It would be fantastic if all of us lived in architecturally advanced rooms with lovely angles and huge windows and amazing ceilings. But in reality many of us have a one boring space to contend with. You know the type: low ceilings, blah windows, zero molding, regular closet.
But starting out with a boring, boxy room does not mean you are doomed. There are ways to turn such spaces into amazing, artful, comfy spaces with plenty of style. But you are likely to need to take a few opportunities.
A few rules for turning uninspiring rooms to amazing chambers:
Think play. Drama can run the gamut from sparse and all white to lavish, textured and stuffed. But a boring box of a space will benefit greatly from a large vision. Enjoy your walls. Paint them wallpaper them or add imitation moldings; just do not leave them flat. Go mad with drapes. Extra-long drapes can do a squat, boring window a world of good and include some much-needed drama. Changing out a boring closet door for a lovely curtain adds texture and colour. A curtain behind a bed acts as a headboard and provides texture, colour, pattern and play (even if it’s beige). Let there be light. Whatever you do, do not be satisfied with a boring flush-mounted ceiling lighting. Go large, go daring, go bright. Lighting — the fixture and the quality of light it casts — may completely transform a room.These 13 instance of boring gone beautiful will help lead the way. And please, show us your amazing boxy rooms.
Create an awareness of age and structure with salvaged pieces hung on the walls. This old doorway adds a whole lot of attention to the tiny box.
The Painted Room
This classic mantel and fireplace surround include architectural detail when there is absolutely no real fireplace.
Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..
You can create moldings like this with cheap cut-to-order pieces of trimming from the hardware store, tack nails and some paint. I love the beams.
Nicole Lanteri Design
Replace boring old sliding cupboard doors with a lovely curtain. Not only will it be pretty, but it will enable you to see within your complete closet at once.
Tobi Fairley Interior Design
A plain, pleated curtain hung beneath the headboard gives this low-ceilinged space a sense of opulence and plushness.
Tobi Fairley Interior Design
For a little studio, a curtain wall is a fantastic idea. Not only does this provide a sense of privacy, but it also adds softness, texture and some interesting lines.
Tip: Crisp pleats make a curtain seem completed and appropriate and prevent that college-dorm look.
Kati Curtis Design
Be brave with colour and texture. Bright walls are one thing, but they’re much more interesting when layered with patterns and textures and colours. The main thing to get a look just like this to go all of the way. If you want lush and layered, go to it with gusto.
Mikey Fuller Interiors
This is another edition of lush and layered. The design of this room is not anything special, but the decorator has produced a one-of-a-kind, high-drama appearance by choosing a style (English countryside–meets–Shabby Chic) and heading to it in a big way.
Tip: Artwork and mirrors hung floor to ceiling make the walls seem taller.
LUX Design
This room employs all of the tricks: extra-long drapes, a dramatic light fixture, a wallpapered wall for colour and pattern.
Tip: In tiny spaces symmetry really can make the room seem completed. The nightstands, lamps and pillows give this little space a crisp, put-together appearance.
Weego Home
Another fantastic use of texture and symmetry.
Flea Market Sunday
This resembles a boxy apartment bedroom, full with window. But look at how much life it’s thanks to the drapes, wallpaper, replicated colour scheme and dramatic bed.
Tamar Schechner/Nest Pretty Things Inc
Can’t put up background? Use double-sided tape to hang background accents on cupboard doors, headboards, bookshelves and tabletops.
Croma Design Inc
This high-drama lamp will be the focal point in this otherwise pretty, plain space. Imagine the room without it. Meh.