9 Ways to Make Use of Awkward Corners in Your House

Awkward corners are something we all deal with, no matter how big our budgets—or our homes—are. Some corners really are too tiny to do anything with, but most can be put to use if you’re willing to think outside of the box a little bit. With some creativity and a maybe a weekend’s worth of DIYs, this common layout gripe can be fixed (or at least made better). Check out these nine ways to flip the script on those awkward corners in your home, and let us know which one is your favorite.

Really tight corners have the potential to be useful—you just need some slab-style triangle shelves. Commission something made-to-order from Etsy, or if you’re handy, you may be able to build something like these yourself. Mount them to the wall and start using them to hold anything from plants to decorative objects or small items like jewelry, lotions, or toiletries. A set up like this would be clutch in a small bathroom or powder room.

Take the triangle shelf idea a step further with a full corner shelving unit. That’s what Alison from Deuce Cities Henhouse did. She found a workaround to her big bulky furnace by creating a custom office nook surrounding it. Now this former dead zone is stacked high with books and also showcases a few pieces of art.

Corner entertainment units are either expensive or clunky, but Allison from Deuce Cities Henhouse found a solution for that predicament—this girl knows how to work her corners! She built her own media center by floating IKEA cabinets in one corner of her living room and adding wood sides and a top. That’s a genius-level move, if you ask me.

The easiest way to make use of an empty corner? Go for greenery. Whether it’s a fiddle-leaf fig tree, a pothos hanging from the ceiling, or a potted plant on a pedestal, plants are a one-and-done way to fill negative space in a corner.

If your house has a second floor and you have a seemingly unusable stretch of hallway at the top of the stairs, don’t worry. Just find a narrow, long piece of furniture. Here, a low-slung cubby console was transformed into spot for a record player and some accessories. Just make sure you leave enough room between the fronts of the cubbies and the stair railing so you can access whatever you decide to put there.

Who says you need a dedicated home office? If you have a spare blank corner in your living room (or really any room), you can transform it into a workspace. Go ahead and define the area with a contrasting color of paint if you want. It will only make your design savvy pop.

This homeowner is making quite the case for hanging a special piece of art right across an empty corner. If you’re looking for an unexpected solution for dead corner space that your neighbors probably won’t have, this could be the answer.

A floor lamp is another great way to fill an awkward corner. Designers often recommend adding extra lighting to rooms beyond what’s overhead and hard-wired. Since floor lamps tend to be large, backing one into a corner near your sofa is a great way to set up a spot for reading or working.

Turn a sad corner into a cozy one by positioning a chair there and adding some accessories—a sheepskin rug, a bin for books and magazines. You can even add a little side table, and voilà, you’ve got yourself the perfect space for morning coffee or a post-work glass of wine.