If you are one of the fortunate few who has a staircase with storage space underneath then get ready for some clever uses for all of that space. Author J.K. Rowling made this space popular when she decided to have the Dursley’s build Harry Potter’s room under the stairs. Harry may not have enjoyed living under the stairs, but that shouldn’t stop you from using some of these ingenious ideas for your own home.
Have you ever dreamed of having a tiny library or a wine cellar? These are just some of the many things you can do with this space. It all depends on the size and shape of your staircase when it comes to deciding how to make the best use of this space. You can shell out the big bucks for an interior designer to tell you what to do, or you can get creative. Choose from one of the many ideas below, and make that space under your staircase a focal point in your home. Or simply use it for storage, the sky is the limit here. Just grab some paint, arm yourself with some power tools, and get to work creating your dream space.
The Perfect Pantry
Not all homes come with built-in pantries. This happens for a variety of reasons. It could be that it is an older home, and wasn’t designed with a pantry off of the kitchen. Another reason might be that the square footage of the home simply didn’t allow for enough space for one. Unless you are designing your own home, pantries are not found in every house.
That’s not a problem though if you have a staircase. The space underneath can be hollowed out, and have shelving units installed. Doors to the space can be constructed as well. This will ensure that any children can’t get into the pantry and dip their fingers into any treats inside.
A Hideaway China Cabinet
China is one of those things that needs to be stored properly. China plates, teacups, gravy boats, and tureens all need to be stored in a cool area. As well, china tends to be very fragile, especially if it has been inherited for many generations.
If you don’t want to store your china in a traditional china cabinet, then consider using the space under your stairs. You can create sliding shelves that slide in and out of the space. Typically, you can fit about two to three sliding shelves, which makes for excellent storage. None of the china will ever be jostled or broken if stored in this manner.
A Pet Feeding Station
If you don’t need a pet kennel, then consider creating a feeding station for your dog or cat. Most pet owners feed their pets at specific times each day. You don’t want your pets to overeat, which means food bowls should be tucked away when feeding is finished.
This slide out pet bowl drawer is perfect for the pet owner that wants an easy clean-up. There’s even space for a dog or cat bed on top of it.
The Slide Out Pantry
While it is easy to create a pantry with doors, a slide out pantry may be a good option as well. Like the slide out china shelving, the pantry shelving can be designed to hold different foodstuffs of varying heights.
Condiments tend to be a similar height. Carefully measure the height of the shelves in each slide out portion, you will want to make sure everything fits properly. There is nothing more annoying than building something, only to find out it doesn’t fit.
A Garden Oasis
The space underneath a staircase doesn’t always need to be closed off. Have you ever dreamed of having a small indoor garden? This is the perfect space to plant a garden with some plants that flourish in shaded areas.
A few spider plants, a ficus, and some cacti make for a very zen garden nook. The best part is they also don’t need a lot of water. You may want to include a UV light, to keep the plants happy if there is no natural sunlight.
A Reading Nook
Open concept homes usually have a floating type of staircase. That makes it easy to build a reading nook underneath it. You will need to measure the dimensions of the area, and choose a suitable wooden panelling that matches the decor of your home.
From there, you can get cushions made in a fabric of your choice, and install some light fixtures to use as reading lights. This is the perfect space to lounge in with a good book on a cold day.
A Lounge Cubby
You don’t need a lot of space under your stairs to make a small little cubby to sit in. This can be an area for small children to take naps, or for the family to sit on while they put their shoes on.
The trick is to build a platform that will hold a cushion. Then add a small piece of art, or a light to make the space inviting. Guests to your home will love to see how you have used this space under your stairs.
A Work From Home Unit
2020 saw many people start working from home, which meant that home office space was at a premium. If you live in a house but don’t have a designated office, then think about utilising the space under your stairs.
It can easily be opened up and a desk with some shelving units added. This will give you the space you need, and some privacy while you go about your important business for the week.
A Small Playroom
Children need lots of room to play. There’s nothing more enjoyable for a toddler, then being able to pick out all of their toys and fling them around their room. If your child doesn’t have a designated playroom, then the space under the stairs is perfect.
You can toddler proof the area, add a baby monitor, and some child-sized furniture. Then your toddler can play to his or her heart’s content without damaging any furniture in the house.
A First Floor Wine Cellar
Traditionally, wine cellars are built underground. Wine needs to be stored in a cool dry place in order to stay fresh and avoid corking. A lot of homes don’t have the space for a dedicated wine cellar though.
That’s why the space under the stairs is perfect. You can easily fit anywhere from 50 to 100 bottles in a built-in wine rack. On top of that, you might even have space to store hard alcohol like gin, vodka, and rum should you decide to make cocktails.
Welcome To The Staircase Bar
While most of us aren’t going out much these days, that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy a nice cocktail every once in a while. A bar cart can be used in a living room, but why stop at just a bar cart when you can have a whole bar.
The triangular space under your stairs can fit a couple of mini fridges, and some shelves to store alcohol on. If you install a countertop, you can mix your guests drinks when they stroll over to give you their orders.
Climate Controlled Wine Cellar
For some people, wine is their passion. They collect vintages from all over the world, and pay hundreds of dollars for some of the rarest wines in the world. These types of wines need to be stored in a climate controlled room.
That means the room is sealed, and kept at a steady temperature and humidity level. Add a fancier custom built wine cellar under your stairs, and use windows so that you can gaze at your fine wines.
A Pet Kennel
Pets like dogs and cats are treasured family members in their own right. But sometimes dogs and cats can get up to no good, when their owners head out for the day. Some owners choose to keep their pets in kennels, and if you are one of those then take a look at the space under your stairs.
You can easily hollow the space out, and add a panelled door to keep your pet inside. They will be perfectly comfortable as long as they have food, water, and their favorite toy.
A Hidden Bar
Large houses often come with more than one fridge these days. There will be the main fridge in the kitchen, followed by a smaller one in a basement or out in a pool house. If you find that you don’t have enough fridges, and want one especially for alcohol then consider the space under the stairs once more.
A small refrigerator can easily be installed, and hidden behind wooden panelling that matches the staircase. Only you and your guests will know about your hidden bar, and you can also add a lock to the door to keep teenagers out of the good stuff.
Small Appliance Storage
Kitchen counter space is always at a premium. If you’re preparing a meal, then you will need all of the space you can get. There has to be room for chopping up vegetables, letting a dessert cool off, and more space to simply spread out everything you need for the meal.
That means there is not a lot of room for small appliances, like a toaster, microwave and coffee maker. Luckily, the space under the stairs can easily be used to store small appliances, and other odds and ends in. All you need to do is install shelves, a few drawers, and you’ve created a new cupboard.
A Dog House
Whoever said that dog houses need to be outside, did not know this pet owner. They decided that their dog needed a room of its own within the house. The space under the stairs was perfect, because a dog can go in there when it needs to be alone.
Nobody will bother it, as it is its designated space. This is great for family pets, who sometimes need to get away from children trying to play with it.
A Linen Cupboard
Within any home, storage space is always at a premium. If there is no designated linen closet, for all of your bedsheets, pillowcases, towels, and so forth then it can be difficult to find a place to store them.
Luckily, it is very easy to install multiple drawers underneath a staircase. This is the perfect place to store your linens, and pull them out whenever it is time to do laundry and change the sheets.
A Green Space
Indoor gardens are great, but if you don’t want to install one then creating a green space with potted plants is the next best thing. This only works for staircases that are next to a window, as the plants will need to receive direct sunlight in order to grow.
Build some staggered shelves, and place the plants at different intervals, for a bohemian green space. Guests will love this living wall, and all of the extra oxygen released by the plants will leave the home feeling fresh.
A Library
Old English estates always feature massive libraries with wall upon wall of books. This tradition has not carried on into the modern world. That’s largely due to the world going virtual, and most people preferring to read ebooks on their phones and tablets.
However, for the old soul who still enjoys reading paper books, consider installing a small library under your staircase. You can add a couple of reading chairs as well.
A Stairway Of Books
If you don’t want a full on library under your stairs, then you can simply use the space as a large bookshelf. Coffee table books tend to be larger than paperbacks, and need a bookshelf that can accommodate them.
Shelving units that allow books to be placed horizontally is great for this. Plus, it looks different from a traditional vertical bookshelf which adds a stylized element to your already beautiful home. You can also add some different colors of wood, for a more artistic look.
Art Display
For art collectors, finding a unit that shows off all of your pieces can be difficult. You want the pieces to stand out, which means the shelving unit itself cannot be an art piece. The art pieces also need to be at eye level, so that guests can view them when they enter your home.
As a staircase is angled, you can build staggered shelving that shows off each piece to perfection. You can also install small spotlights, if you want to highlight particular pieces.
Simple Storage
Not every idea needs to be clever when it comes to using the space under your stairs. If you want a simple idea, simply add some shelving, and a couple of doors to access it. This is a fairly cheap option, and if someone in your family is handy they can help you with this.
Just ensure no load bearing pieces are removed while you are installing shelves. If they are, this could make the foundation of your home unstable.
A Homeschooling Nook
Some parents decide to homeschool their children. This is a good idea if you want your child to learn a specific curriculum, or if they are advanced and need to take harder classes by correspondence.
A small nook under the stairs, can be used as their classroom. This provides a separation between the bedroom and the school zone, which can be good for psychological development.
A Home Security Post
Some homes have CCTV set up around the perimeter. If you lived in a secluded area this can be a good way to ensure no trespassers are on your property, or no dangerous wildlife is wandering around.
A computer that is equipped with monitoring software needs to be set-up, and under the stairs is a good central location. If something is caught on camera, it’s easy to investigate since you tend to be by the front door.
A Pet Playhouse
Dogs and cats don’t always get along. Sometimes they each need their own areas in the house to get away from each other. This pet owner decided to create a combination pet playhouse for their dog and cat.
There is a small nook for the cat to perch on, and a dog sized entrance at the bottom. When the pets are done playing, they can simply run away. Or the cat can decide to stay on its perch, and wait for the dog to come back.
A Dog Bedroom
Once dogs get to a certain age, they tend to not want to be as active. This owner recognized that their dog was getting older, but wanted it to still feel like it’s a part of the family.
They made a doggy bedroom under the stairs, for their golden labrador. This is a great idea for dog owners, and as you can see, very easy to install.
A Half Bathroom
Newer homes tend to have two to three bathrooms, but if you own an older home you only have bathrooms upstairs. You don’t want guests tramping through a bedroom, or your upstairs hallway every time they need to use a restroom.
If there is a water main on the first level of your home, you may be able to hook a toilet and a sink up to it underneath your stairs. That gives you the perfect half bathroom for whenever guests are over.
Extra Shelves
Architects and builders don’t spend enough time thinking about how to use the space underneath stairs. Due to this, homeowners tend to need to get creative themselves. Simply adding a few shelves, greatly opens up a hallway, and makes it more inviting.
Add some family photos to the space, and you’ve got a nice little family montage on display under the stairs.
A Writing Nook
While it’s pretty uncommon for people to write correspondence or pen novels by hand, having a desk ready for this is important. Even if you are writing a simple thank you note, or responding to a wedding invitation, you will need a surface to write on.
Consider creating a writing nook under your stairs. You can store all of the pens, paper, and paperclips you might need there. Plus, it will look incredibly chic if you use modern wood finishes and glass.
Stairs Made Of Books
It’s not often that you see a staircase that features books, as a key element. This staircase designer decided to make books a part of the staircase from the beginning.
The piles of books underneath the lip of each stair, actually acts to support the stair should anyone accidentally step on the edge of it. This is one of the best uses of the space under a staircase we’ve seen.