years, so this will work great to fill in this little nook. Remember, it's better to have it filled than not.

Bay windows

Now, I love a bay window. They let in a lot of natural light, they bring in architectural interest, and they add a few more visual square feet to the space. But sometimes, decorating around them can be a little difficult, or a bit awkward. Here are a few ideas to help you with that.

Try tucking a sofa with a console table behind it in the bay window area.

Or, perhaps two matching chairs and a small table between them will do. This option certainly allows you to appreciate the architecture of the bay window.

Let's not forget to add that workspace to the bay window. Again, another creative way to bring in that home office.

You can also build some bookshelves.

Add in some comfy seating.

Or, simply add a table and chairs to the space.