alcove

An alcove is a recessed section of a room or a small adjoining space that opens into a larger area. It is created by architectural features such as a partial wall, an arch, a bay window, or built-in cabinetry, and it may be enclosed with screens or curtains. Alcoves can function as intimate seating areas, display niches, or sleeping spaces, and they are often used to organize floor plans without adding full rooms.

The word alcove derives from the French alcôve, ultimately from the Spanish alcoba and the Arabic al-qubbah meaning vault or vaulted chamber. Historically, alcoves appear in many architectural styles, from classical interiors to traditional domestic design, where they help frame views, light, or furniture and provide a sense of enclosure within a larger room.

In interior design, alcoves are commonly used as reading nooks, breakfast corners, or built-in benches and storage. A bed alcove places the sleeping area in a recessed space, sometimes separated by a curtain or a screen, allowing a sense of privacy in a compact footprint. Garden or exterior alcoves, often in terraces or courtyards, offer sheltered seating or viewpoints within landscaped spaces.

Although related to a niche, an alcove generally denotes a larger or more substantial recess that may resemble a partially enclosed room, rather than a shallow decorative recess.