Got an odd corner, weird nook, or that strange under-stair cubby gathering dust?
Pretty much every household has one. That room that’s too small to be a bedroom, too big to not use and too oddly shaped to utilise. Wait….
Those awkward spaces are gold mines.
They can be made into cosy reading corners, home offices, mini bars or even small home gyms with some clever design. The stats prove it – Americans spent $463 billion on home renovations in 2024 and more homeowners are renovating what they’ve got rather than moving away.
Here’s what most people don’t realise…
These small projects often deliver some of the biggest wins. You don’t need a massive budget, planning permission or a building team to make it happen. With a few smart decisions, that wasted nook can become the room you spend the most time in.
Let’s jump in!
Most homeowners look at a weird corner and freeze.
Makes sense. Normal furniture doesn’t fit, lighting is funky, walls slant awkwardly. Instead your room becomes an oversized closet for boxes you’ll never unpack.
Here’s the thing. There is no space too small or weirdly shaped that can’t be functional. You just need a layout that works WITH the shape, not against it.
Before you grab a hammer, you need a clear vision.
Start by asking yourself one simple question:
What do you actually need that you don’t already have?
An office nook. A fun corner. A space to read. Identifying your desired function first makes all other choices simple.
Measure your space and write down your measurements, ceiling height, location of outlets as well as any windows or pipes that can’t be moved.
Now here’s where most DIY-ers mess up…
Got a cluttered room with jagged drywall edges, unsightly seams or patch jobs from former fixtures — it will never look swanky. No paint color or trendy sofa can disguise ugly walls. A crisp tape and joint finish can set you apart.
Okay so what does tape and joint finish mean? It refers to the method of finishing the joints between sheets of drywall, so that the wall has a smooth flat surface. Whether you’re drywalling your home or repairing an older one, proper tape and joint finish is what makes the difference between an experts looking room and a homeowners comedy of horrors.
There are 6x basic levels of tape and joint finish:
Level 4 tape and joint finish is ideal for most awkward spaces. It’s affordable yet gives a seamless professional finish.
Tip: Give the job a final hand sanding under a bright work light. Many flaws become apparent that you would never see during daylight.
Once your walls are smooth, it’s time to fill the space.
Solution to rooms with awkward angles is custom or modular furniture that is built right up against the walls. Regular furniture almost never works with odd angles. That means you really only have two options:
Built-in shelving & benches are huge. They transform awkward sloped ceilings/tight spaces from feeling “leftover” to purposeful. And they maximize every square inch of value from a small footprint.
Here are some ideas that work well in tricky spots:
Homeowners these days are focusing on bathroom renos and kitchen storage so when you’re thinking of an upgrade – think functional. Can your space answer a problem someone faces everyday? The more functional, the more value you can add.
Lighting is the most underrated tool in a small or awkward space.
Correct lighting can make a small corner appear double it’s size. Incorrect lighting can make a standard sized room feel like a closet. Here are 3 ways (layers) to light your home correctly:
Mix them properly and your awkward space goes from “meh” to magazine-worthy.
Tip: Remove strong single bulb ceiling lights. They cast big shadows that emphasize all of the angles in small spaces. Layer on some warm lighting.
Despite having a great plan people continue to stumble over the same problems. These are the top mistakes to watch out for:
Eliminate these and you’re way ahead of most DIY homeowners who encounter setbacks with their remodels. Small details are more important than most people think — sloppy caulking or uneven shelves can spoil the entire room.
Awkward spaces aren’t problems — they’re opportunities most people just don’t see.
Easy on the eyes once finished with a little planning + clean tape and joint finish. Paired with some strategic furniture placement any awkward corner can become your favorite useable room. Especially since 63% of homeowners would rather remodel than move!
To quickly recap:
Do these things and your awkward space won’t be awkward for very long.