Although the majority of areas in your home can be easily defined, it's possible for your property to have at least one off-center zone that is quite difficult to make sense of. It can either be an awkward space where hardly anything can fit or an odd spot that is too narrow to serve a purpose.

Uncoordinated corners, crannies, and intersections — we can all have them in our houses. These can apply to homeowners, apartment renters, and even residents of sustainable homes. 

Cramped areas can also be among the most prevalent design problems that home renovators encounter, but fortunately, many fixes are available. With growing populations and shrinking house floor plans, home builders must manage and maximize a property's layout with innovation in architecture and décor. 

With a problematic floor plan, these compact spaces often present challenges that call for a strategic, creative process to achieve that cozy vibe.

Smart Ways to Make Use of Awkward Spaces in Your Homes

In this post, we will look at some unflattering areas in your abode and suggest tips and tricks for transforming them with décor or other creative hacks.

1. The space below the staircase

Often, staircases leave a rigid void below them that can be hard to design since neither furniture nor people can "breathe" sitting there. However, that angled corner may become a secret storage space for clothing or other items with the help of bespoke storage cabinets. You could even enclose the room and install doors to build storage that resembles a crawlspace, turn the area into a nook or studio for personal activities, or even incorporate an artful Japanese interior design.

1. The hallway corners

If your house has a front door that opens straight to your living room or an off-putting hallway that hardly serves any purpose, consider revamping that area to transform it into a mudroom. Here, you and your loved ones can deposit items you tag along when leaving the house, like coats, umbrellas, footwear, car keys, or watches. 

To make this space more efficient, consider adding shelving, cubbies, and hooks to organize your belongings and prevent misplacing things.

1. Bay window area or alcove

Your home may occasionally have a cutout or corner that is unsuitable for other purposes yet appears too small for its own function. These spaces may be changed into more useful ones that will benefit your family.

As for a nook or a bay window, you may consider designing a personalized desk space with a table and bookshelves, especially since many people are now working and taking classes from home. You can also think about building a simple recreation area or a mini library.

1. Spare closet

Although shallow and compact closets have limited storage capacity, you can still use them for other purposes. For one, you can install a sturdy piece of wood at table height to function as computer furniture. Then you can experiment adding shelves above for storage to create a mini home workspace. 

Try placing some sconces to illuminate the space. Also, opt for sliding doors that stay flush with the wall to maximize the room.

1. Behind doors

The area behind your front door might appear empty and unappealing when closed. A stylish mirror and a little console table may be placed on the wall behind the door to fill the open area elegantly. The space may also be a place for doing last touch-ups before heading out or a place to put your keys and wallet when you enter the house.

1. Mini walls

By adding a board and some inspirational artwork, you can make a little wall stand out. Create a huge message board by painting the wall with chalkboard paint, then put a shelf below it to keep chalk nearby. You can also put some decorative crates and baskets as storage for shoes while you're at it.

1. Vague entryway

If your property lacks the ideal doorway, create one yourself. Begin by outlining the space with a mat or carpet, then add racks and a chair to give relevance to the adjacent wall. To distinguish your one-wall mudroom, create a dimension with an embellished or slate wall finish.

1. Kitchen walls

A modest span of blank walls in a kitchen mainly covered with cabinets might appear odd and out of place. Make the most of the available space by stacking floating open shelves. They can also store extra kitchenware, keepsakes, or cookbooks.

Tap Into Your Creative Side

Don't let awkward areas in your house make you feel stuck or dissatisfied. These are just a few examples of the many different ways you might fill those gaps. Be creative, experiment with ideas, apply your unique style, and enjoy furnishing your house with interesting decorations such as plants, paintings, art pieces, and more.