If you are living in a home that just happens to have a rather odd, irregular shaped room, you might be at a loss on how to make it seem a little more normal. Some homes and beach property homes built in the 40s and 50s often had an area considered extra space due to floor plans. Another area that has become popular as an added office space or bedroom are attics!
Due to their odd shapes, which are neither square nor rectangular, it can be a little mystifying on how to make the area standout and a comfortable place to be in. It can also be a great deal of fun because you can let your creative talents flow.
Whether dealing with sharp, angular lines or slanted ceilings, paint, furniture, decorations or wallpaper can turn these rooms into a really interesting place to hang out in.
If the area is large, you could divide the room into separate themes. One area as an entertainment section and another for office work. This obviously won’t work for small areas.
If your room has an odd corner, place a chair, ottoman and lamp to give this corner a real purpose. Another important point is to bring this irregular area some balance. A portable book shelf can be moved around until you find the right place to bring about balance. Placing an interesting area rug in the center of the room will draw focus away from the odd design of the room.
If you have a slanted wall due to the slanting design of the roof, try incorporating an interesting paint design incorporating colour. A crisp white paint on the slanting wall will give the area an appearance of spaciousness. Try a wallpaper with white paint on the trim to make this slanting wall artistically fun!
When using paint, you might want to get samples of colours that complement each other and place these samples on various areas to see how they look before making any choices. The same should be said regarding wallpaper. Stay away from wallpapers that are too dark or large prints. These irregular rooms are usually not large enough or bright enough to carry overbearing designs. Look for prints that contain lines in order to elongate your room and give the room some added height.
If the room you are working with is an attic, chances are you have only one small window. Keep the window dressing very simple. Light is quite limited in attics so make the most out of the light available to you. If your room has several windows, keep the window dressings, carpet colour, and/or paint all the same tone. This will give uniform to the room and add balance.
If you are replacing your flooring with new carpet, tiles or laminated materials, lean toward lighter natural colours that will add to the appearance of space.
Mirrors are famous for making a room seem larger and lamps will add a really nice sense of warmth to a dark atmosphere. Curtains, drawn back with ties, will soften a glaring, bleak window frame while allowing light during the daylight hours. Venetian blinds can provide a great deal of privacy, but can be a little overbearing, try bamboo shades instead. They come in a variety of colours, including natural, allowing light to enter without feeling like you are in a dungeon.
Talk to your local home improvement people, get some samples of decorating ideas along with different colour schemes. That odd space might just become your favourite space!
