Asked on Dec 07, 2014
What to do with this wasted space
by
Debra Bullis
+16
We have this space that is not accessible unless we pull out the extension ladder. We have our house listed for sale and I would really like to make it at least look good. There is power to the space, but it is not connected.
What would you do?
What would you do?
Area is about 3-4 feet deep and probably 8 - 10 feet long and very tall. What would you do with it?
18 answers
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Is the back or sides accesible from another room? Maybe enclose it and make it a secret room from that other room. Or use the space to decorate seasonally.
Debra
on Dec 07, 2014
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I would put a big vase up there with some faux willow sticks and maybe a couple of decorative glass balls. It would make it look more like a contemporary gallery instead of a dead space.
Jessica C
on Dec 07, 2014
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I have seen spaces similar to yours used to display objects that represent the family or the families style. For example, a globe and some travel books and framed maps for the family who likes to travel...
Shira
on Dec 08, 2014
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Possibly a large decorative plate with you family initial in the center
Patti kelley
on Dec 08, 2014
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I've seen these high alcoves alot. They're perfect for seasonal decor, but the pieces have to be BIG bec they're seen from the floor. Hide 1-2 uplights behind your pieces, Weight your design toward the R (outside) wall to draw the eye toward the outdoors or center a huge dramatic piece on the wall with a few "silk" plants on the shelf part to hide the uplights. My brain is racing with ideas--wish I had this space!
Cyndie S
on Dec 08, 2014
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Since your home is on the market, I would leave it blank. No sense drawing attention to a spot that's hard to decorate. I'd also paint the back wall to match the rest of the walls.
Z
on Dec 09, 2014
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I like to decorate those spaces with a vignette of objects. If you have your house on the market, use something simple and neutral (baskets, a large vase with twigs or a few books with a globe), but nothing that is personal to your family. :-) Don't forget some lighting to accentuate the space.
Carol
on Dec 09, 2014
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As a Licensed REALTOR and owner of a Professional Home Staging company, it would be important to put something there if your home is on the market. I'm not sure if your home is staged or not but the purpose of home staging is to address awkward spaces like this and show the Buyer how they can live in the space. Not knowing how the rest of the home is decorated already makes it hard to say what exactly you should put there or even if you should paint that space. However, everyone's recommendation on putting something substantial and neutral is correct. Most times a nice sculpture or a set of properly sized and placed vases would make a difference.
Stacey
on Dec 09, 2014
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@Debra Bullis I like the idea of vases with some tall bamboo or something like that in them - you can get them at Walmart for a good price. You might also want to put an extra large clock or mirror in the center - good place to shop for them is Homesense and Walmart again - Home sense has a larger size in these types. You could also use a large sized metal scape - these can be spray pained as well, most of mine come from Homesense. If you want to go all out you could make a do it yourself swag - just get a long length of light fabric in a complimentary colour - hang a hook on either side and loop the fabric on both the hooks with a swoop of fabric between the hooks. Do let us know what you do with pics :) Thanks for posing the question.
Gail Salminen
on Dec 09, 2014
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Thanks everyone who responded. Still not sure what we are going to do, but if/when we get it done, I'll post pictures. It is an awkward space and is only accessible with the help of an extension ladder. No access otherwise. I've always thought it would be cool to get some sails and hang up and backlight, but that would be an expensive option. Not that we know anything about sailing, just kinda liked the idea. I just wish it was so hard to get up there. I also would have liked to have built a bridge of sorts from where I took the picture over to it and created a reading space, but that would be extremely expensive. Again, thanks for all of your ideas. - debra
Debra Bullis
on Dec 10, 2014
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I think this would make a great space for a library with a movable ladder to access the books. I don't know if this is in a living room, or which room it is, but everyone needs a place to keep reading material.
Lana Baker
on Dec 10, 2014
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Definitely like the idea of some lighting, having a large vase with branches, maybe a large piece of art. You can't hide it, so accentuate it. Go big. (Daughter had one of these difficult to access spaces but it was over the stairs going to her basement. She bought a bamboo shade to cover the front. Used it to store a ton of things.)
Marion Nesbitt
on Dec 11, 2014
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If there is a room on the other side of this wall, block this up and access from the other side into a fitted wardrobe.
Sharon
on Dec 12, 2014
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What about getting a framed piece of stained glassa
Lori
on Dec 12, 2014
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Sorry, a stained glass piece in a large size similar shape to the opening and hang it by two chains. You might be able to rent something from a staging co. or make your own out of a sheet of glass and a stained glass decal from Home Depot. It is so High up it doesn't need to be perfect or expensive.
Lori
on Dec 12, 2014
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lean a large mirror it will give the illusion the space is larger.
Connie Paiva
on Dec 13, 2014
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I didnt read ALL the posts but what I myself saw there would be the"Live-Laugh-love"in stand alone words or letters...
Buster Evans
on Feb 16, 2015
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Get 3 old window frames to hang as art.
Neal Osborne-Owens
on Aug 25, 2015
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