Since 2024, homeowners have increasingly adopted the nook as a defining design element—a private haven within living spaces where daily routines pause. Originally gaining traction in kitchen layouts, these intimate corners transformed open dining areas into serene retreats, ideal for morning coffee or evening relaxation. The trend now extends to bathrooms and bedrooms, offering tailored escapes amid larger open-plan homes.
What makes nooks special in home design is that they can turn awkward architectural areas or underused space into chic, comforting features. A dedicated reading nook, for example, will make the experience more enjoyable for bookworms. Bespoke banquette seating and soft furnishings can create the ultimate spot for socialising in a kitchen alcove.
Nooks in Home Design
Eliza Davey, senior interior designer at De Rosee Sa, notes that they’re seeing more interest in nooks and smaller, cocooning spaces within the home. “There’s something very appealing about creating a space with a specific purpose, somewhere to read, sit, sleep or simply retreat, particularly within larger or more open-plan rooms,” she says.
De Rosee Sa designed a canopied bed with integrated bookshelves in the Deco Apartment’s daughter’s bedroom. This design feels cosy and enclosed, but is also practical, with everything close at hand. The combination of comfort, character, and clever use of space is a big part of why nooks are appearing more and more in interiors.
Transforming Alcoves and Crannies
If you’ve got alcoves, nooks, and crannies within your home design, you can transform them into practical and aesthetically pleasing features. Fabrics like chunky curtains, grand sink skirts, and sophisticated trims can add intrigue and warmth to your home design.
An unexpected colour for the Autumn and Winter 2026 season is cool blue, which feels effortlessly contemporary and pairs beautifully with plaster tones, sumptuous browns, and rich burgundies. Characterful metallics, from lighting to brassware, adorned with decorative detailing, can also add to the ambience.
A dining nook, like one with an upholstered L-shaped banquette, layered dark woods, and a moody colour palette, can create an intimate, restaurant-inspired ambience at home. Cool blue can be used as a dominant colour in bedroom design, creating a soft and calming atmosphere.
