Do you have a tricky space in your home that you just don’t know how to use efficiently or decorate appropriately? Be it a boring corner, an unused space under the stairs, the edges of a room with a sloped ceiling, a small entrance hall or nook, very often these spaces are doomed to simply be dusty storage areas or worse, wasted space. However, all that is needed to turn these awkward spaces into interesting unique places in your home is some creativity. Here is our advice for some of the more common awkward spaces:

Sloped ceiling

A room with a sloped ceiling may seem a little impractical and difficult to decorate at first, especially when you consider the reduced head height along the edges of the room, but we suggest you work with the drama and impact of this architectural feature and create a space that plays off the strong angles and proportions of the room.

• Paint the area in neutral or light colours to create a sense of more space. To accentuate the room design and slope of the ceiling use tones of the same shade rather than too bold a colour.
• Use the periphery of the room to install practical customised storage units to keep the space looking neat and tidy.
• Choose furniture that is proportionally suited to the space i.e. low back couches.
• Do not compromise on the lighting, make sure that all areas are well lit. Use a mix of hanging pendants and downlights to ensure there are no dark corners.
• Add skylights and windows to allow in as much natural light as possible and choose practical and stylish window finishes such as shutters. Shutters complement the openings and can be designed to their unique shape and size.

Positioning a bathtub or bed under the lower part of a sloped ceiling is practical because of the reduced head height requirement. These shutters have been custom designed to fit the angled windows perfectly.

Split-level stairs

Unusually shaped walls, limited wall space and floor space, are some of the challenges you face when deciding how to decorate split-level stairs. The space needs to be attractive, especially because people will be focusing on it every time they walk up and down the stairs, and practical – it cannot interfere with or interrupt the traffic on the stairs. Here are some practical ideas on how to tackle this awkward space:

• If there is very limited space, simply create an accent wall with wallpaper, paint or artwork.
• If the space allows, create a decorative display on a suitably sized console table or smaller piece of furniture such as a kist.
• If you are fortunate enough to have a window on the landing, create a window seat with beautiful throws and cushions and decorate the windows with shutters from AMERICAN shutters as the louvres can be tilted to provide alluring ambience.

The natural sunlight filtered through shutters’ louvres adds interest and appeal to this sunny window seat.

Unused corners

Very often a room has a corner that cannot be successfully integrated into the main area of the room and seems to have no practical purpose. Perhaps it’s the position of the windows, doors or the space provided that poses a problem in creating a traditional space.

Think out of the box and consider creating a space with a unique purpose all of its own. The solution may be to simply position a large piece of standing artwork, a potted plant or lamp in the corner, or create a mini-escape by adding a single comfortable chair for lazy quiet moments to be shared with a cup of coffee and a book.

Custom-made shutters with rebated stiles allow maximum privacy when closed and when open make the most of a beautiful view.

Under the stairs

The first thing that comes to mind when we consider how to effectively use that awkward space under the stairs is storage. But it does not need to be that boring, here are a few possibilities to keep in mind:

• Library or bookshelves
• Entertainment centre
• Gallery wall
• Minibar
• Seating
• Home office

Home office meets storage under the stairs.

Multiple doors and windows

One of the most common awkward spaces in a home is a living area with multiple doors and windows resulting in limited wall space and high traffic. Here are our tips on how to create a beautiful space despite this challenge:

• Separate the area by clearly identifying the space for traffic in and out of the room, and the living space. Do this by positioning the furniture away from the walls, allowing space along the periphery of the room for people to walk. Use an area rug to demarcate the area to be used for seating.
• Paint the walls and the doors a similar shade so the focus is not placed on the openings but rather on the centre of the room. Use a neutral or light shade of colour to open up the space.
• Create a focal point in the space such as an accent wall, a fireplace, large piece of artwork or television screen.
• Use symmetry when positioning furniture to further indicate the living area of the space.
• Use the same finishing on all openings if possible to create a harmonious look that integrates the doors and windows seamlessly.

Bespoke shutters from AMERICAN shutters are ideal in a room with multiple doors and windows, as they complement rather than compete with other finishes in the space.