Bespoke Alcove Furniture: Adding Colour and Style in 2025

In 2025, interior design continues to embrace bold colours and clever space-saving solutions, with alcove shelving taking centre stage. Bespoke alcove storage not only provides an elegant way to organise and display your belongings but, when combined with on-trend colours, it can completely transform a room.

A recent project we completed in Cardiff perfectly demonstrates how bespoke alcove shelving can enhance a space. By customising the shelves to fit the alcove’s unique measurements, we maximised storage while maintaining a sleek, tailored look. The addition of a deep purple hue brought warmth and vibrancy to the room, turning the alcove into a standout feature.

Trending Colours for 2025 Interiors

Purple is making a strong statement in 2025, with rich shades like aubergine and lilac setting the tone for interior trends. This bold colour works beautifully in alcoves, where it can be used as a back panel or as an accent in accessories. Purple pairs effortlessly with soft neutrals, such as greys and whites, allowing the shelving to pop without overpowering the room.

But purple isn’t the only trendy colour to consider for your alcove storage. Other colours making waves in 2025 include:

Muted Greens: These calming shades bring nature indoors and work particularly well in spaces where you want a relaxing vibe.

Terracotta and Burnt Orange: Warm tones create a cosy atmosphere and add depth to any room, especially those with plenty of natural light.

Rich Blues: Timeless and elegant, deep blues like navy can create a striking contrast when paired with light wood finishes.

Tips for Incorporating Colour into Your Alcove Shelving

Contrast with Neutrals: If you choose a bold colour like purple, balance it with neutral tones elsewhere in the room to keep the space from feeling overwhelming. Light grey walls or natural wood finishes complement bright shelving beautifully.
Use Colour to Define Zones: If your alcove shelving is part of a larger, open-plan space, consider using colour to define different areas. For example, a deep purple alcove shelving unit can highlight a reading nook or a dedicated workspace.
Accessorise with Colour: If you’re not ready to commit to bold coloured shelving, use accessories like books, vases, or plants in your chosen hues. This allows for easy updates and seasonal changes.

Bespoke alcove shelving is a fantastic way to enhance your home’s functionality and style. Incorporating trendy colours like purple, muted greens, or rich blues can bring modern elegance and warmth to any room.

Our recent Cardiff project highlights how these designs can maximise storage while making a bold statement.

With thoughtful colour choices, you can create a visually striking and functional space that fits perfectly into the design trends of 2025.

Garden Room, Office, Studio… or All Three?

A garden room is one of the most versatile investments you can make in your home — but if you think it’s just for remote workers, think again. Here are 9 creative, practical, and lifestyle-enhancing uses for a garden room, whether you need calm, creativity, or just more space.

1. Home Office

Ideal for professionals who need peace, power, and reliable WiFi away from household noise. With proper insulation, electrics, and soundproofing, you can make Zoom calls without hearing the dishwasher.

2. Art or Photography Studio

North-facing glass, good ventilation, and wall space? It’s every painter or designer’s dream. Control your light, store your tools, and create without dragging easels across the kitchen.

3. Music Studio or Podcast Booth

With acoustic insulation and a soundproof design, a garden room becomes your personal production zone. We’ve built studios for violinists, vocalists, and YouTubers alike.

4. Home Gym or Yoga Retreat... or Garden Sauna?

A warm, quiet space just for movement and mindfulness. Whether you want room for a treadmill, yoga mat, or even a compact sauna cabin, an insulated garden room becomes your year-round wellness zone — no traffic, no gym fees, just peace.

5. Guest Room or Annexe

Need overflow space for visiting relatives or friends? A garden room with a sofa bed, heating, and lighting becomes a private guest retreat (and no one’s fighting over the bathroom).

6. Hobby or Craft Workshop

Whether you're a woodturner, a model maker, or an Etsy seller, you need room for your tools and materials. Garden rooms are perfect for hobbyists who’ve outgrown the spare bedroom.

7. Teenager Den

Give them their own space to hang out, game, or study — while still keeping them (mostly) close. Bonus: your lounge stays yours.

8. Garden Bar or Man Cave

You don’t need a pub extension. A compact garden room with a bar setup, stools, and ambient lighting gives you a great entertainment space just metres from your back door.

9. Mindful Escape

Sometimes the best use of space is no use at all. A garden room can be a device-free, calm zone — for reading, journaling, or simply watching the rain in silence.

From practical to personal, garden rooms offer flexibility no spare room or conservatory can match. At Carl’s Carpentry, we design each space around how you want to live — and we’ll help you find the size, shape, and features that fit your lifestyle.