Inspiration for making the most of chimney breast recesses

Credit: Houzz | YOUNG + DENGEL

There are so many things you can do with the recesses either side of a chimney breast, from making them a real feature of a room to ‘disguising’ them with storage. But which is right for your home?

Spacious rooms – let your imagination run wild!

If your room is large, and particularly if it’s got high ceilings, feel free to accentuate the recesses with contrasting paint, wallpaper, mirrors, whatever you fancy. Where space isn’t at a premium or if the rest of the room is very neutral, it can take brighter, louder, more distinctive colours and textures.

Credit: House & Garden | Boz Gagovski

Equal-sized recesses also make a great base for symmetry…

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Smaller rooms – tone down the ‘feature’

In smaller rooms, visually breaking up one wall will give the appearance of the space being even tighter, so my first recommendation is to have the walls all one colour. Then simply make sure you include the recessed area in your furniture plan, making full use of the room’s square footage.

Credit: Ideal Home | Future PLC/Polly Eltes

With space at a premium, another good solution can be to have built-in shelving or cupboards, either low level or floor-to-ceiling, painted in the same colour as (or similar to) the walls.

Credit: Helen K Lloyd - Image courtesy of Home & Garden | Photography by Sophia Spring

Or you could look for a piece of free-standing furniture that neatly fills the space...

And if the recess is shallow, why not create a gallery area – either with or without small shelves?

Credit: Ideal Home | Future PLC

Finally, how about this ‘zig-zag’ idea, painting one feature wall and the opposing breast recess? I rather like it!

Credit: Houzz | Henry Woide

For lots more chimney breast and alcove design inspiration, head to Houzz.