The Forgotten Spaces: Making Hallways, Landings & Awkward Corners Interesting
Because even the smallest corners deserve a little personality.
We spend an awful lot of time thinking about our living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms. We agonise over paint colours, rearrange furniture and spend hours hunting for that perfect finishing touch.
But what about those other spaces?
The hallway that seems to exist purely for abandoned shoes. The landing that nobody really notices. That peculiar little alcove where nothing quite fits.
Every home has them. Those awkward, forgotten bits that never seem to get much decorating attention.
And we think that's a terrible shame.
At Skinny Pig Interiors, we're firm believers that no corner is too small, no wall too narrow and no space too peculiar to deserve a little love.
So here are a few ideas for turning the most overlooked parts of your home into something rather wonderful.
1. Make an Entrance Worth Remembering
Your hallway is the first thing people see when they step into your home, so why should it be the least interesting room in the house?
Even the smallest entrance can have a surprising amount of character.
A quirky mirror can instantly give a narrow hallway a little more presence, while unusual wall hooks are perfect for adding both personality and practicality.
And let's face it, if you're going to hang up your coat, you might as well hang it on something fabulous.
Don't be afraid of introducing a bold colour, either. Deep blues, rich greens and even dramatic black can look wonderful in a hallway, especially when paired with interesting wall decorations.
A hallway doesn't need to be enormous to make a statement.
It just needs something worth looking at.
2. Give Your Landing a Little Love
Landings are funny old spaces.
They're neither upstairs nor downstairs, and often seem to serve no purpose other than getting us from one room to another.
But that doesn't mean they have to be boring.
A collection of framed prints can transform a plain landing wall into a miniature gallery. Mix different shapes, sizes and styles for something that feels collected over time rather than carefully coordinated.
A decorative mirror can also work wonders, particularly on a darker landing where natural light is limited.
And if you happen to have a little extra floor space, a narrow console table with an unusual ornament or two can turn a forgotten spot into a lovely little display.
Who knows? You might even start taking the scenic route to the bathroom.
3. Don't Ignore the Awkward Alcove
You know the one.
That odd little recess beside the chimney breast. The gap under the stairs. The strange corner that appears to have been designed specifically to make furniture shopping difficult.
Instead of trying to disguise these spaces, why not celebrate them?
A small shelf filled with interesting objects can create a miniature cabinet of curiosities.
Think little animal ornaments, decorative trinket dishes, framed photographs and the occasional wonderfully peculiar find.
The secret is to embrace the oddness.
An awkward space often becomes far more interesting when you stop trying to make it look conventional.
After all, who wants conventional?
4. Think Beyond Traditional Wall Art
When faced with an empty wall, most of us immediately think of hanging a picture.
But walls can display so much more than framed prints.
Decorative animal heads, unusual plaques, sculptural hooks and interesting mirrors all add depth and texture to a room.
And because they're a little unexpected, they tend to attract far more attention.
Consider creating a display that mixes traditional artwork with three-dimensional decorations.
A vintage-style frame alongside a quirky wall ornament can look wonderfully eclectic.
It's also a brilliant way of making a staircase wall more interesting without needing to fill every inch.
Forget perfectly matching frames and carefully measured arrangements.
Sometimes a little organised chaos is exactly what's needed.
5. Small Spaces Can Handle Big Personality
There's a rather persistent decorating rule that says small spaces should be kept light, neutral and simple.
Well, we're not entirely convinced.
In fact, smaller areas can be the perfect place to experiment with something a little more adventurous.
A dramatic wallpaper in a downstairs cloakroom. A bold paint colour beneath the stairs. An oversized decorative piece on an otherwise plain landing.
Because these spaces aren't generally where we spend hours relaxing, you can often get away with being a little braver.
And there's something rather fabulous about opening an unassuming door to discover a room full of unexpected character.
It's the interior design equivalent of a little surprise party.
Without the awkward singing.
6. Make Practical Things Part of the Decoration
Not every decorative addition needs to exist purely to look pretty.
Some of the most interesting home accessories are the ones that have a useful purpose too.
Take wall hooks, for example.
A row of ordinary hooks is perfectly functional, but swap them for unusual animal designs, cast iron pieces or something wonderfully sculptural, and suddenly the wall becomes a feature in its own right.
The same goes for clocks, mirrors and even small storage accessories.
Practical doesn't have to mean plain.
And when space is limited, choosing accessories that are both useful and beautiful makes an awful lot of sense.
7. Create a Little Moment of Surprise
Sometimes all a forgotten corner needs is one unexpected thing.
A fabulous animal ornament perched on a shelf. A rather eccentric wall decoration where nobody expects to find one. A beautiful mirror reflecting an interesting view.
These little details make a home feel personal.
They're the things visitors notice, ask about and remember.
And perhaps most importantly, they're the things that make you smile as you wander from room to room.
Because decorating shouldn't just be about making a room look finished.
It should be about making your home feel like yours.
Every Little Corner Counts
The wonderful thing about decorating forgotten spaces is that you don't need a huge budget, an enormous amount of room or a complete renovation.
Sometimes a single quirky accessory, a carefully placed mirror or a few unusual wall hooks can transform an otherwise unremarkable corner.
So next time you're wandering around your home, take another look at those spaces you normally ignore.
That empty landing wall. That awkward alcove. That hallway desperately in need of a little attention.
You might just discover they're the most interesting decorating opportunities of all.
And remember, at Skinny Pig Interiors, we believe there's always room for something a little unusual.
Even if it's only a very small room.
Discover our collection of quirky wall decorations, unusual hooks, decorative mirrors and wonderfully eccentric home accessories at Skinny Pig Interiors.
Until next time, stay curious!
The Skinny Pig Team x