An alcove is a small recessed space built into a wall or set back from a larger room. Picture a cozy nook in a library where bookshelves wrap around a window seat, or a small dining area that tucks into the wall of a kitchen. Alcoves create little spaces within spaces.

Architects design alcoves to make rooms more interesting and useful. A bedroom might have an alcove perfect for a desk and bookshelf, giving you a natural study area. Old houses sometimes have alcoves beside fireplaces where people once stored firewood. Modern apartments might feature an alcove off the living room that becomes a home office or reading corner.

When you find an alcove in a building, you've discovered a spot that feels both part of the room and separate from it, like a quiet refuge within a busier space. Museums often display special sculptures or vases in alcoves, using that sense of separation to draw your eye to something worth noticing.