Probably the most famous “under the stairs” transformation is Harry Potter’s bedroom under the stairs. While that solution came from JK Rowling’s imaginative mind, the fact is that plenty of imaginative minds have applied themselves to stairs and come up with a whole range of ways to make better use of what is too often a dead, useless space in a home.
Renovators often put a lot of thought into how to maximise storage in rooms like the kitchen or bedrooms, but miss the hidden potential of this unloved part of the house. It’s time to right that wrong, and take a look at some of the truly inspiring ways to turn your stairs into something practical, appealing – or even both!
1. Cupboard Under the Stairs
If you have a cupboard under your stairs, how about you turn it into a bedroom? Okay, so unless you’re Harry Potter, you’re going to have to be a very short person or like sleeping curled up in a ball to make this idea work!
There’s no doubt, thought, that enclosing the space and putting a door on it is a simple way to gain yourself some extra storage. Just mind your head if you’re trying to reach something hidden away at the low end of the cupboard.
2. Use a Sideboard
If it’s not enclosed, the space under the stairs is a great place to tuck an attractive sideboard or display cabinet. It gives you extra storage, and depending on the style of the cabinet, you can use it for brightening up the space with pictures, ornaments and knick-knacks.
As a sideboard or cabinet is freestanding, you can buy something from a store to suit, rather than needing to have something bespoke designed for you. Plus you can choose a style of cabinet that suits your space. And when you want to change the look of your room, switch around the items on display for a fresh effect.
3. Storage – go crazy!
Rather than end up with a cupboard that is partially inaccessible due to the low height at one end, consider adding some shelves. Another fabulous solution is to only use the high end of the stairs as a cupboard, and build in some drawers at the lower end. This is a great way to store all sorts of things, with everything from drawers big enough to store sports equipment or storage supplies, through to smaller drawers for bags, keys and other household bits and pieces. A much neater option to everything getting thrown on a hall table inside the entrance.
And if you really want to get creative, why not turn the steps themselves into drawers or shelves, taking advantage of the space underneath each tread?
4. Where’s the Wine?
A lot of houses aren’t suitable for a wine cellar, but what about a wine cave under the stairs? Much more convenient than having to traipse down into a cellar, giving you room to store a lot more wine than you can fit onto a simple wine rack. With a door, you could even incorporate some climate control into the space. Depending on the layout of the room, go a step further and have a basic bar set up in front of the wine cave. Very convenient!
5. Doggie Retreat or Cat Kingdom
How about turning under your stairs into a cozy place for your beloved pets to hang out? If necessary you can put a gate or door on the space, making it a secure area for your pets at night or when you’re out of the house. No more cat scratching tree in the middle of your family space – hide it away under the stairs.
A pet space can be as simple as putting your pet’s bed and some toys under the stairs, or you can go all out and design a bespoke retreat for the furry members of the household.
6. Bike Storage
In a smaller home, it can be tricky finding places to store your bikes, and the garden or shed aren’t always secure enough. So take a look at the space under your stairs. With some wall-mounted storage you can still make use of the rest of the cupboard space for other storage. Or, if the space isn’t enclosed, storing your bikes on wall racks can become something of a design feature.
These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing when it comes to making the best use of the space under your stairs. Keep tuned, and we’ll bring you some more great ideas on this blog down the track.