What To Do With The Storage Space Under The Stairs

March 28, 2013

One of my clients (the same one mentioned in yesterday’s post) has recently had to redo her entire basement, resulting in her having to start from scratch in terms of storage arrangements. One area in particular poses an interesting challenge– the space underneath the stairs. After giving it an initial look the other day, I knew further research into the topic would be required.

Examples of the intersection of storage and stairways are robust, but those feature stair storage accessed via the side of the stairs, rather than directly underneath it, as in the case of my client. The angle of approach is everything here, folks.

While some possess an entire room underneath their staircase, my client’s space is modest at best, although decidedly large enough that to neglect to take advantage of it would be a real crime of storage.

What to do with it? I scoured the interwebs for inspiration…

Firstly, I discovered it’s a shame she no longer has young children, nor the imminent arrival of grandchildren, as the space under the stairs appears to make an excellent reading/playnook (occupation voluntary, unlike the for-a-time unwilling permanent denizen of the cupboard under the stairs see: H.P.).

The twinkly-lighted one has got to be my favorite. What else is there to want after such a thing?

Handy homeowners the world over seem naught to be intimidated by their spaces under the stairs, converting them into all out pantries.

And at least two others put the space to good use by fashioning it into a wine cellar. It’s cool under there, wine not? (sorry, that was the lowest).

Others used the area for general spillover household storage, installing shelves on either sides of the slanted walls.

And two more that have been lumped together by me not because they’re remotely in the same category, but because they happen to share a color family, which sometimes is enough; an under-stair office on the left, and on the right, the smallest bathroom you ever did see.

Tell me, do you have a space like this in your house? And like, what have you done with it??

Image credits: 1. (counter-clockwise from top) Natalie’s Sentiments, Nurturing The Tender Years, Home By Heidi, 2. (clockwise from top right) At The Picket FenceBHGBHG, unknown, Randalls Restoration, 3. (left to right) Houzz, Kessick Wine Cellars, 4. (counter-clockwise from left) Something to Do (white pantry), Worldempress, unknown, 5. Be Colorful(bathroom), Thistlewood Farms (office)

5 Comments

  1. Courtney on March 28, 2013 at 8:45 am

    I’d go with the reading nook with twinkle lights… kids or no kids 🙂

  2. Susan on March 28, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    In my parents house the space under the stairs has been turned into an area for their dog. He seems to be way happier in there then H.P was in his respective space.

    • Ronna on March 29, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Yes, Susan darling. The dog is way happier under the stairs than (!) H.P. The tablecloths, platters and flower vases are also happy in the dining room closet that’s over the basement stairs. Under the basement stairs, we store all the paraphernalia from pets-gone-by: goldfish bowls, a muzzle, cat carriers, a bunny hutch, snake terrarium, etc.
      Annie, come visit. I miss you sooooo.

  3. Lindsay on December 16, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    what did you end up doing for the space??

  4. Natalie Jane on June 2, 2015 at 7:09 am

    Hey! That’s my house on top 🙂

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5 Comments

  1. Courtney on March 28, 2013 at 8:45 am

    I’d go with the reading nook with twinkle lights… kids or no kids 🙂

  2. Susan on March 28, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    In my parents house the space under the stairs has been turned into an area for their dog. He seems to be way happier in there then H.P was in his respective space.

    • Ronna on March 29, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Yes, Susan darling. The dog is way happier under the stairs than (!) H.P. The tablecloths, platters and flower vases are also happy in the dining room closet that’s over the basement stairs. Under the basement stairs, we store all the paraphernalia from pets-gone-by: goldfish bowls, a muzzle, cat carriers, a bunny hutch, snake terrarium, etc.
      Annie, come visit. I miss you sooooo.

  3. Lindsay on December 16, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    what did you end up doing for the space??

  4. Natalie Jane on June 2, 2015 at 7:09 am

    Hey! That’s my house on top 🙂

Leave a Comment





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