10 ways to maximise 'unused' space in your home
Get creative with awkward nooks and empty spaces to maximise your home's potential
We all dream of having more space, but look hard enough and there are often plenty of untapped areas of the home with makeover potential. Whether you’re looking to squeeze in extra storage or add more decorative interest, we’ve come up with some creative solutions to maximise every nook and cranny.
Add a gallery wall
Transform a blank spot behind a sofa or up the stairwell into your own mini ‘exhibition’ of artwork and family photos. Mix and match typographic posters, illustrative pieces and photography, as well as sizes and orientation for a more interesting look, but keep the colour palette cohesive for a serene feel.
Turn a redundant fireplace into a focal point
Got a bare chimney breast wall you’re not sure what to do with? Turn it into a real focal point of the living room with a fuss-free electric fire that requires no tricky installation. Or, if you have an empty fireplace but don’t want a fire, why not turn it into a mini library with shelving? We boarded up the one in our daughter’s room and painted it with blackboard paint so she could chalk on it to her heart’s content.
Transform a forgotten corner into botanical paradise
This is a great choice for a bathroom or open-plan living space that needs some ‘life’ injecting into it. Vary plant shades, textures and heights with floor-standing planters and decorative hanging pots. Go dramatic with a Monstera or Fiddle Leaf Fig in an oversized basket to brighten up a gloomy spot.
Create your own mini bar
Set up your very own cocktail cabinet inside an alcove, complete with glass shelves and mirrored panelling for extra glam. Add a comfy club chair, some good lighting and snazzy barware and you’re all good to go.
Install a window seat
Have you got an awkward or empty spot under a window? Transform it into a usable space with a cosy bench seat. Bespoke fitted solutions can be pricey, especially for bay windows, so consider ready-made storage benches, such as shoe benches designed for hallways or, if you’re feeling creative, an Ikea hack for a cost-effective solution.
Panel your walls
Wrapping the room in panelling not only creates a cosy feel, but also provides an extra shelf for displaying decorative pieces, such as art, vases and plants to add instant character to a space.
Make way under your stairs
An under-stairs cupboard is often a dumping ground for hoarding miscellaneous ‘stuff’, so why not open it up and turn it into a useful space? Whether its an extra study space for homework or WFH, or a fun den for the kids, it’s a great way to create another mini ‘room’ without a huge outlay.
Rethink your landing
Landings are often ‘lost’ spaces; if you’ve got a reasonably generous landing, especially one with a window, why not incorporate a mini study space underneath with a fold-up desk or add a seating nook for an extra chill-out spot that family members can retreat to when they need five minutes’ peace.
Set up a reading nook
Turn an empty corner into a cosy reading nook for the kids – or for yourself. Wall-hung picture ledges are great for displaying a selection of books at a kid-friendly height with easy access; add a canopy, beanbag or comfy armchair and a portable wireless light to complete the look.
Add a mini library
If you’re a real bookworm and are running out of space on your shelves, why not consider wrapping shelving around a door frame or above a doorway? Not only will it add character, it’s a great way to use this often untapped space.
Which is your favourite use of untapped space? Share in your comments below. Looking for more space-saving ideas? See how this family added space without extending here.