How to fill empty corners in a room, according to interiors experts

Empty corners in a living room, hallway or bedroom can sometimes make otherwise beautiful rooms look awkward, but there are plenty of ways to fill room corners without cluttering your home. And, more often than not, it can transform a bland spot into a stylish space, improving the overall aesthetic of the room.

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Empty corners in a living room, hallway or bedroom can sometimes make otherwise beautiful rooms look awkward, but there are plenty of ways to fill room corners without cluttering your home.

From shining light into empty nooks and crannies to styling corners with unique art arrangements, here, six interiors experts outline how to fill empty corners in a room.

1. Wall mirrors

Transitional zones, such as entryway corners or the hallway, are highly trafficked areas of the home but people don’t tend to spend much time in them. As spots which are visited frequently by family and friends, it’s a good idea to utilise any unused corners with statement decorations, such as an eye-catching mirror, as people walk by.

‘It’s good to plan to use a mirror in your hallway for many reasons. One is that you will create a much longer and brighter hallway. Secondly, it’s easy to take a quick glance on the way out to check your hair,’ explains Vanessa Arbuthnott, CEO and Designer at Vanessa Arbuthnott. ‘There are so many different styles of mirrors, so be sure to choose one that reflects your style. This could be an antique, rustic, vintage or modern mirror that hangs on one side of the hallway over a narrow table.’

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2. A decorative shelf

A blank half wall might come in handy when deciding where to store stylish accents and keepsakes in your room. If you have the space for it, installing floating shelves can be a great way to transform an unused corner, and it’s great for extra storage too, enabling you to put design objects and accessories on display without creating clutter.

‘Larger, bulky corner shelves or bureaus can clutter the space, so I would recommend decorating with smaller, thinner shelves,’ advises Alex Wilcocks, Property Designer at Burbeck Interiors. ‘These are great for additional storage, and when decorated with eye-catching ornaments, lamps or photos, can look quaint. If you are working in a larger room, a stylish bookshelf can create an appealing focal point and add warmth to the room.’

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Inga Corner Mirrored Floating Bedside/Shelf, MY Furniture

3. Install a dry bar

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Whether you’re a mixologist or a great party host, bar carts are essential for home entertaining. The drinks trolley has become a fashionable way to display your favourite spirits and glassware, whilst having the functionality of a moving bar, so it’s perfect for filling up an awkward corner of the living room or dining room.

‘Placing the bar cart in the corner of a dining room is both decorative and functional, says Jennifer Jarvis, Senior Designer at Helen Green Design. ‘Select a bar cart in the same or a complementary finish with the rest of the room to tie them together. When styling your bar cart choose bottles that have varying heights and widths for styling. Add some crystal glasses and a beautiful cut glass bottle opener to finish.’

4. Display art and sculptures

Art is a great way to balance out a room’s décor and fill empty, awkward corners while transforming a space. You could hang a simple painting or choose different art arrangements or sculptures. Sometimes one special piece is all it takes, however big or small.

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‘We like to incorporate art and sculpture into homes in different, unique ways. If there is an empty corner on entrance to the home, we love the idea of framing and providing a vista to the artwork,’ explains Iain Johnson, CEO at Rigby & Rigby. ‘Sculptures should be placed on a plinth block to protect the item from accidental damage and to elevate the piece to eye level. We are seeing much more asymmetric panelling or mirrors that wrap around and address corner configurations.’

5. Maximise lighting

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Corners tend to gather shadows and become dark, dull spaces in your home, but good lighting can change all of that. Whether it’s a table lamp, floor lamp or wall lights, invest in some new lighting to create a soft glow and brighten up the space.

‘First and foremost, consider how you want to feel in the room before deciding on a lighting scheme. If it’s a space for relaxing, such as a living room, then you might be surprised to hear that having multiple lights in your room will actually make it feel cosier,’ explains Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Co-owner at interior fixtures and fitting specialist, Dowsing & Reynolds.

‘Combining dimmable wall, table and floor lamps creates a cocooning feel that you can easily control. The turned-down light has a soft glow, casting beautiful shadows in all corners of the room. If you are just working with an empty corner, style with a unique floor lamp to draw the eye’s attention around the space. Combine this with a dimmable wall light to create additional pockets of ambient light.’

6. Houseplants

Plants are perfect for sprucing up any dull and lifeless corner, injecting a dose of much-needed greenery in a bland and neglected space.

‘If you’re looking for a dramatic effect, try using a Money Tree plant which has a beautiful, braided mini tree trunk. This will be sure to catch guests’ attention and you can use an oversized plant pot for extra creativity,’ recommends Ella Jade, founder and designer at ROOBBA.

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‘You could also opt for a Snake Plant which has tall straight leaves of differing heights. This will add a charming focus in any corner. If you’re looking to add colour, try blue or coral orchids. Experiment with putting plants of varying colours and different sizes together to create a magnificent display.’

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