alcove-how to create space?

tammy_3

Hi

In my small flat i dont have a storage cupboard but whati do have is an alcove which means (and im only putting in an explanation as i only recenetly found out it was called an alcove so im being posh by using the right words!).....an alcove is a space created between two walls or where the structure of the building has created a small space area......so hence i have been throwing all my junk into that space however i wanted to neaten it up by

idea 1: which now come to think of is too much hard work and that was to put up doors so the space can become a cupboard but then my bro said well u cant just stick on doors u have to put in a frame first! and being a little lady i jsut cant do all that...so this idea is redudant
idea 2: put up shelves in there and then cover the area up with loose curtains, i think this will look nice, or do u think it may look tacky?
idea 3; a friend suggested i jsut stick an old cupboard into the space and cover it with curtains?

what do u all think and also where would be the most cost effective place to buy these materials bearing in mind i want to sell this place. I wanted to create a storage cupboard for my own needs to help declutter the place and also as it would be a good selling point for buyers......i always look at storage space when i view houses.

thanks

itgirlinuk

I was thinking of the same thing. I was going to put in some shelves - just nail few wooden boards into the side of the wall and put a sliding door up.

Do I need a door frame for this too??? God, I am so bad at DIY.

Somebody help US please.

BWZN93

Id personally go with shelves - but instead of leaving it all plain, paint all the shelves and alcove in a pretty colour, so it looks like a purpose built recessed book case. You can get those shelves that dont look like they have brackets as they are fixed to the wall and then the shelf slots onto them.

Also, If you have a lot of books, I read in my mag the other week, a way to make books look nice, put them in colour order instead of size etc, so it looks like a rainbow. It looked really pretty in the mag! At the bottom, you could get loads of those pretty boxes, and paint them too, for all little bits of stuff. I can see it my head now and it looks good!

Jo xx

tammy_3

thanks.........do you think chipboard wood will do...someone chucked out the cupboard and i could use the shelves....however my brotherinlaw says the shelves are too big to use with standard brackets and cant find brackets for that size of shelf, they want me to down size but to be honest the width of the old cupboard soon to be shelf is perfect as it covers most of the alcove and hence alot of space created!.........what do the experts think?

tammy_3

pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee help

jane130

when i needed to put shelves in an alcove I just got some wooden batons and scrfewed them into all three sides of the alcove where i wanted the shelves to be and them rested the shelve on top . It looked ok and worked fone until I took them down to put the baby's cot there .

BWZN93

I always find chipboard wood to be a bit of a let down, and doesnt look so nice. If you have a B&Q or an Ikea locally, as far as I am aware, they sell shelves and brackets individually for very cheap. Last time I needed a custom sized shelf for the inside of my kitchen cabinet, I got a piece of shelf wood from ikea, and the wood brackets that match, for around £5. They also do prepacked shelves with brackets - they might fit - just make sure you take the measurements along!

lush_walrus

I personally would use it for a desk area or something like that

trace-j

Depends on the size of the alcove and what you want to use to store. My sister at home as a small storage chest in the bottom and converted the rest of the space into a wardrobe. Put up a rail and hang a nice piece of silk netting across the front. If you're like me and cant sew for toffee, a curtain wire kit can be used to convert a piece of material into curtains with no sewing.

MOH in his previous house used the alcove for complete storage of his clothes. Installed two rails one above the other and then hung those canvas storage things from them to put small items in.
Ikea was a good place to get it all from. There are also many good ideas for workstations/offices in a confined space.

newfunk

To do this isnt a difficult job, if you have someone with a hammer drill and some wall plugs and screws! measure the alcove and work out what wood you would need for a frame! You will need 2 uprights and 2 pieces to go across the width of the opening! They can be screwed to the wall and some cheap doors from B&Q fitted in the frame!
Alternatively, why not fix shelvesin the alcove, and then if space is available, do as i described above, but only make a small cupboard with shelves above! If you were anywhere near me I could do it for you!!!

tammy_3

thanks for all ur idea......i think what i am going to TRY and do is putup shelves........howeverwould it be better to put up the shelves first and then a door/door frame or a doorframe first and then shelves??????????? as u can see im not a knowledgable diyer......