Slants, nooks, alcoves, and those tiny slivers of wall that create awkward spaces are often the first corners in a home to be ignored, avoided, or viewed as an interior design headache. But what if, instead, you decided to embrace the awkwardness and make it work for you? With some clever thinking and a few creative touches, those odd angles and quirky corners can become some of the most charming, functional, and unique features of your home.
Here are my favourite decor ideas for awkward spaces, plus some personal anecdotes from tackling these design challenges in my own home.
1- Embrace the Awkwardness. Stop seeing awkward spaces as a problem! Leaving them bare can actually call more attention to them, but filling (and flaunting!) these spots immediately makes them feel intentional.
Here are some smart solutions for common awkward spaces:
- Bay Windows: Turn that angled bay into a serene workspace with a desk and chair. You preserve your floor space, gain a gorgeous view, and suddenly you have a built-in office nook. Alternatively, build a romantic reading nook
- Radiators: If you don't like wasting the space above radiators, cover them with vented woodwork, then top with beautiful faux plants, books, or art.
- Slanted Walls: Instead of fighting uneven walls or ceilings, you can create an art-filled gallery wall. The asymmetry will disappear behind the creative mix of framed prints.
- Low ceilings: Vertical panelling or painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls helps soften awkward lines and adds harmony to the entire space. The same goes for wallpapering the room from floor to ceiling - which I’m a big fan of!
- Awkward alcoves: In our guestroom in the eaves, we had to get creative to make a few little quirks become functional and beautiful. In a tiny nook under a window, I was able to add a little desk and a chair and turn it into a chic little workspace. The slanted walls, rather than making it feel cramped, now give that corner its own cosy character. We had another alcove space beside our bedroom's fireplace. We were lucky enough to have a tallboy in Honor’s bedroom that looked like it'd fit perfectly - and it did! Sometimes, finding furniture that works in spaces like this isn’t quite as easy and takes some moving around to see what fits and what doesn’t.
2. Add Light and Mirrors. Awkward spaces can often feel dark or boxed in. That’s when good lighting and mirrors come in…Add sconces, picture lights, pendants, and layered lamps to create a warm, inviting glow without hogging floor space. Position mirrors to bounce light around and give the illusion of an expansive room.
3. Make Every Inch Count. Even the smallest, strangest wall can become the focal point of a room with the right attention. For example, a console table with a colourful lamp, an antique chair styled with pretty books, or a bar cart with art hung right above can make a small slice of wall a standout feature.
In our kitchen, there is the tiniest sliver of space between the two big windows with grand, pooling curtains. Instead of leaving the space blank, I decided to put a bar cart in the space and added some artwork above as well, to make every inch of space feel intentional, rather than forgotten. The bar cart is one of my favourite pieces in the kitchen - it’s an antique from Lou & Pickle.
In our bedroom, we have a similar space between the pooling curtains, but here I added a little antique chair that we use as a mini-table. On it, I’ve added some of my favourite designer books.
