This Dark, Overlooked Alcove Became My Favorite Spot to Work — For About $100
Sometimes there are corners of the house that just become forgotten. That was the case in my house with this bedroom alcove. It never got used for anything, but it did have one shelf where papers and books piled up on their way to someplace else. The alcove had the bones of being an interesting architectural feature, but it just wasn’t.
When the bedroom came due for a refresh, I decided to maximize the space by making it a small desk area. The key to this dark little niche having charm and character was playing up the arch and making it feel a bit sunnier.
I added beadboard paneling.
I cozied up the alcove by adding texture with beadboard paneling from The Home Depot on both sides of the shelf-turned-desk. I decided to cut and install beadboard from floor to ceiling to give the space height surrounding the window, and left it its white color, as purchased.
I applied it using adhesive in a zigzag pattern on the back of the panels and then placed it on the walls and secured it with finishing nails. The space was fast and easy to complete due to the small size of the alcove, and the beadboard, adhesive, and finishing nails all cost about $100.
I made some paint upgrades (to the whole space!)
I painted the window, ledge, and radiator cover below the desktop in a creamy white semi-gloss paint to match the beadboard.
I also got rid of the outdated floral border (the number-one thing I wanted gone) just below the ceiling, and the other major thing I wanted to address was the dark green paint on the walls. The entire room got a new color in a soothing lighter shade of green with Sherwin-Williams’ Fresh Eucalyptus.
The different color scheme for the walls versus alcove helps to make the alcove feel a bit more special — and bright. Whereas before, the window in the alcove was always blocked with a shelf piled high with books inside dark walls, the room now fully makes smart use of all five of its windows.
I shopped my own home to style the corner.
My best advice to anyone tackling a home project is to look around the house and see what you have that you can repurpose from another room before you head out to find something new or start scrolling a website.
There is an outlet that has never been used for anything in this corner, so it worked perfectly to add a lamp to the desk. I also borrowed a rattan accent chair from another room that fits snugly under the desk. I treated it with lemon oil, and now I have a solid desk chair that’s pretty comfortable, too.
It’s the perfect spot for checking my calendar and going over my to-do list.
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