

Many homes have an area, or sometimes a whole room that just doesn't quite work.
Credit: fotor.com AI
Perhaps it's a bedroom that's too small, a large landing or hallway that feels like wasted space, or a recess you simply don't know what to do with.
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The reality is that every square foot of your property is valuable and it’s important that it presents that way - particularly if you're thinking about preparing it for sale or rent.
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Here are some suggestions on how you can transform those awkward areas into spaces that enhance the look of your home and make it work that little bit better for you.
Add a piece of furniture
Empty space is deceptive: you can always get more in than you think! So a lot of ‘wasted space’ in your home will actually be big enough to fit a piece of furniture and some accessories.
Landings, halls and entrance porches can usually be much improved by adding a console table, dressed with a plant, a lamp or candle and any other objects you fancy. Pop a large mirror or picture above, or a collection of smaller pictures or photos, and suddenly you’ve given the area some personality.
If you have an empty bay window or space on the landing, could you fit a couple of chairs and a small table? Add a floor standing lamp and a plant and now you have somewhere to sit and chat, relax with a book or just stop and gather your thoughts.
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And for recesses in bedrooms and reception rooms, try a small desk and chair, or a tall plant and a picture. Just something of interest that ties in with the scheme of the room as a whole, and shows that little corner hasn't been forgotten.
Build in
Often, the best solution for making use of wasted space or awkward areas that aren't big enough to fit a piece of freestanding furniture, is to build in.
For instance, trying to squeeze chairs around a table in a small dining kitchen can make the area look very cramped. Adding built-in seating can work better, both visually and practically.
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Some other ideas for building into awkward spaces:
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Window seat in a bay or recess – and you could have storage underneath
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Seating, shelving or even a desk under the stairs
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Cupboards and/or shelving either side of a chimney breast
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Wardrobes and cupboards under the eaves in a bedroom
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Cloakroom storage
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Give every room a defined purpose
There are two rooms that often suffer from a lack of purpose:
Very small bedrooms
If you don’t have a young child, it’s very easy for that 3rd or 4th bedroom to simply become a dumping ground and there’s always a better way for the space to be used. For instance:
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Put in some rails and drawers and repurpose it as a walk-in wardrobe or dressing room
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Turn it into a home office
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Shelve a wall and create a quiet snug/reading room
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Mirror a wall and use it as a workout/yoga room
However, if you’re looking to sell the house, it’s likely to have most value as a bedroom, so it’s worth investing in a child’s cabin/loft bed and showing it works as such. (You should be able to get a second-hand one relatively cheaply.)
The awkward extension
I’ve seen a lot of homes where people have added a ground floor extension simply because they believe extra square footage adds value, even when the property already had sufficient living space. And when you’ve got rooms you don’t really need, they can easily just become ‘overspill’ areas.
Your whole home will feel much better when these extra rooms have a specific purpose, so think about what your family could do with and how you could turn the space into something truly valuable, such as:
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Hobby/music room
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Study/homework room
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Workout/yoga room
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Children’s playroom / teen snug
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Utility room
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Relaxed sitting room
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Formal or casual dining room