For more than a decade we’ve embraced the renovating mantra “the middle makes no sense.” In short: don’t stress when your home is mid-reno, unfinished, or in a holding pattern. Try things, live with them, see what you use and love, and adjust as you go. Forget the expectation of an instant, perfect finished home — it usually takes years. Let spaces evolve to suit your family and eventually you’ll end up with something both beautiful and useful.
This awkward bedroom corner is a perfect example of that approach — it went through a lot of strange phases before finding its footing.
If you’re curious about other floating-shelf projects, this post includes several DIY shelving ideas for small spaces and practical storage solutions. But back to this corner: it’s come a long way since we moved in three years ago.
Right after we moved in the arrangement was essentially “working with what you have.” We once considered building a closet there, and even rendered plans, but ultimately installed a larger closet system elsewhere. That decision is a great example of living with an idea and course-correcting when things change.
To orient you: the left side of that photo is the wall with the bedroom fireplace. The corner is tricky for two reasons: the walls don’t meet at a right angle (it’s a pronounced acute angle) and it’s visible from our kitchen and sitting area. Because guests could see straight into the bedroom, we avoided making the view overtly bedroom-like and tried to camouflage it.
We even once considered converting the spot into a second bathroom, which led us to hold off on a permanent solution. That plan has become less likely over time, which freed us to think about a long-term — but reversible — solution for the corner that would look good from the main living area and add functional storage.
For a while the corner looked like a random dresser next to our built-ins, which didn’t make a whole lot of sense in the context of the room.
We lived with that arrangement for about a year. As the likelihood of a future bathroom decreased, we began planning something more permanent for the current moment: a solution that was attractive from the kitchen, provided concealed storage, and added open shelving for display.
The final update has three main elements:
- We extended the Ikea Besta cabinets to be truly wall-to-wall.
- We built them in with trim and butcher-block countertops to achieve a custom look.
- We added three long Ikea Lack floating shelves above the cabinets.
We briefly considered a more elaborate built-in hutch, but ultimately the clean, modern look felt right and flexible enough to serve us long-term.
We were lucky that Ikea’s Besta sizes fit this awkward wall. Because the angled corner pinches in, it felt like a small miracle to add three cabinets and roughly 70 inches of extra storage. We used the same steps as before to make the Besta units look built-in: add baseboard, fill gaps, and top them with butcher block.
Extending the counter into the pinched corner immediately made the space feel less “off.” The end cabinet still opens wide enough for easy access, and the cabinet nearest the former dresser now stores everything that used to live in it — meaning we effectively gained two full cabinet equivalents plus vertical storage from the shelves.
For the shelves, we bought three 72″ Lack shelves and experimented with placement using taped mock-ups and photos. Three shelves filled the space without feeling cramped and provided room for books, plants, art, and the objects we enjoy seeing daily.
When installing load-bearing shelves like these, it’s best to hit studs where possible. For spots without studs, reliable drywall anchors are essential — we used 75 lb EZAncor anchors for the sections that couldn’t reach studs and have had no issues.
Our goals were straightforward: more concealed storage, attractive display space, and a view from the doorway that doesn’t scream “bedroom.” The new arrangement checks all those boxes, adds plenty of function, and is easily reversible if we ever change our minds.
For practicality: the bottom two shelves are easily reachable and we have ways to access the top shelf (long arms, chairs, or a step stool). The update also improved the sightline from our kitchen and sitting area — it reads like a cozy library or shared space rather than an obvious bedroom view.
Below are before-and-after photos that show how much more cohesive and functional the corner feels now. We gained two Besta cabinets and three shelves of vertical storage, and the whole installation feels intentional yet not permanent — which is exactly what we wanted.
Six months later, the corner continues to evolve. I’ve leaned into a pastel, iridescent “mermaid-core” vibe on the shelves, mixing handmade pieces, pottery, art, and some family-made items. The shelves now showcase crystals, pottery, and colorful objects that bring daily joy.
The shelves now sit harmoniously with the rest of the room, balancing scale and height with the fireplace mirror and nearby bookshelves. From the sitting area the view feels intentional, colorful, and welcoming — like a small library or family nook rather than an exposed bedroom.
It’s satisfying to see this corner finally resolved after nearly three years. The update made the space easier on the eyes and far more functional. Best of all, the changes are affordable and reversible, so if our needs shift again, we can adapt without regret.
More Floating Shelving Projects
If you want additional floating-shelf ideas and tutorials, check out these projects for inspiration: DIY non-chunky floating shelves in a bonus room, floating wood shelves on a kitchen backsplash, faux floating shelves in an office nook, floating storage shelves for a laundry closet, and simple floating closet shelves for a child’s room.
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