Use the space under the stairs sensibly: examples with floor plans and other ideas

Regardless of their shape, the stairs in a house must not only be comfortable and functional, but also well coordinated with the rest of the interior design elements. The better they harmonize with furniture and other walls, the better effect is achieved. To make the stairs a highlight, you should not neglect the space underneath and create a functional area out of it. Whether it's a single-flight or quarter-turn staircase model along a wall: Below we show some of the best examples of how you can make sensible use of the space under the stairs.

Project: A two-story single-family house

The first two examples show the project for the renovation of a two-story single-family house where a three-generation family lives. An old wooden staircase leads from the hallway to the upper floor. However, the steps are not very easy to walk on and the design does not allow the space under the stairs to be used functionally. The owners plan to renovate the entrance hall and commission an architect to do the job. The architect makes two suggestions for using the area under the stairs: as a workstation and as storage space.

First variant: workplace and shelves under the stairs

The first example shows an open, quarter-turn staircase with a landing. A workplace is planned under the floating steps. The desk top and the stair landing are in a straight line. There are also wall shelves and roll containers with valuable storage space.

Advantages

– The open staircase allows light and views to pass through. The floating steps look like they have grown out of the wall and create a light and pleasant ambience in the room.

– The 1/4 spiral staircase design takes up little space and allows you to transform the hallway into a multifunctional area.

Floor plan
1. Entrance
2. Shorter stairs
3. Pedestal
4. Longer stairs
5. Desk top
6. Built-in wardrobe

The architect decided to keep the previous layout in the room, but proposed a radical change in the furnishings. His idea? The construction of an L-shaped, cantilevered house staircase with floating wooden steps andGlass wall as fall protection. To make them more comfortable for the elderly and children, a wide platform was planned between the steps. The quarter-turn staircase runs in two directions: at 90 degrees, i.e. turning around the corner, and running along the wall.

The niche created under the stairs was used for a small library. The bookshelves were assembled in such a way that they appear to be connected to each other. They have the same width as the steps, but do not require additional fastening due to lower loads. The platform is extended by a table top that serves as a desk.

The staircase design gives the interior a modern character. In contrast, the architect adds interesting accents such as a Persian carpet, a classic wooden chair and a wrought iron chandelier. A small collection of black and white photographs creates a great decorative effect. Old floorboards were painted white.

Stability is ensured by the width of the respective steps (should not exceed 120 cm). The construction of the cantilever staircase consists of one-sided attachment of each individual step to steel beams embedded in the wall. For this reason, a cantilever staircase is only suitable for houses with stable concrete walls. The steps are mounted above the steel structure. They are made of solid wood with a thickness of 20 mm.

Instead of railings, fall protection made of transparent all-glass was installed. The handrail is mounted on the opposite wall and is also an interesting solution: it is a narrow niche along the wall, which is illuminated from the inside with LEDs. In this way, the line of the stairs is further emphasized.

The dark entrance area has been transformed into a bright, spacious room. This is mainly due to the optically light, open construction of the stairs. The cantilever staircase allows the free flow of light. The visual enlargement of the interior is also due to the white walls and floors. The white color makes stairs, furniture and accessories stand out.

Second variant: Built-in cupboard under the stairs

The second suggestion was to build an enclosed staircase that would provide excellent storage options. The architect decided to build a spacious wardrobe and integrate drawers into the steps.

Floor plan
1. Entrance
2. Shorter stairs
3. Pedestal
4. Longer stairs
5. Pull-out cupboard
6. Built in with hinged doors
7. Built-in wardrobe

Advantages of stair design

– Functional arrangement of the entrance area.
– Plenty of storage space without the room feeling restrictive.

The architect designed a reinforced furniture system that takes the load of the steps. Instead of railings, he suggested fall protection made of wire ropes stretched between the ceiling and the steps. On the other hand, a metal handrail offers safety when climbing up and down. The cupboards in the spacious wardrobe were adapted to the staircase construction. Depending on the needs of the household, the built-in cupboard can be used as a wardrobe, pantry or multi-purpose cupboard.

The geometric shape determined the choice of materials. The fronts are made of lacquered high-gloss MDF and without handles. The colorful 1960s-style decorations serve as a splash of color. There is also an armchair, a small table, several round wall mirrors and a carpet.

The construction consists of six interconnected modules. The short staircase with a platform forms the first part. Four deep drawers are integrated into the base unit. The drawer fronts serve as risers. You can even store long skis in the bottom drawer!

The next five modules vary in height and width. The cabinets follow the slope and are between 60 and 90 cm wide. To make it easier to use, pull-out cupboards were built in the lower part and ordinary wardrobes with hinged doors in the upper part.

Thanks to the selection of colors and materials, the massive wardrobe under the stairs becomes almost invisible. The black steps coated with epoxy resin visually separate two light surfaces - the walls and the cabinet fronts - from each other with a rhythmic zigzag pattern. The gray floor tiles and the red and yellow accents provide more dynamism.

Location: A small maisonette apartment with 35 square meters of living space

And now an example from a small maisonette apartment. Designers have managed to fit everything into a limited space without making it too cramped. There is a kitchen living room, a study, a bedroom with dressing room and two bathrooms. The selected style is minimalist-modern, the colors are classic and timeless: white and black. Natural wood with a light shade softens the strict lines and provides coziness.

The lower floor of the small two-story apartment has an area of ​​only 18.39 square meters. Functionality is the focus of the room layout and furnishings.

The interesting thing here is that there is a cozy workplace under the stairs. The entrance to the office can be closed with a sliding door with a mirror surface, making the living space appear much larger.

Be inspired by the other ideas in our gallery! Whether as a library, workspace or wardrobe – there are many ways to make sensible use of the space under the stairs!