Box room ideas from Grand Designs Live 2020

Looking for inspiration for your compact spare room? Top interior designers share their box clever ideas

By Hugh Metcalf | 25 February 2020

Take a look at how the finalists for The Great British Box Room competition at Grand Designs Live London will bring life to their spare room schemes.

Image: Cuckooland

As part of the London 2020 show, Grand Designs Live asked the UK’s best interior design talent to answer the brief of the Great British Box Room for a chance to feature at the show.

The resulting entries consisted of diverse, creative and clever concepts to transform the smallest rooms in our homes that are often left unused, forgotten or as a dumping ground.

Grand Designs Live has now chosen its finalists – take a look below to find out who they are and what they’re planning to do with their box room schemes.

House of Kin – reading room

Image: Anna Barber

Anna Barber of House Of Kin is looking to create a compact home library for adults and children to spend time together. A pull out bed and handy storage make for a functional space, while the designer will make the most use of the room’s small footprint with a miniature mezzanine level for the kids.

Take a look at how the finalists for The Great British Box Room competition at Grand Designs Live London will bring life to their spare room schemes.

small office space with desk - grand designs

Image: Cuckooland

As part of the London 2020 show, Grand Designs Live asked the UK’s best interior design talent to answer the brief of the Great British Box Room for a chance to feature at the show.

The resulting entries consisted of diverse, creative and clever concepts to transform the smallest rooms in our homes that are often left unused, forgotten or as a dumping ground.

Grand Designs Live has now chosen its finalists – take a look below to find out who they are and what they’re planning to do with their box room schemes.

House of Kin – reading room

Grand Designs Great British Box Room Anna Barber Moodboard

Image: Anna Barber

Penny Ann Interiors – creative music room

A creative space to store and enjoy a vast music collection, Penny Johnson of Penny Ann Interiors’ box room has been inspired by the 1965 ‘British Invasion’ of British rock and pop music to America. This fun design features quirky touches and music memorabilia for the perfect escape for music lovers.

Comfort Being Ltd – relaxing wardrobe

The Great British Box Room Moodboard by Chetna Balla for grand designs live

Image: Chetna Balla

Not only does Chetna Balla of Comfort Being Ltd‘s room build in useful clothes storage, it’s also an inviting and stylish space that makes for a perfect escape to relax, with blue tones and plush textures used to create a relaxed ambience.

EDECO – dual purpose bedroom

edward humphrey davies great british box room sketch for grand designs live

Image: Edward Humphrey-Davies

Edward Humphrey-Davies of EDECO’s room makes use of fold-away furniture to create a multi-purpose space. A wall bed offers space for housing an extra guest, while a compact desk and chair ensures the room can be used as an occasional office too. The designer will use wall coverings and textures to help zone this small space for its multiple functions.

Art Textiles Design for Interiors – exercise haven

Madeleine Tapp Great British Box Room Moodboard for grand designs live

Moodboard: Madeleine Tapp

Madeleine Tapp of Art Textiles Design for Interiors has taken inspiration from British buildings for design features in her box room. Thhe space has been designed with exercise equipment, and as a chillout zone, with many sustainable and upcycled elements within it.

Oosh Design Co. – inspiring home office

The Great British Box Room Amy Arnold Moodboard

Moodboard: Amy Arnold

Designed around the mantra ‘dream big in small spaces’, this serene home office created by Amy Arnold of Oosh Design Co. inspires creativity not only for the working week, but also the weekend’s imaginative projects. Soft, natural materials help to add an undercurrent of calm and tranquility.