Decorating
Architecture
14 Clever Ideas From Homes Around the World
From ingenious ways to hide the TV to flexible kitchen shelving, save these photos for a better home in the future
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so we’ve sifted and sorted through the homes on Houzz to bring you the best and brightest ideas of interior designers, architects, tradies and good old ingenious homeowners. Bank these solutions for later, or include them straight away for a home that looks great and functions better. From pesky problems solved to grand ideas developed, here’s our round-up of ideas worth borrowing…
2. Hide the TV
Hiding the TV is a subject dear to many people’s hearts – and this Melbourne home has one of the cleverest solutions around. When the TV is not in use, it’s hidden by mirrors on rolling barn tracks.
This also means the relatively narrow living area appears larger, as light from the mirrors is bounced around the room.
Hiding the TV is a subject dear to many people’s hearts – and this Melbourne home has one of the cleverest solutions around. When the TV is not in use, it’s hidden by mirrors on rolling barn tracks.
This also means the relatively narrow living area appears larger, as light from the mirrors is bounced around the room.
3. Hide the air conditioning
Another home in Victoria with a smart disguise. This time, it’s all about diverting attention away from the bulky air conditioning unit by sticking a custom-printed adhesive tree decal over the wall.
Find an interior designer on Houzz to get your place to live up to its potential.
Another home in Victoria with a smart disguise. This time, it’s all about diverting attention away from the bulky air conditioning unit by sticking a custom-printed adhesive tree decal over the wall.
Find an interior designer on Houzz to get your place to live up to its potential.
4. Easy and effective decorating
In this Brooklyn, US, bedroom, a dark grey wall is livened up with cut mirrors that reflect the geometric terrariums hanging from the ceiling. Talk about affordable art that doesn’t dominate.
In this Brooklyn, US, bedroom, a dark grey wall is livened up with cut mirrors that reflect the geometric terrariums hanging from the ceiling. Talk about affordable art that doesn’t dominate.
A cluster of pompoms also looks beautifully fluid and can easily be crafted to match the existing colours in your scheme.
This home in Paris is full of beautiful ideas, including…
This home in Paris is full of beautiful ideas, including…
… using paint to frame a modest space when there are few architectural details at hand.
5. Bring the outside in, big time
Here’s another decorating idea that’s relatively straightforward, if you have a decent amount of light entering a room; erect a trellis just below ceiling height, then train a trailing vine such as devil’s ivy (Pothos), which can grow up to several metres in the right indoor conditions, over the top to provide a beautiful green canopy. This is particularly appealing above a dining table or as a softening device in an otherwise hard-surfaced area.
Tip: For maximum convenience this can be grown out of a plumbed-in planter.
See more spaces designed for plant lovers
Here’s another decorating idea that’s relatively straightforward, if you have a decent amount of light entering a room; erect a trellis just below ceiling height, then train a trailing vine such as devil’s ivy (Pothos), which can grow up to several metres in the right indoor conditions, over the top to provide a beautiful green canopy. This is particularly appealing above a dining table or as a softening device in an otherwise hard-surfaced area.
Tip: For maximum convenience this can be grown out of a plumbed-in planter.
See more spaces designed for plant lovers
6. Save space…
In space-challenged houses or apartments, it’s always hard to find somewhere to store bicycles out of the weather. This Melbourne house uses a floor-to-ceiling pegboard with dowel inserts to hold up bikes, bags and anything that requires hanging.
In space-challenged houses or apartments, it’s always hard to find somewhere to store bicycles out of the weather. This Melbourne house uses a floor-to-ceiling pegboard with dowel inserts to hold up bikes, bags and anything that requires hanging.
… or partition it
When you need to define a space but a solid wall would stop the flow of the floor plan or just cramp your interior style, think about a decorative screen. It suggests a wall but is a less intrusive partition and allows you to bring another decorative element into your scheme.
When you need to define a space but a solid wall would stop the flow of the floor plan or just cramp your interior style, think about a decorative screen. It suggests a wall but is a less intrusive partition and allows you to bring another decorative element into your scheme.
7. Just make space useable
Seriously, see an awkward space… add a banquette, especially one that doubles as storage with a liftable lid.
Seriously, see an awkward space… add a banquette, especially one that doubles as storage with a liftable lid.
Or, think about inserting a built-in daybed. This reading nook wins the prize for making the best use of a narrow, otherwise dead, space.
And while we are talking about optimising small spaces, feast your eyes on the clever use of these under-stair areas.
Talk about doing double-duty.
And while we’re on stairs, why not use the void within the treads as drawers?
8. Bright lighting ideas
Who said task lighting needs to sit on the floor or on a side table taking up valuable space? In this Swedish home, an extendable lamp is wall-mounted so it’s easily utilised for reading, knitting, or any other task that requires directional light.
Note the transparent glass table and how it allows the gaze to travel through the room unobstructed. Another clever idea beloved of real estate stylists looking to maximise the sense of space in a house.
Who said task lighting needs to sit on the floor or on a side table taking up valuable space? In this Swedish home, an extendable lamp is wall-mounted so it’s easily utilised for reading, knitting, or any other task that requires directional light.
Note the transparent glass table and how it allows the gaze to travel through the room unobstructed. Another clever idea beloved of real estate stylists looking to maximise the sense of space in a house.
9. To create bathroom bliss
We love the way the designers thought outside the square here by offsetting the basin from the vanity and the taps from the basin. It’s one of the most sophisticated interpretations of the notion of bathrooms comprised of furniture rather than fixtures that we’ve seen.
Plus, it makes full use of the narrow dead space to the left of the vanity.
We love the way the designers thought outside the square here by offsetting the basin from the vanity and the taps from the basin. It’s one of the most sophisticated interpretations of the notion of bathrooms comprised of furniture rather than fixtures that we’ve seen.
Plus, it makes full use of the narrow dead space to the left of the vanity.
When it comes to adding personality to the bathroom, it’s often difficult to find a balance between materials that won’t be affected by moisture (goodbye canvases) and good looks.
Hanging multiple mirrors is great way around that, while servicing the need for side views of oneself before heading out for the night. Top marks for lateral thinking.
Hanging multiple mirrors is great way around that, while servicing the need for side views of oneself before heading out for the night. Top marks for lateral thinking.
10. For kitchen confidence
A kitchen bench can be so much more than a surface for food preparation or serving. This bench does double duty as storage for easily accessible cutlery and other dining necessities.
A kitchen bench can be so much more than a surface for food preparation or serving. This bench does double duty as storage for easily accessible cutlery and other dining necessities.
11. For laundry happiness
Simple folding doors to hide a galley-style laundry. A great use of space.
Clever Places to Stash Your Washer and Dryer
Simple folding doors to hide a galley-style laundry. A great use of space.
Clever Places to Stash Your Washer and Dryer
12. The art of disguise
Who among us doesn’t have a wall we look out onto that we’d rather not see. Well rather than a coat of paint, consider timber screens plus a green wall. Many modular vertical gardens are self-watering, which means they can extend up high to cover even the most imposing walls, without requiring a ladder climb every other day.
Who among us doesn’t have a wall we look out onto that we’d rather not see. Well rather than a coat of paint, consider timber screens plus a green wall. Many modular vertical gardens are self-watering, which means they can extend up high to cover even the most imposing walls, without requiring a ladder climb every other day.
13. Pool your resources
In Australia we have the need to protect children from falling into our pools with fences they can’t climb over – alongside the desire to gaze straight out onto our pools from any possible vantage point. After all, pools aren’t just cooling, they provide million-dollar views worth harnessing. When space is tight and a fence is impossible, pivot windows can be the answer (council allowing). We love this Melbourne house’s take on the situation.
In Australia we have the need to protect children from falling into our pools with fences they can’t climb over – alongside the desire to gaze straight out onto our pools from any possible vantage point. After all, pools aren’t just cooling, they provide million-dollar views worth harnessing. When space is tight and a fence is impossible, pivot windows can be the answer (council allowing). We love this Melbourne house’s take on the situation.
14. Homework help
Is your child studying for the HSC this year? Infiltrate their dreams with mathematical formulae by adding a chalkboard bedhead and asking them to note down the stuff they need to memorise. You know how much time teenagers spend in their rooms – make it work for them… and for you.
Tell us
Which of these clever ideas appeals the most? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it and save the photos. Join the conversation.
Is your child studying for the HSC this year? Infiltrate their dreams with mathematical formulae by adding a chalkboard bedhead and asking them to note down the stuff they need to memorise. You know how much time teenagers spend in their rooms – make it work for them… and for you.
Tell us
Which of these clever ideas appeals the most? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it and save the photos. Join the conversation.
These moveable open shelves slot into grooves in a kitchen in Oxfordshire, UK, so the owners can choose where to put their display items and change up how many shelves they’d like to have at any time. This shows great use of an otherwise under-utilised wall without compromising on aesthetics.
Plus, the gorgeous benchtop and splashback are made of PaperStone, a recycled post-consumer paper product mixed with resins and natural pigments.