13 alcove ideas for making the most of awkward spaces
13 alcove ideas for making the most of awkward spaces
Make the most of awkward spaces with our alcove ideas. From clever layouts to storage tips, discover how you can transform an alcove in your home.
Awkward corners like alcoves can be challenging when you’re decorating a home. However, with creativity and know-how, the right alcove ideas allow you to maximise your space and turn an awkward corner into a stylish point in your home.
Since they can be found anywhere throughout the home like your living room, dining room or hallway, transforming your alcove will have to match the purpose of your room. Planning ahead is essential in bringing your alcove ideas to life. For example, if you’re considering adding shelves or artwork to an alcove, it’s important to get the measurements before hanging or installing the pieces.
From work from home solutions, savvy storage tips to colour ideas, discover these modern alcove ideas that allow you to make the most of awkward spaces. After you’re done reading our styling tips, browse our range of armchairs to get started.
If you have limited space at home, transforming an alcove into a home office set-up may be one solution to fully utilising your space. To start, you should note down measurements (width and height) of your alcove before buying a desk. One tip is to choose a desk with shelving or to introduce additional shelving above your desk. For small spaces, it’s best to pick furniture with a double-function like a desk with storage or shelving for storage.
If you have an alcove that’s too narrow to fit in any furniture one good idea is to create a gallery wall. Plan what type of artwork you would like to display and the position of your frames before starting. It doesn’t have to be artwork, you can even create a gallery wall out of photographs. Go for a specific theme like photos from your travels or abstract artwork so it ties the space together. The great thing about this alcove idea is that you can introduce this to any part of your home.
If you’re in the mood to switch things up, one of our favourite living room alcove ideas is to experiment with different shades of one colour. For example, we chose to experiment with different shades of brown. For the main wall, pick a muted brown tone like beige, camel or latte. Then for the alcove use a dark brown like mocha or espresso to accentuate the shelving. This will draw the eye upwards and serve as a backdrop for accessorising. Choose a similar palette for the rest of the room like terracotta, rust or other dark brown accents to tie the look together. If you’re looking for more brown living room ideas, check out our guide.
Wallpaper is one of the proven ways to turn your alcove into the focal point of the room. You can choose between two options - decorate with wallpaper next to the alcove but leave the alcove blank or you can wallpaper the alcove area but leave the walls blank. Whichever option you go for, make sure the wallpaper you choose has a vibrant pattern to add visual interest to the room.
For alcoves tucked away in cosy corners, this is the perfect opportunity to turn into a reading nook. Comfort and cosiness are key here - pick an armchair with soft upholstery like plush fabric or velvet to set the mood. Another important thing to consider is the lighting since you will be spending a long time lounging in this corner. Choose task lighting like an oversized lamp or a desk lamp which you can place on a side table next to your armchair. If you have extra space you can add more shelving to your alcove to place your books and artwork for decoration.
Since the TV is usually the focal point in most living rooms why not utilise the space next to it if you have an alcove (or two)? For this alcove idea, you want to draw attention to the whole wall. You should paint the whole wall the same colour and opt for a built-in media wall. Decide on the position and height of your TV first before installing it and then decorate around it. For example, if you have one alcove on each side of your TV you can highlight the symmetry by decorating it with matching accessories - think vases, ceramics and trailing indoor plants.
Use the alcoves in your kitchen or dining room to your advantage by adding shelving to store kitchenware. You can also keep a bar cart or trolley beneath the shelves to move around if you’re hosting a dinner party. Another way would be to transform the alcove into a mini pantry.
If you’re short on storage space, you can install a cabinet or shelves from top to bottom so that you can fill them with containers or other kitchen supplies. It’s totally up to you if you want to add doors or keep it open.
With homes getting smaller, there’s no such thing as too much storage. Our favourite alcove idea for the living room is to install built-in cabinets. You can go for the floor-to-ceiling option or half cabinets and shelving. For those that prefer hiding their storage, a floor-to-ceiling cabinet is probably your best choice. If you want to display your home furnishings you can divide the alcove into two - the top half display and the bottom half with cabinets. This will add visual interest while still providing storage.
For anyone in need of some pampering, why not transform your alcove into a dressing table area? If the space is too tight to add a full table, install floating shelves and drawers instead to store makeup or skincare. All you need to do is add a mirror to the shelf and a stylish chair or stool underneath and you can start getting ready for your girls night out! Another good tip is if you have a window nearby let the light stream in whether by keeping it clear or with light curtains.
One of the most common places alcoves are found in many British homes is next to a fireplace - so it makes perfect sense to make full use of it! Since it’s next to a chimney why not turn the bottom part of the alcove into a log storage unit? It will come in particularly handy in winter. You can opt for a built-in cabinet or open shelving to store your logs. For this fireplace alcove idea, decorate around your chimney and alcove to turn it into the focal point of the room by adding a mirror above your chimney. Style the rest of your living room in a country style to complement the wooden cabin feel.
For those lacking space in a kitchen-diner or open plan kitchen living room, an alcove can be the solution to create a small dining area. Place a round dining set near the alcove which immediately sections off the area for dining. Another option is introducing a breakfast bar counter to the alcove with floating shelves. All you need to do is to add bar stools and you’re all set.
The curved corners or awkward recesses cause alcoves to receive less natural light. If you’ve turned your alcove into a reading or WFH corner, it’s a good idea to introduce more lighting. An oversized task lamp may be just what you need to brighten up the area since you’ll spend a long time sitting there. If you want to add more than just task lighting you can also install wall lights for a touch of ambient lighting.
13. Add a pop of colour
Furniture And Choice
Shake things up by introducing a strong contrasting colour to your alcove. This is a great way to section off an area in your home for open plan spaces. Ask yourself what vibe you would like the space to be and then use colour psychology to get the look. For a burst of energy try yellow but if you want to soften the look choose sage green, light blue or a neutral shade like camel. The great thing is you don’t have to paint the whole area in the contrast colour you can just paint half the wall.
FAQS
What is an alcove in interior design?
An alcove is a recess portion of a room or a corner enclosed by walls in the home. Instead of an awkward gap you can transform the alcove into a useful addition to the room.
How to style an alcove?
Style your alcove in the same style as the rest of the room. For example, if your alcove is in a country-style living room complement the space with wooden shelving.
Should an alcove be painted lighter or darker?
There is no right or wrong in painting your alcove darker or lighter than the rest of the room. Think about the location of your alcove in the room. If your alcove is next to a window which receives a lot of natural lighting you have the option of painting it darker. For more closed off alcoves you should paint the alcove a lighter colour.
How do you decorate an empty alcove?
Add shelving to display accessories like vases, ornaments, artwork or framed photographs. You can also use an alcove as a bookshelf. If you have two alcoves on either side of your fireplace in your living room, you can create symmetry by adding shelving on each side with similar accessories.
