I am not a home design or architecture expert by any means, but I just don’t understand why builders create homes with such awkward or unusable spaces. Like those random nooks and crannies or teeny, shallow closets or rooms that are too small to really serve a purpose. This is obviously more common in older homes, where these spaces once served a purpose, but in newer homes? Maybe it’s an inside joke among home builders to create quirky, impractical spaces that flummox homeowners who have no clue what to do with them?
Like in our house. Our awkward space is this random desk in our kitchen. Which is directly behind the door from the garage.
Huh? Whose bright idea was that? Because if you are sitting there attempting to do work and someone comes home, well, look out.
We knew immediately upon moving in that we would not be using this area as a desk. First, that is some precious counter space we’d be giving up – space we desperately needed. And second, it isn’t really the most ergonomic, functional or comfortable work area.
For the first four or so years, I could not figure out what to do with the area below where you would normally push in your chair. Talk about wasted, empty space.
But eventually I came up with a plan.
Every time we leave the house, there is always a mad scramble as we try to find missing gloves or library books or umbrellas or jackets. We don’t have a mud room, and the landing in our garage (just outside the kitchen) isn’t really big enough to serve as one. So I went to HomeGoods and grabbed two decorative baskets that fit perfectly in that space.
Voila! The perfect way to store all those gloves and jackets. The kids know the drill: as soon as we get home, the jackets and backpacks go into the basket. No more last minute hunts and wild goose chases.
Sure, it’s not ideal (a floor-to-ceiling pantry … now that would be ideal), but it’s one way to revitalize that space and turn it into something useful.
It was this dilemma that prompted me to write this piece for The Nest with five creative ways to make the most of out those tricky nooks and crannies.
Do you have an awkward space in your home? How do you deal with it?
Heather @ Housewife Heather says
That is a great idea! I had a friend with a similar awkward space…she put up a small curtain with a tension rod & made a play space for the kids! I have an awkward master bath area that has yet to be delat with! π Maybe sometime soon…after a laundry room re-do, a bathroom re-do…and on and on…
Sharon - MomGenerations.com says
I think it’s a perfect use of space! Because my husband and I fall in love with OLD houses (currently living in 5th old home) with odd spaces, we’ve learned to be creative, too, especially while renovating. We moved into this 5th old home of ours just about one year ago, and I still walk around each day trying to figure out what should go where. We are planning a major kitchen/downstairs bathroom renovation, combining the existing kitchen (circa 1940) with an enclosed back porch and a front enclosed summer porch. Believe me, there WILL be storage and closets for everything… but one thing I HAVE learned in all the decades and in all our homes is to purge things anytime stuff gets frustrating! Great post and love The Nest piece!
Sheri says
What a great idea. We have many spaces in our home that I find a problem making useful…a lot of them have to do with the damn radiators everywhere!
Chelley / AisForAdelaide says
LOVE THIS! There is a nook in our hallway upstairs that we put an armoire in for my larger than necessary collection of hooded sweatshirts. Empty, the space is strange and useless (and more to clean!).
Your baskets are perfect- both in look and use!
Chelley / AisForAdelaide says
I finally added your button! <3
Jessica says
Awww, thanks, Chelley!! π
Mary Larsen says
Love this!! We have an awkward pantry room in our apartment, and I now use it as my walk in closet – since our place was built in 1901, and closets were much smaller back then π
Dollops of Diane says
Great idea! We have a dormered Cape and there is an odd cranny type space in Isabelle’s room. We found a dresser that fits perfectly in it – score! http://www.dollopsofdiane.com/2013/01/the-perfect-room-for-five-year-old-girl.html