Put your stairs to good use
The more compact modern homes become, the more important it is to use all the space on offer. Stairs, which are becoming more common with our intensified housing, can take up a significant area and the space beneath ends up under-utilised or ‘‘dead’’.
Aside from a Harry Potterstyle bedroom or broom closet, here are six alternatives for putting to work the space underneath your stairs.
A wine cellar
If you’re a wine connoisseur who lives in a pint-sized abode, treat yourself to a custom storage area for your wine.
Opt for floor-to-ceiling wine racks or, if you’d like to be a little more discreet, tuck them away behind panelled doors.
Make the doors of the alcove look like a playhouse exterior from the outside, with cut out windows.
A home office
Turn your under-stair area into a work space. All you’ll need is your computer, a desk and a chair. Wall-mount your storage for a permanent filing system and don’t forget about adequate lighting.
If your living zone is a hightraffic area, think about adding doors to conceal the area when not in use.
A reading nook
A built-in bench seat or alcove turns a normally barren zone like this into a cosy and inviting spot. Consider opting for bookshelves above and below your reading nook, with a plush, upholstered bench for curling up.
Better still, if the area beneath your stairs is spacious, super-size your reading nook and make it big enough for a sleeping space. It’ll be a hit with the kids.
A play space
Take a leaf out of artist Sacha Lees’ book and make a dedicated play room for your kids beneath the stairs. Approach the interior of the alcove like a playhouse, with wallpaper, knick-knacks, a play oven, and floor cushions.
Make the doors of the alcove look like a playhouse exterior from the outside, with cut out windows, and add curtains on the inside.
Built-in storage
A less fanciful but highly practical use for the space beneath your stairs is, of course, storage. If you own your house, built-in storage can be an investment that enhances the way you live.
Combine uses to get exactly what you need from the zone – for example, linen storage and a built-in TV cabinet, floor-toceiling bookshelves, or a cupboard for sports equipment.
A laundry area
The domestic world doesn’t get much less sexy than a laundry, but a dedicated area for it could be just what your home needs. In a small dwelling, an under-stair space can be a great place to put your washing machine and dryer, behind retractable doors.
If your whiteware is already housed elsewhere, why not have a linen storage area up top, with a garment rack for hanging shirts, and an ironing board below? Leave it set up, then shut the cupboard when not in use.