Everyone has that spot in the home that drives them crazy. It is that wasted space, which could have been functional if only it had been planned better. So how do we take these awkward spaces, repurpose them and come up with a better solution?

Many people buy a home with great plans and dreams of resolving issues, which eventually fall by the wayside. Tackle these spaces head on by defining what you would like the space to do – considering storage needs and traffic flow. Then it’s all about finding a solution.

Solutions can be simple – sometimes as simple as moving furniture around or installing a prefabricated cabinet. Other times – whether it’s a small room or large – it is important to think outside the box and imagine shifting, moving and rearranging elements to eliminate the awkward space. Think about it as a big puzzle. If one piece is moved, what opportunities are available? It may also help to imagine your space with nothing, free from the current restrictions in place.

A laundry room now serves dual purpose as a mudroom with new hooks, storage and seating.

Laundry room remodel

My husband and I recently renovated a poorly designed laundry space. Instead of building walls to fit the side-by-side washer and dryer, the previous owners left an extra 11 inches of unused space on one side. This space was too small for a prefab cabinet and we thought using it for brooms and mops would look messy.

As the space connected to the garage, we needed a space to store outer wear as well as a seating area to put on boots and shoes. Our solution was to stack the washer and dryer. This allowed the 11 inches of unused space to become 33 inches, which we used for a bench with coat hooks and storage above and below.

Other awkward inspiration

There are many space-saving solutions on the market, so look for ideas online or in your local Co-op Home Centre. Alternatively, you may need a custom solution that you build yourself or hire a contractor for.

Some other problem/solution examples include:

• No entrance or closet: Install hooks on the wall for coats, bags and keys. Add a bench, floating shelf or mail sorter.
• Space under stairs: Build a desk, shelves, pull-out drawers, cabinets or even a bar. Create a cool lounge area with cushions or a play area for kids.
• Sloping roofline: Develop creative storage, like shelves or cabinets.
• Laundry rooms: Install shelves, wall-mounted drying rack or wall-mounted ironing  board.
• Guest bed: Make an office or rec/play room do double duty with a wall bed (aka Murphy bed).
• Kitchen storage: Add additional cabinets between cabinets and ceiling or install corner drawers.
• Niche/alcove: If possible, make this space part of the room on the other side of the wall.

These corner cabinet drawers make efficient use of an awkward space.

Still don’t know what to do? Grab a second opinion. Design-savvy friends may be able to look at the space with a fresh set of eyes. Even just listening to them may provide the needed inspiration.

Tackling this project will not only fill a literal gap, it will make your home more complete and allow you to make the best use of your space.

A special thank you to Euro-Rite Cabinets for supplying cabinets for laundry room remodel.