Tackle Awkward Spaces With Custom Designs
Difficult spatial issues are best solved with creative custom solutions
Larissa Davis
15 February 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor and Principal Designer of Lewisham Interiors in Melbourne. With an appreciation for quality and an obsession for detail, assisting in the designing of lifestyles is always a rewarding experience, however it is the people I meet along the way who bring me the greatest joy!
Houzz Australia Contributor and Principal Designer of Lewisham Interiors in Melbourne.... More
Have you walked around in circles online and on foot trying to find an item that will fit an odd-shaped nook or challenging space? Many off-the-shelf interior items simply aren’t suitable or readily available. To remedy this, there has been an ever-increasing demand for custom-designed furniture and cabinetry. Custom designs allow you to select the ideal size, style, colour and finish of an item, while maximising every bit of space you have available. Let’s explore the challenges of some tricky room scenarios and see how customising has the potential to transform these headache areas into workable solutions.
“I need more comfortable seating in this room, but the only space left is a tight window nook.”
Challenge: Tight window niche
Solution: Tailor sofas or a modular configuration to size. This can ensure a perfect fit within a tiny window or wall niche space. Not only will this maximise the available seating area in the room and cater for every family member, it will also provide the opportunity to incorporate the ideal sofa style and fabric to suit the home’s interior. As well, you can achieve an ideal seat depth, arm height and cushion infill for the ultimate in appearance, comfort and support.
Challenge: Tight window niche
Solution: Tailor sofas or a modular configuration to size. This can ensure a perfect fit within a tiny window or wall niche space. Not only will this maximise the available seating area in the room and cater for every family member, it will also provide the opportunity to incorporate the ideal sofa style and fabric to suit the home’s interior. As well, you can achieve an ideal seat depth, arm height and cushion infill for the ultimate in appearance, comfort and support.
“There’s no wall to hang a TV in this bedroom. Where can I put it?”
Challenge: No wall to hang it on
Solution: A bed-end box custom designed and made to look like the finished end of a bed or enclosed console table provides the ideal hiding place for a pop-up TV. Constructed specially to encase the unit and made to open at the top, an internal mechanism allows for the TV to lift up from inside the box to the ideal height for viewing and closes away just as seamlessly. To have the pop-up mechanism accessible by remote control or home integrated system will enhance the experience.
Challenge: No wall to hang it on
Solution: A bed-end box custom designed and made to look like the finished end of a bed or enclosed console table provides the ideal hiding place for a pop-up TV. Constructed specially to encase the unit and made to open at the top, an internal mechanism allows for the TV to lift up from inside the box to the ideal height for viewing and closes away just as seamlessly. To have the pop-up mechanism accessible by remote control or home integrated system will enhance the experience.
“How do I squeeze a desk and dressing table into a smallish bedroom?”
Challenge: Limited floor space in a bedroom
Solution: Incorporate a desk that doubles as a dressing table. Set against a wall with one chair, only a minimal amount of floor space will be required and it will allow for a mirror to be set on the wall above for applying make-up. The inclusion of drawers under the tabletop will provide storage for both cosmetic and stationery items. Ensure there is a power source close by for a laptop and desk lamp.
9 Steps to a Beautiful and Functional Make-Up Corner
Challenge: Limited floor space in a bedroom
Solution: Incorporate a desk that doubles as a dressing table. Set against a wall with one chair, only a minimal amount of floor space will be required and it will allow for a mirror to be set on the wall above for applying make-up. The inclusion of drawers under the tabletop will provide storage for both cosmetic and stationery items. Ensure there is a power source close by for a laptop and desk lamp.
9 Steps to a Beautiful and Functional Make-Up Corner
“There are windows in the way of where I want to put my bedside tables. What can I do?”
Challenge: Floor-to-ceiling windows set either side of the bed wall
Solution: Custom fit floating bedside tables onto a bedhead as an all-in-one fixture. Setting the tables a distance away from the bed will keep from constricting the overall set-up and allow it to be easily made and unmade. If the space between the edge of the bed and beginning of the window is particularly limited, consider wrapping the bedside table around the outer edge of the bedhead slightly, to achieve a more generously sized tabletop.
Challenge: Floor-to-ceiling windows set either side of the bed wall
Solution: Custom fit floating bedside tables onto a bedhead as an all-in-one fixture. Setting the tables a distance away from the bed will keep from constricting the overall set-up and allow it to be easily made and unmade. If the space between the edge of the bed and beginning of the window is particularly limited, consider wrapping the bedside table around the outer edge of the bedhead slightly, to achieve a more generously sized tabletop.
“How do I divide up one room to multi-task as a study, library and guest bedroom?”
Challenge: One room has to accommodate three functions
Solution: Customisation is the key to maximising the potential of one small room required to cater for so many functions. A sofa bed is more comfortable when it’s custom-made and you specify comfort as a priority (in my experience).
A custom sofa bed can also be designed to fit the available space perfectly, and you have the opportunity to select the ideal fabric for the room. Add custom-designed carpentry for storage, a desk, and shelving to ensure the space is maximised, usable and organised.
Challenge: One room has to accommodate three functions
Solution: Customisation is the key to maximising the potential of one small room required to cater for so many functions. A sofa bed is more comfortable when it’s custom-made and you specify comfort as a priority (in my experience).
A custom sofa bed can also be designed to fit the available space perfectly, and you have the opportunity to select the ideal fabric for the room. Add custom-designed carpentry for storage, a desk, and shelving to ensure the space is maximised, usable and organised.
“My conventional dining table looks too small in this space.”
Challenge: Overly large dining room space
Solution: Introduce a custom-designed dining table that’s longer than an off-the-shelf piece. This will suit the unusual proportions of an expansive dining room. A custom-made design also allows for the creation of a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that can stand out as a beautiful feature in the room.
Or, if you prefer, it can blend in to allow other elements like the dining chairs, pendant chandeliers and/or artwork to be the hero pieces. A generously sized table will fit with the generous proportions of the room too, looking grand yet still meeting the practicality requirements of the homeowners.
Why Our Furniture is Getting Bigger
Challenge: Overly large dining room space
Solution: Introduce a custom-designed dining table that’s longer than an off-the-shelf piece. This will suit the unusual proportions of an expansive dining room. A custom-made design also allows for the creation of a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that can stand out as a beautiful feature in the room.
Or, if you prefer, it can blend in to allow other elements like the dining chairs, pendant chandeliers and/or artwork to be the hero pieces. A generously sized table will fit with the generous proportions of the room too, looking grand yet still meeting the practicality requirements of the homeowners.
Why Our Furniture is Getting Bigger
“We need more beds in our home but don’t have any more rooms.”
Challenge: Not enough bedrooms
Solution: Bunk beds have always been a great idea to provide additional sleeping capacity in a room without impacting on the floor space. But customising this idea allows for an even greater sleeping capacity as well as the addition of drawers for storage to minimise other furniture items needed in the room. Niche walls with a shelf may be built in behind the head of the beds or off to the side and used as bedside tables. They can even incorporate a reading light and power source to charge phones and other gadgets.
Lofty Ideas, or The Highs and Lows of Bunk Beds
Challenge: Not enough bedrooms
Solution: Bunk beds have always been a great idea to provide additional sleeping capacity in a room without impacting on the floor space. But customising this idea allows for an even greater sleeping capacity as well as the addition of drawers for storage to minimise other furniture items needed in the room. Niche walls with a shelf may be built in behind the head of the beds or off to the side and used as bedside tables. They can even incorporate a reading light and power source to charge phones and other gadgets.
Lofty Ideas, or The Highs and Lows of Bunk Beds
“I need a narrow console for our hall but can’t find one to buy that will fit the niche.”
Challenge: Hallway niche is an awkward size
Solution: Custom build a hall sideboard into a niche wall in a narrow hallway to maximise storage while introducing a decorative display area. A custom-made sideboard will allow you to achieve the style, colour and size to suit. In an entry, it will set the scene while also providing a convenient place to toss keys and mail when arriving home. Should there be no niche, consider the possibility of building into a small section of the room behind.
Challenge: Hallway niche is an awkward size
Solution: Custom build a hall sideboard into a niche wall in a narrow hallway to maximise storage while introducing a decorative display area. A custom-made sideboard will allow you to achieve the style, colour and size to suit. In an entry, it will set the scene while also providing a convenient place to toss keys and mail when arriving home. Should there be no niche, consider the possibility of building into a small section of the room behind.
“Where can we put wardrobes in a bedroom without much wall space?”
Challenge: Limited wall space
Solution: Custom design and build a wardrobe area along the wall that has the biggest wall area, even if it has a window or door opening. Have the carpentry extend from wall to wall, floor to ceiling and completely surround the opening where appropriate. Should these robes surround a centrally positioned window, then include cupboards either side, along the top and add drawers underneath to achieve maximum storage for your clothing and shoes while creating an inviting window seat.
Challenge: Limited wall space
Solution: Custom design and build a wardrobe area along the wall that has the biggest wall area, even if it has a window or door opening. Have the carpentry extend from wall to wall, floor to ceiling and completely surround the opening where appropriate. Should these robes surround a centrally positioned window, then include cupboards either side, along the top and add drawers underneath to achieve maximum storage for your clothing and shoes while creating an inviting window seat.
“How can I fit a dining area into a narrow kitchen?”
Challenge: Tiny kitchen with no other space in the home to adapt
Solution: A built-in bench seat with dining table set into a wall recess in a small kitchen will make for a relaxed, intimate dining experience while keeping the main area of the kitchen open. Additional chairs may be added when needed, but kept elsewhere at other times. The table can also be used as additional bench space, although it would be slightly lower than an ideal bench height.
Bring Breakfast Back With Eat-In Nooks and Tables
Challenge: Tiny kitchen with no other space in the home to adapt
Solution: A built-in bench seat with dining table set into a wall recess in a small kitchen will make for a relaxed, intimate dining experience while keeping the main area of the kitchen open. Additional chairs may be added when needed, but kept elsewhere at other times. The table can also be used as additional bench space, although it would be slightly lower than an ideal bench height.
Bring Breakfast Back With Eat-In Nooks and Tables
“I’ve got too many shoes. Should I use my attic as storage?”
Challenge: Too many shoes, not enough space
Solution: An attic space with limited head-height potential is an ideal area to fit out with shelving to store and display an extensive shoe collection. The side areas where the ceiling height is too low will accommodate open shelving, and drawers with fully extendable drawer runners may be made to a generous depth internally, as there will be scope to extend further into the lower roof space.
This area will work well as a dressing room, and the addition of natural light will be especially important to colour coordinate an outfit. Should there be no windows, then a skylight or two would be advisable.
Challenge: Too many shoes, not enough space
Solution: An attic space with limited head-height potential is an ideal area to fit out with shelving to store and display an extensive shoe collection. The side areas where the ceiling height is too low will accommodate open shelving, and drawers with fully extendable drawer runners may be made to a generous depth internally, as there will be scope to extend further into the lower roof space.
This area will work well as a dressing room, and the addition of natural light will be especially important to colour coordinate an outfit. Should there be no windows, then a skylight or two would be advisable.
“I’ve got a double-height area not being used. How do I make it work as a kid’s room?”
Challenge: Tiny floor space
Solution: Consider incorporating a built-in loft-style bed in a fully enclosed unit set against a wall. It may be hidden, inset into part of the wardrobe carpentry or become a feature in the room. In this case, the bed sits behind the ladder leading to a mezzanine level big enough to house an additional bed or playspace.
Challenge: Tiny floor space
Solution: Consider incorporating a built-in loft-style bed in a fully enclosed unit set against a wall. It may be hidden, inset into part of the wardrobe carpentry or become a feature in the room. In this case, the bed sits behind the ladder leading to a mezzanine level big enough to house an additional bed or playspace.
“Where can I put my pet’s bowls in a tiny apartment so that I won’t trip over them?”
Challenge: An apartment with no available outdoor area or interior floor space.
Solution: Incorporate a drawer at the base of a laundry cupboard or bathroom cabinetry unit that has been fitted with cut-outs for food and water bowls that can be removed easily for cleaning and refilling. It will be important for this drawer to be well sealed internally so that when closed, the pet food smells do not waft throughout the rest of the cupboard.
TELL US
Have you found a customised solution to address an awkward space? Please share it with us in the Comments.
MORE
Decorating: How to Commission Your Very Own Bespoke Piece of Furniture
Challenge: An apartment with no available outdoor area or interior floor space.
Solution: Incorporate a drawer at the base of a laundry cupboard or bathroom cabinetry unit that has been fitted with cut-outs for food and water bowls that can be removed easily for cleaning and refilling. It will be important for this drawer to be well sealed internally so that when closed, the pet food smells do not waft throughout the rest of the cupboard.
TELL US
Have you found a customised solution to address an awkward space? Please share it with us in the Comments.
MORE
Decorating: How to Commission Your Very Own Bespoke Piece of Furniture
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Great article, so many clever ideas. As for making the bunk beds, choose your mattresses carefully - you can get firm but lightweight foam which is easy to pull part way out of the space, and always use fitted sheets. It's not so hard, even if you are not tall.
Thanks for the feature!
Thank you Lewisham Interiors.
This is a great article. Love the photos, extremely inspiring.
I particularly like the wardrobes around a window idea, both creative and practical.
PS: Love the pet bowl draw, we have a very tidy cat and this would be perfect!