The Best Go-To Living Room Corner Ideas to Fill the Void!

Inspiring ideas for what to do with those empty corners in the living room! Say goodbye to those awkward spaces and learn to complete the look of the room with these six space-saving ideas.

We’ve all had it happen to us at one time or another.  We finally get a room furnished and think it’s “done” and then it happens…that lonely and empty corner catches our eye and suddenly, looks as if it needs to be filled! 

It always seems that once a room is furnished, it’s the empty spaces that grab our attention. 

Sometimes empty corners are necessary to give our eyes a break and keep the room from feeling too crowded, but other times, they just feel…well…empty.  Even if you don’t have room to fill the corner with a large piece of furniture, there are still ways to decorate it on a smaller scale so that it looks complete, but without taking up too much space. 

I love tackling those hard-to-decorate spaces, like behind the couch, above the bed, above the fireplace and talls walls. So coming up with some living room corner decor ideas was right up my alley!

So let’s talk about how to turn those blank spaces into captivating nooks you won’t want to ignore. I’ve rounded up the 10 best easy living room corner ideas to share with you today!

Assess Your Space

Understand the Potential

Before you dive into decorating, take a moment to truly assess the space. Consider factors like lighting, traffic flow, and the overall style of your living room. This will help you make informed decisions about how to best utilize the corner in a way that complements our living room layout.

The Importance of Scale

Understanding the scale of the corner is key. Is it a small, cozy nook or a larger, more expansive space? Knowing the dimensions will guide your choice of furniture, decor, and layout.

Creative Corner Decoration Ideas

Here are 6 small-scale ideas to decorate an empty corner to make it feel more connected to the rest of the room.

1. Plants – Faux or Real

A tall indoor plant is an easy way to fill the void while adding a great organic shape to a room!

I chose a faux fiddle leaf fig for the corner of my living room because the space didn’t quite get enough light to keep a real one alive. (Yes, I learned that the hard way.)

I have a smaller faux olive tree in the corner of my dining room that I adore! It comes with a weighted plastic base, which I just drop into either a bucket or basket and cover with moss.

Alternatively, a grouping of smaller houseplants fills the void equally well. I get asked where to purchase these particular planters quite often and I don’t know where these specific ones are from, but you can find similar ones from West Elm here.

If you’re lacking a green thumb or your corner doesn’t get enough light for most plants, I’ve rounded up some of my Favorite Faux Plants for you! I’ve also created a guide to show you exactly How to Secure Fake Plants to Look Real!

2. Decorative Ladders

Another easy, but often more rustic looking idea is to prop a ladder in the corner.  It adds height and texture but doesn’t have a lot of visual weight and so fills the space without overpowering it. It’s also quite functional for storage of blankets, books, quilts, etc.

Here’s a look at the old orchard ladder I have in my family room corner.  I often use it to hold a small selection of grain sacks but I do dress it up a bit for the holidays.

If you have a little more space, you can open up the ladder and use the rungs as display shelves.

I swapped out my real ladder for a decorative one not too long ago. It serves the same purpose but is slightly less-rustic looking than my old one.

3. Shelves

Corner wall shelving is a great solution for adding extra storage and/or display space to a room.  You can piles your shelves with books, artwork, greenery, or even a collection of your favorite things!

Tip: If you want to minimize the look of it and keep it from adding too much visual weight, consider painting the shelving the same color as the wall, as shown below.

You can create more of a statement with your shelving by using a contrasting color and/or staggering the bookshelves for a more eclectic look.

Alternatively, you could add a floor to ceiling bookcase to your corner for some extra storage space. Keep in mind that the scale of a bookcase will be heavier-looking than open shelving.

4. Chair or Reading Nook

If you have the space, a cozy reading nook always looks great tucked away in the corner, but if not, even just a small side chair can help fill the void!

A hanging chair is another great option because it allows for a bit of fun and whimsy, but keeps the floor space open which helps to give a more open feeling to the corner in general.

Another option is to pile up some large floor cushions or pillows in the corner for extra seating! They fill the empty void but are ready for use when guests arrive!

5. Art

Art is a great option for filling an empty corner because it adds a lot of visual interest and provides a focal point, but without taking up any floor space.  Below, a picture rail has been used to create a gallery wall full of character and charm!

These vertical frames continue the linear look of the space but help to visually break it up a bit.

And who says that art has to actually hang on the wall?  Here, it has been simply leaned and layered against the wall for a casual look.

Another alternative is to use an art easel to display a single, large piece of art. I love this easel from Ballard Designs that is available in either brass or bronze.

6. Small Table

The beauty of using a small table in a corner is that it could serve a practical purpose, or be purely pretty!

Below, a small side table is used to hold a grouping of objects {known as a vignette}. This is a great way to add character to an otherwise, unused space. 

This antique sewing table is filling this empty corner nicely. A small console table or desk would work equally well.

7. Bar Cart

A bar cart is a practical way to fill the empty corner of your living room! It’s tucked out of the way but ready to use at a moment’s notice. You can of course use a bar cart for its intended purpose, holding a variety of alcohol and pretty glasses. But you can also use it for simple storage, a place for a pretty vase of flowers, or even a collection of picture frames. We don’t really drink so I’d be more inclined to use a bart cart as a coffee station!

I love this bar cart from Pottery Barn!

8. Large Floor Lamp

If you opt to fill your corner space with a floor lamp, make sure to choose one that makes a statement! Otherwise, it’ll just disappear into the corner…whomp whomp…

Tip: Make sure your lamp isn’t too far from your sofa or chair. You want the lamp to feel connected to the other furnishings in the room, not look like it’s in time out!

9. Desk Space

Don’t waste even an inch of space! With many people working from home these days, it’s nice to have a dedicated desk. Even if you don’t have a home office, you can still take advantage of an empty corner with a small corner desk.

10. Corner Cabinets

Corner cabinets are great because they add height while offering functional storage! This one from Crate & Barrel has the fluted details that are so trendy right now and open shelving on the top makes it not look too heavy.

There are lots of other options that you can consider for your empty living room corner – sectional sofas, sculptures, dress forms, corner cabinets, large mirrors – but whatever you choose, just make sure that it coordinates with the rest of your decor so that it doesn’t look like an afterthought, even if it was!

More Hard-to-Decorate Spaces

• 28 Creative Ideas for Decorating Tall Walls
• 10 Stylish Ideas for What to Put Behind a Couch
• The 28 {Best} Ideas for Decorating Above the Bed
• Learn How to Decorate a Mantel in 3 Simple Steps