Make the Most of Blank Corners With Our Favorite Kitchen Nook Ideas
If you have an awkward, empty corner in your kitchen, don't despair. With a little creativity, that wasted space can become one of the most functional and charming parts of your kitchen design. Keep reading for our favorite ways to transform useless corners into beautiful, practical nooks that you'll love spending time in.
Whether you're working with a small galley kitchen, an older home with angled corners, or a brand new open concept space with an overlooked alcove, putting your awkward corners to work is a smart move. You'll maximize every inch of real estate and prevent disjointed dead zones that disrupt the flow of your kitchen. Read on for ingenious corner cabinetry solutions, cozy dining nooks, and stylish storage ideas that are easy DIY projects for renters and homeowners alike.
Corner Cabinetry Designed to Conquer Clutter
Specialized cabinetry units are masters at taming unruly corners. They optimize the storage potential of your space while creating a smooth, uniform look on the cabinet front. Here are some of our favorite options:
Diagonal Corner Cabinets
These elegant cabinets are installed at an angle in the corner, forming a V-shape. Diagonal cabinets maximize every inch of available space and have a very clean, built-in look. The sleek styling does come at a price though - diagonal corner cabinets are more expensive than other options and usually require some remodeling expertise to install.
Lazy Susan Cabinets
A lazy susan consists of corner cabinet shelves that spin for easy access to items stored at the back. These ubiquitous corner cabinets provide efficient storage for a relatively low cost. However, they don't optimize space quite as well as diagonal corner cabinets. The spinning shelves also have size limitations.
Blind Corner Cabinets
Blind corner cabinets are designed specifically for difficult corners. They have pull-out shelves that pivot, allowing you to access the contents of a cabinet positioned perpendicularly in relation to your kitchen layout. These specialized organizers make the most of challenging spaces and eliminate frustrating blind spots.
Super Susans
If you need ample corner storage, check out a Super Susan. These combine two lazy susans to form one tall, double-wide spinning unit. Super Susans make all of your corner cabinet space totally accessible and can hold a ton of kitchen items from bakeware to spices and everything in between. They are definitely one of the pricier options though.
Creative Corner Shelving for Display and Storage
If built-in cabinetry isn't in your budget or design plan, open shelving can be a great alternative for blank corners. Not only does it add storage and display space, the visual lightness of shelves makes corners feel more open and airy. Here are some of our favorite looks:
Floating Corner Shelves
Also called wall-mounted shelves, these are easy DIY projects that instantly deliver style. Floating shelves add display and organizing space while creating the illusion of more room in tight corners. They're perfect for renters and homeowners looking for temporary storage solutions.
Glass-Door Corner Cabinet
Glass-front cabinetry maintains visibility and keeps your kitchen looking more open. The transparency allows you to artfully display dinnerware, cookbooks or barware while protecting items from dust. If you need more enclosed storage than open shelving provides, glass cabinetry is a great compromise.
Open Wood Shelving
For a natural, casual look, built-in wood shelving from wall to wall is a budget-friendly solution. The wood grain adds warmth and the open concept prevents a closed-in feeling. Use for displaying cookbooks, small plants and accent pieces. Just be prepared to tidy regularly since open shelves collect dust quickly.
Transform Blank Corners into Cozy Nooks
Corner Banquette Breakfast Nook
Few things are as charming as a breakfast nook tucked into an unused corner. Built-in banquette seating is space-saving and inviting. Place a small table nearby and you have a casual dining area perfect for cozy morning coffee or family meals. Just be aware that a permanent banquette will sacrifice storage space in that corner.
Corner Desk Nook
If you're low on office space, create a petite home office corner in your kitchen. A compact desk and chair tucked out of the way can provide a perfect little productivity zone for managing household paperwork and bills. Just be mindful of potentially limited leg room when placing a desk in a corner.
Corner Reading Nook
Book lovers, rejoice! A comfy armchair in the corner surrounded by bookshelves makes a wonderful, tucked-away reading area. Not only is this a cozy use of dead space, it provides beautiful display for book collections. The trade off is that you lose potential storage and workspace.
If open corners are part of your design vision, use these stylish accents to give them purpose:
- Wallpaper or bright accent paint draws the eye and prevents blankness.
- An art print gallery creates a focal point on the walls.
- Wall sconces or pendant lights illuminate and beautify.
- Fresh flowers, plants and greenery soften corners.
In the end, don't overlook your kitchen's awkward areas. With inventive corner storage solutions or cozy custom nooks, you can completely transform the feeling and functionality of your space. Those neglected corners can become beautiful, useful destinations that enhance your enjoyment of the kitchen.