10 Ways to Embrace a Nook

Find creative uses for those cozy spots next to a window, behind a wall or under the stairs

By Gillian Lazanik - Houzz Contributor

Whether an intentional design element or an awkward corner, the little spaces in your home can become functional jewels, whether they’re used every day or just on special occasions. Here are 10 examples of nooks that were embraced in stylish and practical ways. 

 

Janet Mesic Mackie Photographer

1. Breakfast Nook

When you don’t have enough room for a table and chairs, save space by creating a breakfast nook in a corner. If you don’t mind getting cozy, you can fit far more people in a space with bench seating than with chairs.

Rikki Snyder

2. Library

I love the idea of not just creating a reading nook, but also incorporating your reading material there too. Finish one book and grab another without ever having to stand up.

 

Affecting Spaces

3. Laundry Room

All you need is 30 by 30 inches of space (if you use a compact stackable washer and dryer) and you can transform any space into a laundry room. A bathroom with tiled floors to handle spills is a great option.

 

Wolfe Rizor Interiors

4. Office

Little spaces are perfect as working niches. Since most of us use laptops these days, a space 30 inches wide can suffice. A small closet can easily be transformed into a stylish office nook.

elena del bucchia DESIGN

 

5. Play

Kids love secret play spots, and adults love to tuck the mess out of sight. The play nook may just be the best invention ever. Even a small space next to the stairs can provide a world of possibilities to kids.

 

Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc.

6. Pet

Pets also like a private space to retreat to. Creating a nook for them helps contain their mess and keep them off the sofa (maybe).

 

Dwell Design Studio

7. Fireplace

Sometimes older homes have fireplaces in rooms that wouldn’t necessarily be used for socializing. Why not turn these into social nooks that can be used for a private rendezvous.

 

Swatt | Miers Architects

8. TV

If you’d prefer to not have your TV the focus of your room but you do enjoy a favorite show now and then, why not dedicate a small nook for your set and leave the rest of your house for socializing?

 

Clayton&Little Architects

9. Bed

Bed nooks work great for guest sleepovers. They allow you to utilize the room for other reasons most days of the year.

 

Electric Mirror

10. Bathroom

It’s often challenging to figure out how to squeeze an extra bathroom into your space. With some smart planning, the space under the stairs can work perfectly.

How to Create Calm and Character With Light Colors

Light paint and pale woods can feel rich and cozy too. Here are 7 design twists and colors to try

By Kelly Porter - Houzz Contributor

 

Many homeowners describe their ideal room as being clean and simple — an escape from the 24-hour news cycle and busy work schedules. Creating a space that’s unfussy and free from distractions often means incorporating white or light colors and finishes on our walls and floors. But this approach can leave you with a room that looks plain and sterile — you know, doctor’s-office chic. To help you avoid that, here are seven ideas for using white and light hues to reclaim a room’s serenity without it looking clinical. 

 

Rufty Custom Built Homes and Remodeling

 

1. Look for the undertones. It can be a challenge to create a cozy atmosphere in a room with white walls and high ceilings. The trick is to use a white paint color that leans toward ivory or has subtle peach undertones. These types of whites pair well with honey-toned wood finishes, and together they can add a surprising amount of warmth and calm to a large space.

A paint color to try: Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams

Christy Drew Designs

2. Warm up unexpected spaces with tints of tan. Foyers and hallways are also ideal spaces for warm and inviting whites. Even with the ornate lighting fixtures in this hallway, the soft wall color and light wood finishes allow the area to remain peaceful.

A paint color to try: Swiss Coffee by Dunn-Edwards

Tip: Light flooring can make a long, narrow hall appear larger.

Steele Canvas

3. Go slightly gray. This laundry room is a perfect example of how industrial design can look light and fresh. No need for wrought iron and dark finishes here! Get this look with a soft, grayish-white wall color, and natural wood floors and countertops.

The paint color used here is Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore.

Kimberly Demmy Design

4. Start with a blank canvas. Neutral whites don’t necessarily look warm or cool, so they make an ideal backdrop for dramatic elements. This room shows us that serene spaces need not be boring.

A paint color to try: Pure White by Sherwin-Williams

Tip: Add architectural interest by installing trim to create a faux coffered ceiling. Use narrow strips of molding in a light finish so that the ceiling won’t overwhelm the rest of the room.

Spinnaker Development

5. Create a blissful bedroom using similar color tones. In an era of the 24-hour news cycle and endless other distractions, it’s more important than ever to make your bedroom a haven. I encourage my clients to remove the television from their bedroom and to keep the decor simple. You can accomplish the latter with a soft, tone-on-tone color scheme using off-white and varying shades of light brown. For a twist, use a high-gloss finish on the ceiling instead of the floor.

The wall color in this room is Boutique Beige by Dunn Edwards; the ceiling color is a custom mixed lacquer.

RMI - Rebecca Mitchell Interiors

6. Contrast crisp white and black. I’m really loving black and white these days. You can find this classic color duo in the bathrooms of many homes that were built in the first half of the 20th century. Today’s homeowners often preserve this look when they remodel older homes.

The combo has also gotten a modern makeover in new homes. One easy way to update the look is by adding wood or laminate flooring in a very light or whitewashed finish. Even with all the contrast, the understated flooring will keep the space calm.

A paint color to try: Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore

Traction Architecture

7. Use white as an accent. Accent colors are normally thought to be anything besides white. However, in this bathroom, white plays a supporting role to the bold tile color, therefore becoming the accent. The natural wood finish on the trim and cabinets anchors the entire space. This is a great example of how to incorporate color into a clean-lined, contemporary space.

A paint color to try: Bleached Linen by Behr

7 Common Design Dilemmas Solved!

Here’s how to transform the awkward areas of your home into some of its best features

By: Sophie Seeger - Houzz Contributor 

Unless you’re designing your home from scratch, there are bound to be one or two existing features in a purchased home that you may regard as eyesores. Such design challenges can be overcome with relatively simple solutions. If you have a room that’s as small as a pocket, as narrow as a tube or far too large, read on for some tricks that can hide, divide or merely alter the focus in the room.

Noz Design

1. The Narrow Space

Add stripes. Stripes help visually expand a room, making it appear wider. Use them narrow or wide, as seen here in this slim dining nook, but make sure they’re horizontal, as they’ll make your eye travel left and right. Whether you paint the stripes directly onto the wall or use wallpaper, this is the easiest way to make a room look wider.

Sergey Harenko

Decorate with white. By using an all-white or soft-toned color palette, you can lead the eye to a window and an outdoor aspect, helping alleviate any feelings of being cramped in a narrow space. If you must include texture and pattern, do it with restraint so there’s nothing to distract your line of sight to the outside.

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

2. The Pocket-Size Room

Pick a color. This may seems counterintuitive, but painting a small room a favorite bold color can create a snug sitting area that people will gravitate toward. In the penthouse sitting room seen here, the high-gloss finish adds to the luxurious feel.

JADO DECOR CHRISTINE TSINGELIDIS / BUILDER

Install a massive mirror. Create the illusion of a larger room with mirrors. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors on a closet or covering a wall will “double” the size of the room and bounce light around.

Suzanne Hunt Architect

3. An Open Plan That’s Too Open

Divide the space. An expansive room can be impractical. Demarcating zones in an open-plan space not only enhances the room’s function, but can also offer privacy. A free-standing divider can make for an attractive feature and need not be permanent.

theMACNABs

Box off a room. Like a Russian nesting doll, you can create rooms within rooms with sliding doors or screens in paper, wood or glass. You’ll find that even though screens are impermanent, they can still feel like walls and offer the same level of privacy — just ask the Japanese. For a quick fix, rig up curtains on a ceiling track so part of the room can be sectioned off when needed.

Oliver Burns

4. Exposed Plumbing

Celebrate difference. Having the “inner workings” on display is typical with industrial buildings, former-factory apartments and warehouse conversions. The simplest solution is to embrace the look and even make a feature out of it. Paint the pipes for a bit of fun, and in a range of colors to differentiate between the various pipes and their functions. Drawing attention to them in this way will further highlight the industrial feel of your home; you’ll find that the horizontal and vertical lines create a grid-like pattern.

Andre Rothblatt Architecture

Add even more plumbing. Make your exposed pipes a special feature in the room by adding even more of them. Ask your plumber to install some to match the originals — they don’t have to be functional. The pipes will add pizzazz to the space, especially if they’re polished to a high shine. In this tiny powder room, the lustrous copper pipes are not only a sculptural feature, but they’ve been set against a dark background to really stand out.

5. Unsightly Views

Grow a natural screen. No one wants to look out their window onto an unattractive building right next door. Foliage is a wonderful answer to hiding those unpleasantries while also enhancing your property.

Bamboo grows quickly and is evergreen, a definite bonus when it comes to creating a leafy screen. (Be sure to plant it in a strong root guard underground, as many types of bamboo can be invasive.)

Talk to a local landscape designer or nursery about the best species for your climate and soil, but as a rule, if you need dense screening all the way to the ground, choose a smaller species.

Simon Eldon Photography Ltd

Hide away. Blinds are a perfect means of blocking ugly views or creating some privacy from too-close neighbors. Unlined blinds in a sheer fabric still let in plenty of light while offering some privacy. You can also have blinds custom-made with transparent horizontal rods instead of the more traditional dowel sticks, for a seamless look.

Studio Schicketanz

6. Low Ceiling

Hang a curtain high. One of my pet peeves is a low ceiling. Thankfully, it’s easy to overcome simply by hanging curtains from ceiling to floor. With no visible rods or rails, the curtains create a waterfall effect that immediately gives the illusion of height.

Lisa Petrole Photography

Furnish with clarity. Using transparent furniture and furnishings immediately opens up a living space. (Opaque pieces tend to stop light from bouncing around the room and impede air flow.) Acrylic or glass furniture is a fashionable choice, as it also adds a touch of glamour. Another trick is to furnish the room with low-profile furniture so it looks loftier.

Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

7. Unused Space

Squeeze in a study nook. If you don’t have the luxury of a separate study or home office, you might be able to transform the area beneath your stairs into a usable space. Alternatively, embrace the awkward angles of the space and build an upholstered seat into the nook, with some shelving to hold a few essentials. Nothing is more inviting than a seating nook in an alcove — grab a good book, a hot cuppa and perhaps a furry friend for some me time.

Stack up some shelves. Built-in shelves are a visually appealing answer to filling the spaces that bookend a fireplace. Get a professional carpenter to install them — it’s a feature you’ll be forever grateful for.

10 Ways to Create Mantelpiece Magic

From modern mantels to traditional fireplace toppers, these tips have you covered

By: Michelle Gage 

As you pack away your holiday decorations, it’s a good time to rethink your mantel decor. This year, resolve to dust off that neglected shelf and make it your own with new finds or items you already have scattered around your home. These 10 tips will help you unlock your mantel’s full potential.

Carter Kay Interiors

1. Mix it up. For an arrangement with impact, try mixing materials. This pleasant combination of wood and distressed glass makes for an elegant and eye-catching focal point. The room’s neutral color palette allows the fireplace to be the star player.

 

Christopher Burns Interiors

2. Vary levels. When making mantel magic, it’s all about scale. Pull together an artful array of framed photographs and decorative objects of various heights. For a cool and modern look, stick to no more than three colors.

 

Bruce Kading Interior Design

3. Personalize it. What’s your favorite pastime? Start there when thinking about styling your mantel. For an equestrian, this horse painting and antique trophy collection highlight a love of the sport, creating a meaningful focal point.

 

Jute Interior Design

4. Showcase treasures. For a simple and clean look, style the top of your mantel with only your absolute favorite pieces. The absence of objects can make a statement too. If your fireplace is nonfunctioning, you can decorate the interior as well. Choose a collection of glass vases, stacks of antique books or a bundle of cut wood.

 

California Home + Design

5. Work with what you have. If your home has a small mantelpiece, embrace it. This streamlined look goes well with the rest of the house’s clean lines. Just because a mantel is streamlined, however, doesn’t mean you have to leave it bare.

 

Julie Williams Design

6. Make room for media. Laying out your living room furniture can be tricky. If your space calls for hanging the television over the fireplace, go with it. Then think about how to best style the spaces around the TV. Built-in bookcases can accommodate much more memorabilia than a mantel anyway. Decorate those shelves with your favorite books, photos and objects.

 

sarah & bendrix

7. Shop purposefully. If you’re an antiques lover, scour flea markets for perfectly sized gems to fit on your mantel. By keeping a neutral theme, this vignette appears thoughtful. Be intentional with your styling — sticking to one theme or color scheme makes your mantel’s style cohesive.

 

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

8. Consider the whole space. If your room is already full of loud prints, tone down what you do on the mantel so it doesn’t compete. Just a handful of pieces lined up in a row is enough here. Leaning mirrors against the wall can help make a space feel larger.

 

Mary Anne Merfeld - Allied Member ASID

9. Find balance. You can tell that these are the shelves of a collector. Beloved objects, art, plants and books balance one another on the bookshelves and mantel. When thinking about the pieces you want to display, consider where they fit best. Start with the largest — chances are it doesn’t fit everywhere. If you can find a home for it, you’ll have an easier time placing the rest.

 

Bmac Interiors, LLC

10. Keep it simple. For this contemporary and clean space, less is more. One large piece of art hung over the fireplace and flanked by sconces makes enough of a statement. The styling on the bookcases takes a monochromatic approach.

Fall on the Wall: Decorating With Rich Reds, Browns and Oranges

For your interiors, take a cue from nature’s colorful seasonal offerings

By Jennifer Ott -Houzz Contributor 

Autumn has arrived, and with it are colorful changes to the natural world around us. Deciduous trees, in particular, put on a pretty show with verdant green leaves transforming into gorgeous shades of gold, orange, red and brown. I’ve been known to take my paint color fan deck out with me on fall hikes to match these beautiful hues. Whether you tend to favor warmer colors over cooler hues, or are just looking to inject some warmth into your home, take inspiration from your favorite fall flora for year-round color in your home.

Putney Design

An autumn-inspired rich brown and bold orange palette is tricky to get right, but this bedroom showcases the colors brilliantly. With lots of clean, pure white and minimal art and accessories, it has a fresh and modern feel, rather than a dark and overwhelming one.

Of course, it also helps that this room gets plenty of natural light. If your room is light-deprived, you could still use a similar color scheme, but perhaps limit the dark brown wall color to a single accent wall. Another light-boosting option is to paint just the lower third or half of the headboard wall in the accent color, leaving the upper level and ceiling white or clad in a light neutral.

ALFA - Alexandra de Brem et Fanny Prat

Here’s a nice example of using restraint when working with a deep, intense color. An entire room painted this deep red could feel confining, and the room would appear much smaller than it is, especially if there aren’t many windows. But by limiting the color to a small niche, you get a fantastic hit of color without the downside of all four walls clad in the hue.

Hudson Street Design

Here’s another bold bedroom accent wall, this time in a tangy orange. I’m a huge fan of wood-clad ceilings, especially in bedrooms, because they add such warmth and coziness. The orange accent wall draws your eye right in and then up toward the beautiful ceiling.

Ralo (Tibet Carpet)

Paint isn’t the only way to add a focal point in a bedroom. This beautiful, richly hued carpet is a fantastic choice in this vintage industrial space. The exposed ductwork and brick walls could feel hard and cold, but not when the space is infused with such a warm, autumn-inspired palette.

Gary McBournie Inc.

Here’s another handsome bedroom clad in warm orange and brown. Notice how the more intense colors are reserved for items that are relatively easy and economical to change — wall color and decorative accessories. The more expensive items — window treatments, flooring and furniture — are light and neutral. This gives the flexibility to change up the palette in the future without having to buy all new things.

Cardea Building Co.

Let’s step out of the bedroom and look at autumnal hues in dining areas. Warm colors such as red and orange are thought to stimulate the appetite as well as conversation, making them excellent color options for the spaces we gather in to eat and chat with friends and family. Don’t be afraid to go a bit deeper and darker with color in the dining room. It’s typically a space that you want to have a more closed-in, intimate and cozy vibe.

Christine Nelson Design

Bright pumpkin orange and gray are a popular duo for modern interiors. Here they combine to make this kitchen a fun and inviting place in which to cook and gather.

Metson Urman Architecture

Here’s another fun colorful orange eat-in nook. If you have such an area in your kitchen, it’s a terrific location for a spot of bold color. Use that color in smaller bits throughout the space to balance it out.

mossArchitects

 

If yours is an open-concept home, keep the majority of the walls a light neutral hue that will easily flow throughout each space, and then use bold color strategically to break up the different areas. Vibrant reddish-orange hues are perfect for calling attention to interesting materials or architectural details.

Creekview Custom Homes

If you have tall ceilings or want to create a cozy feeling in a room, use one of these featured fall colors near or on the ceiling. It will visually lower the ceiling and make the space feel warmer and more intimate.

Jennifer Ott Design

Try These Palettes

Inspired to add a dose of fall color to your own home? Here are some paint color options inspired by nature’s rich autumn hues.

Deep reds: Dinner Party from Benjamin Moore, Wild Currant from Sherwin-Williams and Antique Ruby from Behr

Jennifer Ott Design

Autumnal oranges: Harvest Moon from Benjamin Moore, Yam from Sherwin-Williams and Maple Leaf from Behr.

Jennifer Ott Design

Rich browns: Hearthstone Brown from Benjamin Moore, Turkish Coffee from Sherwin-Williams and Bear Rug from Behr.