11 Brilliant Ways to Use Wasted Space in the Living Room
Browse these creative ideas to make the most of every corner in your living space
Victoria Harrison
1 December 2016
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Struggling with a small living room? Or simply not making the most of the space you have? Take a look at these ideas and see how you can maximise wasted spots, from tricky corners to slim alcoves.
Go up and over
How often do you think about the space above the doorway in your living room? Probably not that often. But this under-appreciated spot can be a handy place for adding in extra storage.
Here, the homeowners have had slim shelving units built either side of the doorway and extended them right across the top of the door to maximise every inch of wall space.
How often do you think about the space above the doorway in your living room? Probably not that often. But this under-appreciated spot can be a handy place for adding in extra storage.
Here, the homeowners have had slim shelving units built either side of the doorway and extended them right across the top of the door to maximise every inch of wall space.
Turn a window into a shelf
This snug room is cosy and welcoming, but the petite proportions mean every inch has to work hard. A coffee table in the centre would have obstructed the route into the room, so by tucking a low table into the window recess, the owners have created a neat perch for a coffee cup without cutting into precious floor space.
See 12 clever ways of using wasted space in the bedroom
This snug room is cosy and welcoming, but the petite proportions mean every inch has to work hard. A coffee table in the centre would have obstructed the route into the room, so by tucking a low table into the window recess, the owners have created a neat perch for a coffee cup without cutting into precious floor space.
See 12 clever ways of using wasted space in the bedroom
Use vertical space
Think you don’t have room for a bookshelf? The owners of this city apartment have utilised the vertical space against the concrete pillar by installing metal shelves to support a tall stack of books. This is an idea that could work in any sliver of wall space, at the side of a sofa, say.
Book towers like this one can be pricey, but individual slim metal bookshelf brackets are a reasonably affordable option and can be fixed onto the smallest of wall spaces to create instant shelving.
Think you don’t have room for a bookshelf? The owners of this city apartment have utilised the vertical space against the concrete pillar by installing metal shelves to support a tall stack of books. This is an idea that could work in any sliver of wall space, at the side of a sofa, say.
Book towers like this one can be pricey, but individual slim metal bookshelf brackets are a reasonably affordable option and can be fixed onto the smallest of wall spaces to create instant shelving.
Maximise slim alcoves
The clever choice of storage in this slim alcove ensures no space has gone to waste in this living room. It would have been tricky to install full-height cupboards in such a shallow spot, so a single run of closed units has been built at floor level, slightly extending out into the room, while the rest of the wall is covered with slim shelving for displaying smaller items.
Now everything from books and ornaments to living room paraphernalia and even logs for the fire has a spot in this one shallow area.
The clever choice of storage in this slim alcove ensures no space has gone to waste in this living room. It would have been tricky to install full-height cupboards in such a shallow spot, so a single run of closed units has been built at floor level, slightly extending out into the room, while the rest of the wall is covered with slim shelving for displaying smaller items.
Now everything from books and ornaments to living room paraphernalia and even logs for the fire has a spot in this one shallow area.
Make a coffee table work harder
The owners of this bright and airy living room have put their coffee table to work by choosing one with a neat lower shelf for storing books.
If you’re going to use up valuable floor space with a table, it makes sense to ensure it doubles up on storage opportunities, so look for one with a shelf like this, or choose a trunk or an ottoman with storage inside.
The owners of this bright and airy living room have put their coffee table to work by choosing one with a neat lower shelf for storing books.
If you’re going to use up valuable floor space with a table, it makes sense to ensure it doubles up on storage opportunities, so look for one with a shelf like this, or choose a trunk or an ottoman with storage inside.
Consider bespoke
This tricky-shaped corner could easily have been a wasted space, but by building in bespoke bench seating and adding customised shelving, the homeowners have created a beautiful and practical design feature instead.
If you have a similarly awkward corner in your living room, talk to a carpenter or builder about a bespoke solution, and see whether you can use a sloping roof or angled corner to your advantage.
This tricky-shaped corner could easily have been a wasted space, but by building in bespoke bench seating and adding customised shelving, the homeowners have created a beautiful and practical design feature instead.
If you have a similarly awkward corner in your living room, talk to a carpenter or builder about a bespoke solution, and see whether you can use a sloping roof or angled corner to your advantage.
Get the most from an alcove
With a bit of creativity, you could squeeze another function from your living room by tucking an office into a fireside alcove. Here, a slimline desk, with two shelves above it, creates a stylish work space, neatly zoned off from the main seating area.
Looking for living room inspiration? Browse these living room photos for ideas.
With a bit of creativity, you could squeeze another function from your living room by tucking an office into a fireside alcove. Here, a slimline desk, with two shelves above it, creates a stylish work space, neatly zoned off from the main seating area.
Looking for living room inspiration? Browse these living room photos for ideas.
Frame the TV
It can be temping to hang a TV on a gloriously unadorned wall, but if you’re tight for space, this is a wasted opportunity. Think about framing the TV with shelving instead. As well as offering multiple storage opportunities, it can also help to blend a TV into a room scheme – great if you’re concerned about it standing out too much on a blank wall.
It can be temping to hang a TV on a gloriously unadorned wall, but if you’re tight for space, this is a wasted opportunity. Think about framing the TV with shelving instead. As well as offering multiple storage opportunities, it can also help to blend a TV into a room scheme – great if you’re concerned about it standing out too much on a blank wall.
Utilise the wall behind the sofa
A slim shelf is a great way to use the often forgotten wall behind the sofa for displaying books, art or accessories. Run it right across the room for maximum impact, or you could even double up with a couple of picture ledges, one above the other, for twice the storage.
A slim shelf is a great way to use the often forgotten wall behind the sofa for displaying books, art or accessories. Run it right across the room for maximum impact, or you could even double up with a couple of picture ledges, one above the other, for twice the storage.
Take advantage of a bay window
If you don’t have a great view from your living room window and have to screen some of it with blinds or shutters, it’s easy to not make full use of this area.
Filling in a bay window with a built-in seat, like the one in this room, is a great way to utilise otherwise wasted space and create another seating area in a compact living room. Incorporating storage into the seat further boosts its use.
If you don’t have a great view from your living room window and have to screen some of it with blinds or shutters, it’s easy to not make full use of this area.
Filling in a bay window with a built-in seat, like the one in this room, is a great way to utilise otherwise wasted space and create another seating area in a compact living room. Incorporating storage into the seat further boosts its use.
Carve out space behind seating
If you have a sofa in the middle of a room, running a slim console table behind it can create a useful extra surface. Even if your sofa is against a wall, you could consider pulling it forwards a little to fit a slim unit behind as a handy perch for a table lamp or a stack of books.
What do you think of these ideas for using wasted space in the living room? Share your thoughts and any tips in the Comments below.
If you have a sofa in the middle of a room, running a slim console table behind it can create a useful extra surface. Even if your sofa is against a wall, you could consider pulling it forwards a little to fit a slim unit behind as a handy perch for a table lamp or a stack of books.
What do you think of these ideas for using wasted space in the living room? Share your thoughts and any tips in the Comments below.
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We can use the cabinets for making living room free of cluster and look attractive. They can help you to organize your staff and keep them in place.
Cabinets can be a great place to find extra storage space. This cabinet under the TV was a terrible wast of space. The owner did a simple make over. The brown timber cabinet walls were lined with melamine/white chip board. Stainless steel wire baskets were added (incl a clear base) so everything is visible & completely accessible. Here is a link with more info...