If your home has more than one story, then the chances are overwhelming that they’re connected by a staircase. In all but a minority of hyper-modern new-build properties and ancient castles, this means a series of steps cutting a diagonal swathe through your property.
This presents a problem as far as efficiency is concerned since it leaves us with a triangular area of wasted space underneath the stairs themselves. Getting the most from this area can be difficult. Here, let’s take a look at a few methods for getting the most from the space under the stairs.
Storage
Just about every home needs storage, especially when you have kids! The more of it you have available, the more space you’ll be able to clear elsewhere. An efficient under-stairs storage solution should be able to deal with the corners created by such a space. This might mean long drawers on sliders or sloping cupboard doors which fill the space optimally. Often, a bespoke wardrobe for under the stairs can make the most sense.
Play area
Creating a play area for your kids under the stairs would work nicely. Being small, they may be able to make use of the space without stooping over. What’s more, you might be able to tidy away toys in the process.
Use it as a pantry
If your kitchen cupboards are looking a little on the full side while feeding a whole family, then you might use your under-stair area to store the items that you rarely reach for. Economy-size bags of dried beans, rice, pasta, and nuts might be stored here for months – just make sure that you keep track of the expiration dates, and that you keep control of the heat.
Turn it into a bookshelf
A bookshelf that’s made to measure for your under-stair area might work wonderfully well. The height of the average stair is slightly less than that of the average book – but with a little bit of clever design trickery, you can make everything line up neatly. A bookshelf tends not to be as deep as a staircase, but you can keep rarely-used items behind your books, like routers, servers, and appliances.
Create a snug
If you need an extra area to escape to, then you might create a snug from your under-stair area. Throw in a small, low-lying sofa chair, or a beanbag, and catch up on study, reading, or meditation. Or, you might create the same sort of thing, but for the family pet.
