'It can look spectacular' – interior designer Kit Kemp shows us 6 ways to ensure you don't overlook a nook

From awkward alcoves to cozy corners, are you making the most out of the nooks in your home? 

Never underestimate the potential of a beautiful nook and alcove ideas. These tiny spaces can make for the most beautiful of design features, all you need is a little creativity and an understanding of how this small space can beautifully enhance your room with both style and functionality.

'Small areas are fun to style because they allow you to create extra space. It’s those little in-between spots that can – if you’re clever – work harder and become places you want to stay in,' says Kit Kemp.

Kit Kemp MBE

Renowned British interior designer and founder of the hotel chain, Firmdale Hotels, Kit Kemp has been creating and designing beautiful interior spaces for over 3 decades.

Kit Kemp's 6 innovative ideas for styling a nook

Whether you want to create a cozy reading nook, or make use of your under-stairs space, unleash the potential of your home's architectural features and be inspired by this clever collection of nook ideas.

1. Use a nook to transform a transitional hallway

'Hallways are a great opportunity to create a nook; if you can put a piano in – even just an upright one – you can turn it into a music room. 

Instead of just being a space to walk through, it becomes somewhere to stop. If your stairwell is large enough, our studio likes to add books going up the side. It can look spectacular,' says Kit.

Seating is also another great option to consider for nooks in small hallways and large entryways alike, from a sleek bench to an armchair or cozy loveseat, these seat spaces will create a relaxing and practical area to pause and sit – whether you're coming in or going out!

2. Celebrate the nooks in an odd-shaped room

'Creating nooks can happen in bigger rooms, too. If, for example, you’ve got an odd-shaped room with an alcove corner or a walk-in closet with a bit of space and you can put the smallest writing desk in it, it suddenly becomes a study. It’s a clever way of maximizing the space,' advises Kit. 

An odd-shaped room is also much easier to zone, as natural zones have already been established through the room's shape. As shown in this design by Kit, the smaller end of the room acts as a separate dining room, with the rest of the space being used as a living room, creating a sociable, open-plan entertaining space that still retains subtle areas of separation.

3. Maximize on storage

'People use small guest rooms and box rooms to shove their junk in, which I understand, but a good tip is to maximize on storage, such as having a whole wall of cupboards to store things in, then use the rest of the room for another purpose. 

We like to put fabric on the front of jib doors, which open with just a clicker, so it doesn’t even look like a cupboard, just a statement wall.'

This small spare room, designed by Kit, is a great example of guest room office ideas. The small desk fits snuggly into the area beside the window, with the large mirror helping to increase a feeling of light and space. Finished with sophisticated striped wallpaper, the closet doors have also been decorated with a complementary striped print, helping to create a clean and cohesive look. 

We explore further storage ideas in our dedicated feature, how do I maximize storage in my box bedroom?

Design Secrets by Kit Kemp | $21.49 at Amazon
A masterclass in the do's and don'ts of interior design, in this book, Kit welcomes you into her colorful world and reveals how to create interiors which capture the imagination.

4. Enhance a nook with color and character

Renowned for her use of color and pattern, Kit shares how smaller spaces are usually some of the best places to embrace bolder, more colorful design ideas in the home.

'You can be really adventurous in a smaller space – it makes more of a statement. Color is a great way of breaking up space and so is introducing a patterned wallpaper such as on the back of a bookcase. If you then style it with some books and a few ornaments, it becomes a very decorative corner of the room.'

This recessed space has been transformed into a colorful study area through vibrant wallpaper ideas and clever furniture placement. Featuring Kit's Ozone wallpaper in coral and teal from her Christopher Farr collection, the bookshelf adds a further layer of texture, color, and depth, with the upholstered blue chair perfectly complementing both the patterned wallpaper and soft blue paint on the walls.

5. Use mirrors to create a point of interest

'Mirrors are an excellent way of creating a point of interest in a nook – but go large. We always overscale our mirrors; if they can also reflect the color from another wall or a painting, then that is a bonus,' says Kit.

Mirrors not only enhance a room with decoration, bringing in beautiful shapes and materials, but decorating with mirrors also helps to increase the feeling of light and space in a room, so they can be used as a simple way to both styles a nook and help a small space feel bigger.

Shop some of our favorite mirror picks below.

6. Or, get creative with artwork

Something as simple as hanging a framed painting or picture on a wall can elevate a nook area with eye-catching visual interest.

Kit advises, 'people tend to have boring frames for their pictures – but I like to celebrate the frame, as well as what’s inside. We box frame almost anything, from a pair of shoes to a bunch of keys. You put them on a contrasting background, and they look great – like a piece of artwork, but often something incredibly meaningful.'

We love how this narrow niche is at the center of this creative dining area design. Helping to establish an almost room-within-a-room effect, the nook has been beautifully styled with a small gallery wall, and further enhanced with cozy banquette seating, creating an inspiring design that makes a stylish point of this home's architecture.

FAQs

From creating a separate zone for dining and reading, to bringing in beautiful decoration through mirrors and artwork, no matter the size and style of your space, the clever styling of a small nook can make all the difference in your overall interior design.