We’ve all been there before, spotting the awkward corner in the room and not knowing where to begin with styling it. Tight, cramped, and limited in space, these areas present a big problem when it comes to decorating. If you find yourself searching for fresh and stylish ways to bring the space to life, the key lies in curation. According to interior designer and content creator Alyssa Anselmo (@alyssaanselmo7), designing around a theme can help make the process easier.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Theme-Based Design Solves Awkward Spaces

Interior designer Alyssa Anselmo demonstrates how designing around a theme can transform challenging corners into purposeful areas.

Strategic Furniture Selection Creates Visual Flow

Using long, narrow furniture like sideboards or DIY alternatives helps elongate tight spaces and makes awkward corners feel more spacious.

Budget-Friendly DIY Solutions

Anselmo created an affordable alternative to expensive sideboards by combining $20 IKEA outdoor shelving units with stained wood boards.

Personal Connection Enhances Design

Adding items with emotional or visual significance, like Anselmo's record player and bold artwork, creates a cohesive and meaningful space.

Intentional Curation Prevents Clutter

Creating a mood board before decorating ensures all elements feel unified and prevents awkward corners from becoming catchalls for random items.

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In her latest TikTok, the designer shows how an awkward corner became a cool space for music and art. Like most people, she had filled the space with a mishmash of items, hoping to create an area that didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Before the transformation, it featured a bold floor lamp, a simple bench holding a record player, and a guitar stand. While the items had a common music theme, they didn’t exactly unify the space.

@alyssaanselmo7

What do we think of the transformation? Finally this corner is feeling a little more me these days. Just scratched a massive itch in my brain gathering the colour and materials that I had from my original concept in my moodboard (if you remember 👀). #interiorinspo #interiordesign #ikeahack Interior design, interior inspo, architecture, ikea, ikea hacks, interior inspiration, interior ideas

♬ original sound – Alyssa Anselmo

The idea of designing around a theme inspired Anselmo to utilize the elements of the corner and turn it into her dream media space. She began by embracing the awkward shape and used the sloped ceiling as a guide. As the video opens, she notes that her first idea was to elongate the space, using larger furniture pieces. She opts for open metal shelves, which become the base of her DIY sideboard, but a console table would work just as well.

Since sideboards and buffets are known for their long and narrow designs, it was the perfect piece to open up the tight corner. However, they can get a bit pricey, costing up to thousands of dollars each. Luckily, Anselmo sought a more creative solution using $20 outdoor shelving units from IKEA and adding stained wood boards on top.

Building the unit was just the beginning. Once it was up and placed in the crook of the corner to elongate the space, it was time to decorate. Making an awkward space feel warm and inviting is all about infusing it with personal elements. In this case, Anselmo leaned into her love of music and bold artwork to give it a distinct feel. She explains that creating a mood board for the space is the best way to ensure you’re sourcing pieces that feel cohesive.

Corners have a tendency to become hubs for unwanted items, so this step is essential. “It’s important to buy items that you feel connected to either visually or emotionally and that speak directly to your sense of style,” she says. To complement her record player, she added a metal stand and several record sheaths. Though they’re on separate shelves, they tie everything together. She then added an art print in an unexpected maroon-colored frame to add a pop of color and a few quirky decor items, such as a candlestick holder, a pastel vase, and art books.