I love the idea of discovering new, unused spaces in your home and making them functional (and pretty). This will be especially true as we go forward settling into our home that we bought with three kids but will raise five in, instead. I’m not a big fan of unused spaces, which is a good thing—since we’ll need every square inch.
Here’s an example in our last home. There was no mudroom but an abundance of backpacks and jackets. So, we used this small hallway by the back door to serve as a drop off point for everybody’s stuff and I added the chalkboard for notes, messages, etc. I’m working on a similar set up in our house now.
Here are some other great examples of how you can take a small, unused space and make it a functioning part of your home:
House Beautiful
Ohdeedoh.com
Ohdeedoh.com
How have you maximized the small spaces in your home?
Emily - creative post. Definitely makes you think out of the box to make the most of your space.
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic ideas! I love every one of them!!! Thanks for sharing... have a beautiful Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Emily! I love the framed artwork above the hooks, such a sweet idea :) Congrats on your twins as well!
ReplyDeleteI'm no design pro, but I do live with 6 kids in a house we bought for 3. I recently blogged about a couple of things we've done to make all our space count, including a crib-in-closet nook like the one pictured here.
ReplyDeletehttp://presseddownandshakentogether.blogspot.com/2012/01/making-em-fit.html
I think the most creative solutions come when you have to make every inch in the house work! I've had some experience, Isabella was brought home to a 600 sf apartment, and we made it work! Janell
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I wish I had more nooks and crannies in my home because I love this kind of stuff. I have a great little dresser thing in a small hall between my bathroom and garage door...I have been thinking of making it into a place to hang coats instead and this post may have put that want over the edge.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspirational post! There is so much to love here. I think my favorite is the NOOK picture by thrifty decor chick.
ReplyDeleteYou must be slightly overwhelmed preparing for twins, but just imagine all the blogging material you'll have for years! ;-)
Abby
So many great ideas. I love all of them!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! Great ideas! I am in the middle of trying to design a combo nursery & guest room (complete with queen bed!) for our second daughter and this post has lots of inspiration for that :)
ReplyDeletesuch a creative post! I love these ideas!
ReplyDeletesweethomenashville.blogspot.com
Love all the ideas! I had my husband build in my laundry room with a desk and workspace because there was nowhere else in the house to put an office! It has worked out wonderfully!
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ReplyDeleteSorry I put the wrong post in. I love all these ideas! I think I had almost all of them pinned :) Your hallway is gorgeous too.
ReplyDeleteI just posted yesterday about our desk under the stairs. It's not all decorated yet but it is a big improvement!
http://www.tiptopnest.com/2012/01/working-with-a-staircase-nook/
I love some of the little nooks in these pictures. So cozy. I don't think I could give up a closet though.
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous ideas! We turned the unused dormer spaces in our daughter's room into two closets and a built-in reading nook. I despise wasted space.
ReplyDeleteWe took the closed in area under the stairs and made it into a wine cellar and storage space :) Took the tandem part of the garage, put a wall up and made it into a play room. See mommy has her space and the kids have their space LOL
ReplyDeleteXO
Kristin
These are so inspiring. I need a drop off spot for my kids and my big man kid - there junk is all over the place and it's driving me crazy! You've got my wheels turning!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing how you maximized your old home. I can't wait to see what you come up with for life with twins!
ReplyDeleteI definitely try to get every square inch out of my house that I possibly can in our apartment. We have a nice living space, but I'm always trying to scheme for more storage!
ReplyDeleteLots of ideas here...especially love the little corner with the orange bench. That looks like any neglected corner in everyone's home that probably wouldn't even get artwork, much less a cozy seating area. Smart!
ReplyDeleteHi! I feel like I am in the process of reallocating space in our house. It's been long overdue honestly but it requires thinking outside the box and maybe inviting a friend over to mull ideas :) I did a similar "mudroom" in our house. Posted about it here - http://www.houseography.net/2011/01/find-your-mud-room-or-area.html
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas...they almost have the element of surprise while they are pretty, functional and organized. I have a mini mudroom which I am so glad we incorporate in our home remodel.
ReplyDeleteWe recently moved into a new construction home after always living in older homes. I was perplexed by the strange alcove in the front hallway that does absolutely nothing. Couldn't the builder have been creative and added storage??? Here's the post with our changes...http://thedesignpages.blogspot.com/2011/12/add-coat-hooks-to-your-hallway.html
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what I have done in my own house! It's actually fun to see what you can make out of a little space!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! We're just working on making the space under the stairs work better for us. We have put a desk there now (so fun to find a desk I loved, and that was in our price range, to fit under there- it wasn't easy!) and moved the PC and printer there, and I'll add a shelf there soon to really maximize the space.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I love that what Americans call small spaces are often average spaces, or even big spaces, to the English!!!
I love all those little nooks -- and your old 'mudroom' I have got to do something similar before coats and backpacks take over my life!
ReplyDeleteThese are all great examples. Is it weird that I get so much more joy out of making a tiny space work than decorating an entire large room?
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post. I've always wondered how the price of square footage for a house compares the price of hiring a good carpenter to create these kinds of spaces.
ReplyDeleteCamille
ahhh these are such awesome ideas! I really love the orange velvet settee nestled right in the corner.. it's so doable! Great, helpful post =)
ReplyDeleteWhen I started reading the Country Living Image immediately came to mind! So, in our house there is a small nook at the end of our upstairs hallway sortof tucked away.....the laundry room and our fifth bedroom which is a playroom open to it. I am putting a parsons desk in the space....figure I can blog, fiddle on the internet or even fold laundry in this space while the kids play!
ReplyDeleteyou know, i have a living room combo dining room and have been wondering if I should make a built in banquette in the dining area to define it and make it feel extra cozy. These images make me feel good about that idea!
ReplyDeleteBethany
http://www.powellbrower.com/2012/01/hallway-zhushing.html
This is the exact inspiration I need right now. I have a few small areas in my home that I know could be used wisely for something but I still haven't figured them out. Hopefully one of these ideas will help. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteJust saw your blog today. You have an awesome home. Love your style. I've pinned half the pics from your home onto my room inspirations board!
ReplyDeleteI think figuring out the small spaces is one of the best parts of putting your home together. I recently tried this out in a corner of my foyer.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.no29design.com/2012/01/breathing-new-life-into-your-bookcase.html
I am in the process of finishing the nursery for my twins (I am currently 30 weeks). It is such a small space (9x10) and once you put in 2 cribs there is not much room for anything else... but it is fun getting creative. http://nate-and-megs.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThese are such great ideas! We live in an apartment and I think we can definitely make some of these ideas work. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteJess C.
http://messyjessc.blogspot.com/
I love when offices are placed within a closet! Makes it so cozy!
ReplyDeleteI love your post! You always have the best examples and ideas. And speak of the devil, I just just thinking about the same thing. http://thelittleblackdoor.blogspot.com/2012/02/step-into-my-gallery.html
ReplyDeleteEmily ,those are some really cool home renovation ideas, great post!!
ReplyDeleteoh I like thispost very much..very creative and sooo much inspirtaion..thanks..your blog is amazing..love it ..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! Great ideas. With imagination we can create beautiful places in our homes. Thank you very much!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove these examples/ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blogspot you have. The pictures are gorgeous and your ideas are amazing.
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