If you’ve found yourself stumped on how to style that lonely corner in your dining room or make use of the empty space under your stairs, you’re not alone. In fact, interior designers have a whole slew of tricks for dealing with these spaces that are not living up to their potential.
A so-called "dead space" is any empty or awkward part in a home that doesn’t add to the overall design of the space—think the area under the stairs, narrow hallways, the space behind the sofa, and empty corners of the room. It’s common to have at least a few of these spaces in your home, but they don’t need to stay that way. Instead of leaving them empty and neglected, you can easily transform these unused spaces into beautiful and functional areas with just a little creativity.
We spoke to interior designers to get the scoop on how to breathe some life back into the empty spaces of a home—here are their tried-and-true tips.
Clever Ways to Transform Unused Spaces
Here are eight expert-recommended ways to breathe some new life into your home’s empty spaces.
Add a Plant
Plants are a simple way to (literally) breathe some life into a space, and there are plenty of low-maintenance options if you're still working on your green thumb. Houseplants like snake plants, ZZ plants, spider plants, and pothos are popular choices that are great for beginners and experienced growers alike. Depending on the area, you can opt for a tall plant to be displayed in a pot on the floor or add a small side table or bench for the plant to sit on. Don’t forget that you can also hang plants from the ceiling if you wish. Choose a fun and stylish planter to really pull the look together.
Prioritize Storage
Make that unused space super functional by fitting in some storage space. Use bookshelves, wall shelves, storage cabinets, or furniture with hidden storage to make the space work well for you. Just remember to keep it looking organized and stylish so it doesn’t become a cluttered corner that you grow to resent.
Add a Mirror
When in doubt, add a mirror—especially if the area is dark and lacks natural light.
“Mirrors can give the illusion of a larger, brighter space,” says Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of Arsight, an award-winning interior design studio based in Brooklyn.
Add Some Color
Bring the space to life with some vibrant color, says Kropovinsky. Use wall paint, rugs, throw pillows, art, and other kinds of decor to introduce some color to the area and really make it pop.
Make It Fun
“When it comes to the hard-to-fill little nooks and corners that inevitably pop up in any home, I love to think of them as opportunities to be really creative and have fun with decor in a way that doesn’t need to be tied to practicality,” says Kathy Kuo of Kathy Kuo Home.
This could mean going all out with some statement decor pieces or turning the space into a fun play area for your kids. Try building a coffee bar, adding a bar cart or wine station, making a pet "bedroom" (because why not?), or creating a clubhouse for your kids.
Add a Desk
If practicality is what you’re after, make the most of your home’s empty spaces by creating a functional space, McGinness says. Sometimes, a small nook or awkward corner of a room can make the perfect mini workstation. All you need is a small desk, a stylish and comfortable chair or ottoman, task lighting, and some artwork or shelves to make the space feel complete.
Consider Built-Ins
Built-ins are a great way to transform even the smallest and most awkward spaces into something beautiful and stylish, says Molly McGinness of Molly McGinness Interior Design. From built-in shelves to desks and everything in between, there’s no shortage of ways you can utilize built-ins in your home’s empty spaces. Try your hand at DIY built-ins, or hire a professional to do the job for you.
“A nook under the stairs is where I think built-ins make the most use of every inch [of the space],” McGinness says.