Bedrooms Get a Bit of Nooky
Take a look at the sleeping spaces making much better use of that long-forgotten corner
Simon Farrell-Green
4 May 2016
Almost every bedroom has one – an unused nook. It’s that bit between the bedside table and a corner, or the slightly too-wide space between the end of the bed and the wall, or that expanse of space between you and the French doors that you’ve never really understood. You could hang some art there, of course, but that would be obvious.
As these beautiful bedrooms show, coming up with a thoughtful use for that corner – even if it’s just an amazing chair – can take a bedroom from awkward to perfect.
As these beautiful bedrooms show, coming up with a thoughtful use for that corner – even if it’s just an amazing chair – can take a bedroom from awkward to perfect.
Put a chair in it
One of the easiest ways of making sense of that corner is to get a nice chair and put it in the corner. In this case, a classic Eames lounger and ottoman is the perfect accompaniment to doors that open up completely, and a wonderful view over Mandeville Canyon in Los Angeles.
More bedrooms with incredible views
One of the easiest ways of making sense of that corner is to get a nice chair and put it in the corner. In this case, a classic Eames lounger and ottoman is the perfect accompaniment to doors that open up completely, and a wonderful view over Mandeville Canyon in Los Angeles.
More bedrooms with incredible views
Build a window seat
More bedrooms should have built-in window seats: sometimes you want to retreat to your bedroom, but you don’t particularly want to lie on the bed. Enter the window seat, which ideally should – as this one does – come with a bookshelf so you don’t have to move. The long window for ventilation is a particularly nice touch here. And a couple of artfully scattered cushions is always a good idea.
More bedrooms should have built-in window seats: sometimes you want to retreat to your bedroom, but you don’t particularly want to lie on the bed. Enter the window seat, which ideally should – as this one does – come with a bookshelf so you don’t have to move. The long window for ventilation is a particularly nice touch here. And a couple of artfully scattered cushions is always a good idea.
Slip in a writing desk
The corner of this bedroom in a guesthouse in Morongo Valley, Califoria, is a bit awkward – there’s not quite enough room for anything between wardrobe and door and it would otherwise sit there looking a bit blank. This dinky little writing desk – built from inexpensive strandboard, more commonly used for sub-flooring – artfully fills the corner. There’s just enough room for a laptop and a lamp. The angle of the desk ensures there’s still room to walk around the bed.
The corner of this bedroom in a guesthouse in Morongo Valley, Califoria, is a bit awkward – there’s not quite enough room for anything between wardrobe and door and it would otherwise sit there looking a bit blank. This dinky little writing desk – built from inexpensive strandboard, more commonly used for sub-flooring – artfully fills the corner. There’s just enough room for a laptop and a lamp. The angle of the desk ensures there’s still room to walk around the bed.
Similarly, this bedroom in a San Francisco loft conversion worked a tiny writing desk into an odd little space between door and wall in the entry to the bedroom.
How to squeeze in an office anywhere
How to squeeze in an office anywhere
Be radical
Or, you could remove the corner altogether and install some beautiful timber sliding doors like these ones. Just saying.
Or, you could remove the corner altogether and install some beautiful timber sliding doors like these ones. Just saying.
For a slightly less indoor-outdoor feel, opening up the side of a bedroom with floor-to-ceiling glass brings in the view – but not the elements. The way this retreat’s window turns the corner on this room takes care of what would otherwise have been a most uncomfortable corner, and brings in the outside in a spectacular way.
See more photos of this project
See more photos of this project
Make it multi-functional
This arrangement around an otherwise awkward space under the eaves manages to squeeze three beds around a corner nook – one bed slides out from under the top bed. Including bookshelves beside the upper bed is a genius move here too. Plus, placing the bedheads at right angles to each other on either side of a wall and on different levels ensures everyone has a sense of their own space in a small area.
This arrangement around an otherwise awkward space under the eaves manages to squeeze three beds around a corner nook – one bed slides out from under the top bed. Including bookshelves beside the upper bed is a genius move here too. Plus, placing the bedheads at right angles to each other on either side of a wall and on different levels ensures everyone has a sense of their own space in a small area.
Meanwhile, this outstanding piece of furniture in a project in San Francisco by Malcolm Davis Architecture is a winner. There are two beds, one sliding out from under the other, and a handy little desk that also functions as a bedhead when the wooden desk leaf is folded up. There’s even an extra storage compartment built into the base, bottom left.
In a similar move, this desk and drawer combo makes great use of space in a forgotten corner. Eaves in attic bedrooms can be too low to be functional, so furniture designed to be used at seating height is a winner.
The awkward service riser
Ever had one of those awkward corners in a bedroom that has a box from a service riser, hot water cylinder or air conditioning unit? Most people have. Simply surrounding it with some artful mid-century furniture has worked well here – a nice wooden desk on one side, chair, magazine rack and lamp on the other.
Ever had one of those awkward corners in a bedroom that has a box from a service riser, hot water cylinder or air conditioning unit? Most people have. Simply surrounding it with some artful mid-century furniture has worked well here – a nice wooden desk on one side, chair, magazine rack and lamp on the other.
Make a fort
Kids’ rooms have to fit an awful lot into them – areas for sleep, storage, play and homework… which is kind of a recipe for unusable corners. Enter built-in cabinetry, the lifesaver of everyone needing to shoehorn a lot into a little. The extensive drawers and cubbies help a lot, but what really sets this kids’ room apart is the surprising – but delightful – fort in the corner of the room. Why not?
More super-cool kids’ spaces
Kids’ rooms have to fit an awful lot into them – areas for sleep, storage, play and homework… which is kind of a recipe for unusable corners. Enter built-in cabinetry, the lifesaver of everyone needing to shoehorn a lot into a little. The extensive drawers and cubbies help a lot, but what really sets this kids’ room apart is the surprising – but delightful – fort in the corner of the room. Why not?
More super-cool kids’ spaces
Put a plant in it
Then, there’s the simple option: buy a lovely house plant in a big pot and put it in the corner. Job done.
Then, there’s the simple option: buy a lovely house plant in a big pot and put it in the corner. Job done.
Warm it up
There may be few things better than a fireplace in a bedroom, especially when you can sit in front of it on classic white Barcelona chairs and enjoy the serene white on white on cream colour scheme of this rustic room.
More inventive ways to decorate and empty corner
TELL US
How have you made better use of a forgotten corner of a bedroom? Let us know in the Comments section.
There may be few things better than a fireplace in a bedroom, especially when you can sit in front of it on classic white Barcelona chairs and enjoy the serene white on white on cream colour scheme of this rustic room.
More inventive ways to decorate and empty corner
TELL US
How have you made better use of a forgotten corner of a bedroom? Let us know in the Comments section.
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@Tribbletrouble44152k7 Trek,
I can't agree, I hope Houzz never does something like that, it's not what Houzz is here for. I think a personal thereapist is in order for that, for those who may share your concerns about people needing help!!
Seems the younger generation are learning all about that stuff waaay tooo early but that said, if they haven't got life sorted by the time they are in a married or adult relationship in their home, then I don't know who could help them and I hazzard a guess, they wouldn't be TOLD anyway because they are always RIGHT!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed the play on words.
When we were first married we lived in an excellent block of flats where we were allowed to have cats so we had two Plebian Australite II (Pleb) and Nookatheena (Nooky).
Linda would a bit naive in those day and would call out from the balcony "Nooky, Nooky, Come in for din-dins."