Love these ten clever under-stair design solutions. It does not have to be a waste of space or a closet.
A sloped ceiling, low-head height, and limited access to sunlight might mean some design restrictions, but that doesn’t mean that the area under a staircase is doomed to be a completely unusable space in your home.
In most multi-level residences, the space under stairs can create some unusual, awkwardly shaped spaces that can be difficult to program. Between its low-head height, sloped ceiling, and small square footage, it can be difficult to make this space useful Fortunately, several designers have come up with creative solutions to render this difficult spot under staircases as viable square footage in even the smallest of homes, where every inch counts. Take a look at some of the ways homeowners, architects, and interior designers have approached this challenging area of the home and turned it into a place of beauty and even respite.
1) A Child’s Bright Workspace
This space was designed for a younger student under the stairs and managed to make space feel like anything but an afterthought.
2) A Hidden Bar Cart on Wheels
A mobile bar cart with room for kitchen storage is not the most traditional under-stair solution, but it’s proven to be critical in the design of this kitchen and living space. Its plywood construction, black knobs, and bright red casters mean that this design is meant to be noticed rather than be ignored.
3) A Wood-Clad Office Nook
Here is a rustic but modern office nook under the new stairs leading to a second floor. By outfitting the walls of the office in knotty pine, space contrasts with the surrounding white walls and becomes a design feature rather than a forgotten space.
4) Elegantly Detailed Custom Cabinets
Subtle details on bright white cabinets keep this space under the stairs from feeling anything but dark and dreary, despite the dark wood treads and risers and black iron handrail. Thoughtful details, like simple, geometric hardware and hidden hinges, keep this often-awkward space useful and appealing.
5) Living Room Overflow Space
The space under this open-riser metal stair has been allocated as overflow storage and seating for the living room. Although it may initially seem like an unusable area, the height of the stair means that space is, in fact, usable by someone seated or reaching for items in the storage cabinet along the back wall. By carefully placing the chairs, the space appears useful but not cluttered.
6) Space-Saving Kitchen Storage
In this 240-square-foot apartment with a sleeping loft over the kitchen, the architect didn’t waste a single inch by locating kitchen cabinets and open shelving on the underside of the staircase that leads up to the lofted bed. The angle of the steps was incorporated into the shelves, which accommodates items like a single paper towel roll or small mugs under the lower steps, then graduating to larger sliding cabinets under the higher steps.
7) Statement Storage and Office Space
In the family room of this former industrial loft, a new staircase leads to a mezzanine level. The alternating tread steps double as cabinets that are free of knobs and visible hardware, creating a graphic statement piece in the room. The cabinets give way to a workspace that’s complete with open and closed shelving so that the space can remain uncluttered.
8) A Space For an Elegant Vignette
In homes that aren’t short on square footage, the space under a staircase can be the perfect spot to create a beautiful ensemble of items like a grouping of your favorite vases or a special piece of furniture. The space under a stairway was made visually, if not programmatically, useful by locating a glass table and vase with simple lines to create a subtle, minimalist vignette
This space was designed for a younger student under the stairs and managed to make space feel like anything but an afterthought.
