Spaces under the stairs, hall closets, dormer windows, slanted attic alcoves, and basement niches: these awkward areas are common, yet woefully underused. Nooks such as these are often found aplenty in older homes, but almost every dwelling has at least one odd corner or recess. Far from inconvenient eyesores or a waste of square footage, we see them as the perfect opportunity to experiment and play. Homeowners can gain additional, functional space by rethinking these tricky areas and by getting resourceful and creative within the home’s existing structure.
For families with young children, awkward and unconventionally sized nooks can quickly be transformed into kiddie havens. An under-the-stairs space can become a “KIDS ONLY” sanctuary by turning it into a playhouse within the home. No matter the weather outside, little ones will love escaping to a getaway that’s just for them and can hold their favorite toys. Bonus: having this tucked-away space to stash their stuff means less clutter in the general living area. Even a small space can be utilized in a fun way: for one kiddie client, we made a hidden door out of a bookshelf that opened up into a space with shelves and toys. What child wouldn’t want a secret passage?
Design courtesy of Von Fitz Design
Design courtesy of M and M Studio
Or turn an oddly shaped area into a functional and tidy makeshift mudroom for school and extracurricular supplies. Use your kids’ not-fully-grown stature to take advantage of a space that might be awkward or unusable for a full-sized adult. Small shelves or drawers might seem useless to an adult, but they could become the perfect spots for a child to place their first house key or a daily treasure found while adventuring. And including kids in the planning and ideas stage might just encourage an interest in design!
But under-the-stairs spaces need not be reserved for kids. A wine cellar is an ingenious use of such an area. Likewise, shelving to display books, art, and photographs is yet another way to optimize an underused space.
The kitchen often ends up serving as the heart of the home, but not every home design includes a spacious set-up and might include an awkward, boxy, or cramped niche or nook. Built-in eating areas beckon family members to curl up in the cozy space throughout the day (especially if it’s surrounded by windows and lots of natural light). Besides sharing a meal together, family members will find themselves using the built-ins for homework sessions, an early morning cup of coffee, a bird-watching session, or even a nap. You can add even more functionality to these built-ins through lift-up seats or pull-out storage!
Design courtesy of Eleanor Cummings
Design courtesy of Eleanor Cummings