The space under your staircase is going to waste unless you have a wizard nephew sleeping there in a cupboard. If you have an awkward under-staircase space in your house, you better put it to good use. An under-the-stairs design is one of the most incredible ways to add functionality to your space and offers food for imagination. It could be a bit challenging but turns out to be overly satisfying.
The space under the staircase can take many shapes, from shelving and closets to bar areas and home offices. This undertaking doesn’t require any heavy demolition or renovation. All you need is careful planning considering your needs, a little furnishing, and finishing. To motivate you, we have compiled a list of the best and most clever ways to utilize the space under the stairs, including ideas for under-stair storage.
Add Drawers for Under-Stair Storage
Utilize under-stair space by integrating drawers and storage racks. Perfectly measured built-in drawers and chests are a great way to make the most of this space without spending much money or time on the project.
You simply need to measure each corner and crevice, build a few drawers (or get a professional to build them). This under-staircase design is largely popular in tiny houses where putting anything else in this awkward space is impracticable.
Also Read: 35 Modular Shelving Designs for Flexible Storage
Create Office Space
It’s possible to reinvent the vacant space under the stairs as an effective office space. It will help you save a lot of space and utilize this design-awkward nook. This works best when you do not have a separate room to put to use as a home office.
The under-stair office will need a few design considerations and furnishings to come together Granted, it won’t be as private as an actual home office, but it gets the job done. Besides, you can use corners as filing cabinets or cubbies for storage underneath stairs.
Under-Stairs Reading Nook
If you think the under-stairs office is not for you, maybe a reading nook under the staircase can be your thing. Imagine getting ensconced in a cozy setup and lost in your favorite written worlds. What more could a reader possibly want?
Just add a comfortable reading chair or built-in bench under the stairs surrounded by books. You can use your handiwork skills or employ professional help to create the perfect reading nook in this underutilized area.
Also Read: Easy Ways to Create an Inviting and Cozy Reading Nook
Make it a Nap Area
The space under the staircase can be utilized to create a cozy sleeping nook perfect for relaxing and taking a nap during the daytime. It will offer the quintessential cocoon required for a quick snooze.
Placing a small bed will do the trick, and you can further add amenities as per your choice. If a bed doesn’t fit the space, you can have a recliner in your below stair design.
Display Your Wines
If you’re a wine enthusiast, creating a wine rack underneath the staircase is one of the more interesting decoration ideas for under the stairs. A perfectly integrated wine rack will put the space under the stairs to good use while allowing you to display your vino selection in style.
When we say display, we really mean it. You don’t have to limit this to a small rack. Instead, go big and have each bottle become a work of art. It will not only reflect your impeccable taste in wine but also work as an under staircase design statement.
Set up a Closet
We all could do with more storage space in our homes. No matter how organized you are, you always seem to have more things than you can store. If you, too, are dealing with such an affliction, consider putting the weird space under the stairs to good use: Embrace the under-stairs cupboard storage ideas.
Turn this area into a closet for unusual or to-go items such as umbrellas, boots, skis, or other seasonal items. Alternatively, it can be turned into a full-fledged closet to hang coats, jackets, and whatnot. No matter how you choose to build the cupboards – pullout or sliding – you can never go wrong with this idea for under-stairs storage.
Also Read: Different Types of Wardrobe Designs for Organized Modern Home
Turn it Into a Playhouse
Since the space is brimming with potential and in need of a makeover, turning it into a playhouse for kids could be a fun under-staircase design undertaking. It could be your time to shine as a creative parent and create an adorable personal space for kids.
The playhouse doesn’t have to be fancy or palatial, it can be one of the best small space under-stairs design ideas for homes with kids. Its simple objective is to provide a space that just belongs to the kids. You can carve out a small door and window into the area under the stairs, add some furnishings, and lights, and let the kids have a playtime of their lives.
Also Read: 50 Beautiful Staircase Designs to Bring Fun & Functionality to Your Home
How About a Guest Bathroom?
If the space under the staircase is considerable enough, you can think of creating a guest bathroom there. This will be the ultimate functional room making the most use of the awkward space. Take stock of the space, call a contractor, and put a guest bathroom under the stairs.
This additional feature will be a godsend in bathroom emergencies and add to the overall value of your house. However, you will need to consider how much space you have and whether it will impact the structural integrity of the staircase.
Add a Kitchenette Under the Staircase
Since this is a space that cannot be put to use in a traditional sense, you can always use it as a design aspect. Adding a kitchenette under the staircase is a smart idea if your layout demands you to be mindful of square footage. Pantry under-stairs ideas let you cleverly conceal appliances and storage and have a functional space.
You can include features like pull-out drawers, a mini-fridge, and a sink to form a hidden and fully functional cooking space. It will save you kitchen space that you can choose to use as an additional bedroom.
Make a Book Wall
Booklovers always find themselves in shortage of bookshelves as their TBRs keep on growing faster than they can read. If you are a bookworm in dire need of more storage space, how about utilizing the space underneath the staircase?
You can easily pull off this small renovation project over a long weekend and have more room to display your proud possessions. All you need are some custom shelves to fit under the staircase.
Also Read: Most Impressive Superhero-Themed Bookshelves for Bookworms
Grow Indoor Garden
Indoor gardening is not a tricky thing to master. Whether you want to grow some of your food or incorporate the biophilic design in your home interior, every home could use some greenery. The under-stairs give you a space advantage to place different plants there.
If you want ornamental greenery, place a few planters on the floor and mount some more on the wall to create a gorgeous indoor garden. If it is an edible one, make sure to install a few grow lights to take care of the plants.
Also Read: Indoor Vertical Garden Ideas, Benefits and Things to Keep in Mind
A Dog House
Unlike cats, dogs love a special place to sleep and sprawl in. If there is no dog house for your furry friend, consider creating one under the stairs. The under-stairs pet house will be a nice and cozy spot and will be out of your way.
You can keep your companion close by while allowing them a designated space they can call home. Just add some plush bedding, a window, and a door to this dog house. Have a look at this impressive under-stair doghouse by a Californian for inspiration.
An Under-Stairs Laundry Room
Not every modern home has a laundry room. If your small house or apartment doesn’t have a separate space to sort out laundry or store essentials, you can renovate the scant staircase area to provide a designated setup for laundry.
You can place a washing machine, install a water source and drainage under the staircase to make way for an organized laundry area. Some shelves will be a good addition to store clothes and other required materials.
Make Room for an Aquarium
Installing a glass tank with colorful fish species is a decorative and fun way to uplift the vacant scape. If you like fish, the empty space under the stairs is an ideal location to install an aquarium. It will add life to a boring area of the house.
Also Read: 27 Unique Aquarium Designs to Freshen Up Your Home Interior
Your Coffee Corner
If you love coffee, consider creating a coffee nook under the stairs. Just install some shelves and counter space to put your coffee machine. You can also add chairs and a coffee table to complete the nook.
Make it a Food Bar
A food bar under the stairs is a brilliant way to utilize the oft-neglected space. You can add in a countertop with a few under-counter cabinets, an optional microwave, shelves, and lots of snacks. This feature not only has functional benefits but looks aesthetic as well.
Under-Stairs Media Center
The space under the stairs can be used to create a media center complete with tv cabinet design under the staircase. You just need to place a console table and then your multimedia units to enjoy the videos and music. If done smartly, this area of your home will be the next hot spot everyone will be hovering around.
Indoor Bike Rack
If nothing else fits your bill, you can have an indoor bike rack underneath the staircase. You can install a few hooks to hang up the bikes. It will free up valuable storage space in your home for other things. This will also add a nice industrial décor element to your space.
Also Read: 35+ Indoor Bike Storage Ideas for Small Spaces
Make it a Wet Bar
A bar design under the staircase makes sense, considering it is an awkward space where nothing much can be done in most cases. But if you are a liquor enthusiast and love hosting parties, you should consider installing a wet bar underneath the staircase. All you need is a countertop with a mini fridge, a few shelves to display your oldest whiskies and malts, and glasses.
Turn it Into a Bedroom
You are not 10-year-old Harry Potter who could fit in his bedroom which was a cupboard under the staircase. But that doesn’t mean the space lacks any potential of becoming a bedroom. It can be a room for your kids or for you to take a respite from the world. Just add a platform bed, a few details, lights, and furnishings, and this under-stairs bedroom will be ready as your haven.
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