Every room I live in has at least one corner that just sits there, collecting dust and looking unfinished. Last October I finally decided to do something about mine, and I learned that corners are actually the easiest spots to make feel special. Here are ten ideas that worked for me.
1. Turn it into a reading nook
My living room had a bare corner next to the window, so I moved my old armchair there with a small side table. I added a throw blanket and my stack of unread books, and suddenly it became the spot I sit in every morning with my chai. One corner, one chair, and the whole room felt finished.
2. Style a floor lamp with a basket of throws
Picture this: a tall floor lamp with a soft glowing shade in the corner, and right beside it a woven basket stuffed with two or three folded throw blankets. The lamp gives the corner warm light at night, and the basket adds texture even when the lamp is off. I use the basket every evening, so it is practical and pretty at once. Guests always comment on this little setup, and it took me less than an hour.
3. Group three pumpkins of different heights
I placed a tall pumpkin, a medium one, and a small one together in the corner of my dining room, right on the floor. The different heights make it look styled instead of random. They sat there all through October and looked great next to the curtains. My neighbor asked if I hired someone to do it, which made me laugh.
4. Add a small accent chair you already own
Look around your home before doing anything else. I found a chair from my bedroom that was barely being used and moved it into the empty corner of the kitchen nook. With a little cushion on it, it looked like it belonged there all along. Sometimes the best fix is already sitting in another room.
5. Build a plant corner with a fall garland
Imagine a big leafy plant in a terracotta pot standing in the corner, with a fall leaf garland draped loosely around the base or hanging on the wall behind it. The green of the plant next to the warm fall colors looks beautiful. I draped the garland on a Saturday morning and the corner felt like autumn instantly. It is still going strong, and the plant seems happy with the company.
6. Stack a crate or wooden box as a tiny table
I took an old wooden crate, stood it on its side in the corner, and set a candle and a small pumpkin on top. It works as a mini side table and it fills the space. If you have a crate sitting in a closet somewhere, this takes five minutes.
7. Hang a small mirror to open the space up
Corners can feel dark and closed in, so I hung a small round mirror on the wall above one of mine. It bounces light around and makes the corner feel twice as big. This works especially well in hallways and small bedrooms. It also reflects the fall colors from the other side of the room, which is a nice bonus.
8. Create a warm glow station with candles
Visualize a small corner table or stool with three candles of different heights, all lit, and the wall behind them painted in a warm tone. When the lights are low, that little cluster of flames makes the whole corner feel alive. I light mine after dinner in fall and the house smells like cinnamon and vanilla.
9. Use a tall vase with fall branches
I cut a few branches from a tree in my yard and stood them in a tall vase in the corner of my entryway. Some had red leaves, some were bare, and together they looked like something from a magazine. It is free decor if you have a tree nearby.
10. Layer a small rug under everything
Whatever you put in the corner, try sliding a small round or square rug underneath it. I did this under my reading chair and it anchored the whole setup. The corner stopped looking like an afterthought and started looking like a real part of the room. Choose a rug with warm fall tones and it ties everything together.
Conclusion
Empty corners used to bother me every time I walked past them, and now they are some of my favorite spots in the house. Pick one corner this weekend and give it one of these ideas. You will be surprised how much difference one small change can make.
