How To Decorate Awkward Spaces

Every home has them—those tricky spots that seem difficult to decorate. Whether it’s a tight hallway, a slanted ceiling, or an empty nook, those awkward spaces often get overlooked. But rather than seeing them as design challenges, consider them as opportunities to add personality and function to your home. From clever storage for awkward spaces to eye-catching wallpaper opportunities, let’s dive into how to embrace and enhance your awkward-shaped rooms with confidence and creativity.

A modern dining room featuring soft yellow striped wallpaper, built-in shelves, and a white marble table.

Yellow Thick Vertical Stripes Watercolor Painted Wallpaper

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Common awkward spaces found within the home

Before we explore our innovative creative design solutions, let's identify some common awkward spaces that can be found within the home. These areas may seem difficult to work with at first, but with the right approach, they can be transformed into stylish and functional features.

Slanted ceilings & odd angles

Instead of seeing sloped ceilings as a limitation, embrace them as a design opportunity! Highlight the unique angles by applying a striped wallpaper to draw the eye upward and add definition to the space. For those odd angles, consider using our custom mural tool to design a perfectly sized mural that will fit even the trickiest wall dimensions.

A bedroom corner with a sloped ceiling, a black accent wall, and a white dresser with stuffed animals on the floor.
A cozy bedroom nook featuring a geometric accent wall, a white dresser, and a collection of plush toys.

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Pantries, alcoves & shelving

Storage spaces such as pantries, alcoves, and shelving can be very useful, but they often end up looking cluttered. To make them feel more intentional, it's important to strike a balance between organization and design. Consider adding wallpaper to the back of open shelving to introduce depth and character without overwhelming the area. For pantries, choose a subtle pattern that enhances the look while maintaining functionality. If your alcoves seem disconnected from the rest of the room, using wallpaper or a mural throughout the room, including within the alcove, can create cohesion and make them a stylish focal point rather than an afterthought.

Empty space under the stairs

The space beneath your stairs is an overlooked area that is perfect for showcasing your style. You can add built-in shelves to showcase books, decorative items, or neatly arranged storage bins that help keep things organized. Looking for a functional workspace? A floating desk along with some bright wallpaper can transform this hidden space into a motivating mini home office.

A staircase landing with a grey marbled wallpaper, wooden stairs, and decorative plants in woven baskets.

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Unused corners

Empty corners don’t have to remain forgotten! Consider transforming them into a charming reading nook with a stylish armchair, floating shelves, and a statement wallpaper to bring the space to life. If storage is a priority, corner shelving can display plants, books, or decorative pieces while keeping things organized.

Narrow hallways

Make a narrow hallway feel larger and more inviting with light-colored wallpaper, which reflects light and opens up the space. Want to add personality? A statement abstract wallpaper like our Scrawl design instantly creates visual interest without overwhelming the area. Pair this with strategic lighting and mirrors to enhance brightness and give the illusion of a wider, more open passageway.

A modern hallway with a bold black abstract line mural on a white wall, light wood flooring, and a door leading to a bright room.

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Use pattern and color for challenging spaces

Color and patterns can redefine even the most challenging spaces or small, weird shaped rooms. Vertical stripes can create the illusion of height, making low ceilings feel taller and narrow walls seem more expansive. Deep, rich colors in alcoves add drama and depth, creating an intimate and sophisticated atmosphere. Soft pastels and light neutrals can brighten small spaces, making them feel more open, airy, and welcoming. Colorful or patterned wallpaper can transform odd angles into striking focal points, turning architectural quirks into bold design statements.

A loft-style living space with a curved brick accent wall, blue and white striped wallpaper, and a light gray sofa.

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Transform tricky spaces with intentional design

Every awkward space in your home can be transformed into a unique design feature. Rather than hiding these quirks, embrace them with decor choices that enhance both style and functionality. Zoning techniques, such as using different wallpaper patterns or colors, can help define separate areas within an open space, adding visual interest and structure. Multi-functional furniture designed to fit unusual shapes can maximize usability while maintaining aesthetics. Layering textures and using strategic lighting can create warmth and cohesion, making even the most unconventional spaces feel intentional and inviting.

Peel and stick wallpaper is a versatile option for transforming unexpected areas, from shelving, doors, accent walls or even furniture such as drawers, adding personality and depth to overlooked spaces. And don’t forget about the fifth wall - adding wallpaper to the ceiling is a powerful way to elevate a room, bringing depth and personality to areas that might otherwise feel unfinished.

A stylish alcove with wooden shelves against a large-scale blue and beige abstract watercolor mural.

Abstract Blue Shapes Watercolor Mural

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Bring cohesion to your space

To transform awkward shapes into a natural part of your home, aim for visual harmony. A unified color palette can tie different areas together, while repeating patterns or textures across various spaces creates a sense of balance. Carefully selected wallpaper designs can connect unique architectural features, making them feel intentional rather than out of place.

Whether dealing with a narrow hallway, an empty alcove, or an angled ceiling, wallpaper serves as a simple yet effective way to add style, character, and color. With a bit of creativity, these challenging areas can turn into some of the most thoughtfully designed and visually appealing areas in your home.

A cozy attic nook with a tropical botanical mural, a rattan lounge set, and natural decor elements.

Image Credit - @redwoodlane

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