Optimising your home’s overlooked corners for style and functionality

Optimising your home's overlooked corners for style and functionality

Many homes have overlooked corners – those often-neglected spaces that can easily become cluttered, but also possess great potential to enhance both style and functionality. By approaching these areas creatively and intentionally, you can transform them into seamless parts of your home that contribute to a more organised and appealing environment. Here are some innovative strategies to maximise your home’s hidden corners.

Evaluating your environment: uncovering potential

Begin your journey by reassessing your living space with a fresh eye. Identify those awkward spots where furniture may not fit perfectly or areas that tend to collect miscellaneous items. Common examples include spaces next to bookshelves, beneath staircases or within deep alcoves. Recognising these unique spaces is the first step towards unlocking their potential.

After pinpointing these opportunities, consider the dimensions and layout of each corner. For instance, a slender area can be perfect for a tall, narrow piece, while a compact nook might benefit from a sleek bench or a small table. Understanding the characteristics of these spaces allows you to plan effectively and select solutions that maximise their potential, enhancing your overall interior design.

If you find items that no longer fit into your new vision for the space, consider using a service like Shurgard for temporary storage. This way, you can keep your environment clutter-free while deciding what to keep, helping you make the most of your space.

Innovative design solutions: transforming awkward spaces

Once you’ve identified your home’s overlooked corners, the next step is to implement creative design solutions. One of the most effective ways to utilise these areas is by incorporating bespoke shelving or cabinetry. Floating shelves or built-in units can seamlessly fit into corners, providing places to display books, decorative items or perhaps plants. This clears clutter and adds an aesthetic element to your décor.

The area beneath a staircase often represents significant untapped potential. This space can be cleverly converted into a reading nook, work area or perhaps a mini-library with custom shelving. You can keep the space tidy using stylish storage boxes or open shelves while establishing a unique focal point in your home.

In larger homes, consider adding a small seating area or desk in these corners. A comfortable armchair or a petite writing desk can turn an unused spot into an engaging corner for relaxation or productivity. Personalising these spaces with artwork or soft furnishings can create an inviting atmosphere that draws you in.

Elevating vertical space: making height work for you

When dealing with overlooked corners, it’s essential to think vertically. High shelving can be a game-changer for utilising areas that might otherwise remain empty. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves or cabinets can create an expansive impression, drawing the eye upward and making the space feel larger.

Wall-mounted solutions also work beautifully in these areas. Hooks or pegboards can become practical organisers for items like coats, bags or kitchen utensils. This maintains organisation and allows easy access to frequently used items, reducing clutter in other parts of your home.

Consider investing in multifunctional furniture that serves more than one purpose. Items like ottomans with hidden compartments or coffee tables that lift to reveal extra space can merge style with practicality. Such pieces enhance the visual appeal of your home and ensure that every inch serves a purpose.

Enhancing style: decorate with intention

Aesthetic enhancements can make a significant difference in optimising your home’s overlooked corners. Incorporate plants to bring life to these spaces. Choose stylish pots that align with your décor to create a vibrant focal point. Plants improve air quality and introduce an element of nature that can rejuvenate your living environment.

Artwork can also play a vital role in transforming these corners. Placing a striking piece of art at eye level can create a dynamic visual anchor. Alternatively, using mirrors can help reflect light and create the illusion of more space, making the area feel airy and open.

Lighting is another critical aspect often overlooked in these spaces. Incorporating a small sconce, a decorative lamp or maybe fairy lights can add warmth and character. Soft lighting creates a welcoming ambience that encourages engagement with previously underutilised areas.

Functional décor: merging utility with aesthetic appeal

As you optimise your hidden corners, consider integrating functional décor elements that serve both purposes. Stylish baskets can act as eye-catching organisers, providing a place to keep items tidy while enhancing the overall look of your space. Choose materials and colours that complement your home’s design for a cohesive feel.

Another innovative approach is to create a mini gallery wall in an overlooked corner. By selecting a few of your favourite framed pieces, you can turn the space into an artistic statement. This effectively utilises the area and injects personality into your home.

Consider a small console table topped with decorative items for those with larger corners. This can serve as a landing spot for keys and mail while showcasing personal style through carefully curated décor. Items like candles, family photos or travel souvenirs can create a narrative that invites conversation.

Exploring practical solutions for everyday use

Beyond aesthetics, it’s essential to ensure that your newly optimised corners serve practical purposes. Make sure important items are easily accessible without creating chaos. Establish a designated spot for everyday items like bags or shoes to maintain a clean and organised atmosphere.

Drawer organisers or stylish trays can help manage smaller items within these areas, preventing them from becoming clutter zones. By incorporating smart solutions, you can maintain a streamlined look while ensuring your space remains functional.

Transforming your home’s overlooked corners into functional and stylish areas can significantly enhance your living environment. You can breathe new life into these spaces by evaluating your space, implementing innovative design solutions, utilising vertical height and incorporating decorative elements. Embrace these ideas to create inviting corners that complement your lifestyle and home’s aesthetic.

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Completely update your home with a whole new interior

Completely update your home with a whole new interior

Occasionally, redecorating a room in your home can refresh your interior. But what if you feel like a light refresh of one room isn’t enough? Sometimes you just get bored or fed up with your current décor and begin thinking of ways to really shake things up.

It could be time-consuming and expensive to redo your home’s entire interior, but it can also help you to fall in love with your home all over again. Of course, it’s likely to be a lot of work, so here are a few steps that you’ll need to think about to completely update your home with a whole new interior.

Make plans

Before you do anything, you should think about what your goals are. Why are you making changes and what do you want the results to look like? It might be that your home is looking pretty out of date. If it was last decorated ten or more years ago, perhaps it’s looking tired and you want to make it look more modern or give it more of a timeless feel. You should think about any major changes you want to make, such as kitchen or bathroom renovations, as well as whether you want to do things like changing your furniture, installing new flooring or redecorating walls.

Clear out your home

If you want to make some major changes to your home, one of the first things you’ll want to do is probably clear out anything you no longer want. Maybe you want to get rid of some furniture or you just have some clutter to clear out. You can use a rubbish removal service to take away anything that you no longer use. You might have stuff that’s no longer usable that you wish to have recycled. Other items could still be in good condition; you could choose to sell or donate these instead.

Start with major works

It obviously makes sense to begin with any big jobs that you want to have done. Maybe you want to convert your basement into a living space, install a new kitchen, or knock a wall through to create an open-plan space. Some of these works can get pretty messy, so it makes sense to complete them first if you want to avoid having dust all over your newly decorated living room. It can also help make it easier to budget, giving you a clear idea of how much the major works will cost and how much you’ll have left for other things.

Decorate for durability

If you’re decorating your home and you want it to last a long time, think about the durability of the materials that you choose. Some people might like to redecorate every few years, but others would much rather enjoy the same décor for a longer period. As well as choosing the right materials, think about the style you’re choosing. Today’s trends might not look so good in a few years.

Update your home with new interiors and you could fall in love with it again – or sell it and make a profit.

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You’ve moved into your best home – now, how do you decorate?

You've moved into your best home - now, how do you decorate?

It isn’t uncommon to feel slightly overwhelmed when moving into a new home. We may arrive, look around and reflect on just how much work there is to be done. In some cases, we may want to start afresh, bringing all of our belongings but leaving them put for a time while we consider options.

Of course, some people may embark on moving into their new home happy and excited, thinking of all the changes they’ll make. Then, after actually inhabiting the space for a period, they may develop other ideas that they need to clarify in their minds before deciding on the course of action. There’s nothing wrong with all this, it’s just part of how the ‘moving to a new home’ experience can be.

Thankfully, moving into your best home is victory enough already, so then follows the really fun part. So, how do you decorate? Often, doing a place up is something that happens over a period of years and will be constantly evolving. That being said, consider the following advice:

keeping furniture in storage

Keep your bulky furniture & belongings in storage

Whilst it can be tempting to just put all your stuff in whatever empty room is available, this can sometimes impede how well you can create your interior from the ground up, and can lead to no small amount of stress. With a storage unit, you can keep your most prized, valuable and sizeable items safe while you figure out where to put them. Of course, this will mostly be for inessential items that aren’t required in your home immediately. You needn’t go without a bed for two weeks before you decide where to put it however, in the case of out-of-season clothes, your hardback book collection etc, this can be a great solution and save you future hassle.

Tape measure illustration

Measure everything

When you were viewing your potential new property, it’s unlikely that you had the chance to measure the dimensions of everything. But now you’ve moved in, you’re free to investigate the space as you wish. Measuring walls, the width of the front door, ceiling heights etc and jotting these down in a notebook can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to buying new items for your home. This can prevent you from making unsuitable purchases, and helps you feel much more confident when in the shop.

Illustration of a homeware shop

Take it easy

It’s not uncommon to think that if you have a room, you need to fill it. It’s how we’re wired. However, there’s no need to rush to your nearest home furnishings store to select everything you can from the offset. Taking the time to find fixtures & fittings, decorative items or renovation materials that you like, rather than think you should buy, can help the space develop its own individual character over time. This could include advice from luxury interior design specialists, purchases from indie designer-makers, antique shops or even doing some DIY crafting – wherever your taste takes you!

If you’re lucky enough to be planning a move to the Costa del Sol, Estuco Interiors is perfectly placed to help you bring your dream home to reality.

With this advice, you’re sure to move into your best home well.

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4 touches to make your house homely

4 touches to make your house homely

When it comes to decorating your home and making it your own little haven to return to each day, everyone is different. Where we don’t differ, is the difficulties we come across when trying to get the finishing touches right to make a house feel homely. So, what can be done to achieve this? Have a look below at the things that you can do to make your house homely.

Bare bulb bedside lamp

Think about lighting

Getting the lighting right plays an important role in how your home feels. If you have small windows or are in a space that doesn’t get much sunlight, then adding specific lighting can really help to achieve a bright and fresh feeling. Try using lampshades that are made of reflective materials or are light coloured. Adding adjustable mood lighting means it can be used as task lighting in the day time, then dimmed in the evening to give a warm and cosy feeling. Also consider having matching bedside table lights rather than having a bright central ceiling light.

Colourful rug with Middle Eastern pattern in a living room

Add floor features

When we say floor features were not talking about your standard carpeting, tiles or wooden flooring; were referring to coloured or patterned rugs, doormats and stair & hallway runners. Adding a rug under your living room or dining room table can help to make your house more homely and it’s also an opportunity to add character to the feel of your home. Try adding a rug that includes your favourite colours or maybe one you purchased when you were away on holiday that reminds you of your travels long after you’ve returned home.

Montage of photos pegged to a wall using string

Accessorise

There’s a fine line between accessorising your home and making it cluttered, so you need to be careful when doing this. Incorporate home accessories such as framed pictures to decorate your hallway, trinkets for your dresser and centrepieces for your dining table. There are perfect ways to make your house feel like home. These are other brilliant ways to bring together memories from events, days out or little breaks away. These are windows on your life, so showcasing them in your home is a brilliant way to showcase your personality.

Circular decking in a garden with table, stools & chairs

Think about the outside

When you’re thinking about making your house homely you shouldn’t forget about the outside too. The front of your house is the first impression that people often get of our home. By adding little touches such as a quality door knocker, some eye-catching plants or a pretty pathway you give your house attractive curb appeal. You should also think about your garden, which gives you a potential extension to your home by providing alfresco living space. Try installing decking with some nice seating and cushions so you have somewhere to spend time with friends, soak up the sunshine and chill with a glass of your favourite tipple in the evening.

Do you have any other ways to make your house homely? Please share them in the comments section below.

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