3 Tips for Transforming the Underutilised 'Space Under the Stairs'

3 Tips for Transforming the Underutilised 'Space Under the Stairs'

The space under the stairs. What it lacks in height, thanks to the underside of the staircase ruling out any artworks or tall pieces of furniture, it makes up for in – well, no, actually, it also lacks in width, or having a shape that is conducive to actually utilising it for anything. Or so it would seem…

The space under the stairs is definitely a trial. For starters, it can pose some significant issues when it comes to creating a floorplan for the rest of your furniture. If your staircase is in the living room, then placing the sofa in front of the space under the stairs means wasting a couple of square feet of space, but investing in a chair low enough to fit underneath the stairs means adding a seating opportunity that will only suit those of us under four feet tall. True, it can be great for creating a book nook, but that’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution.

If the staircase is in the hallway, you’ve got a similar problem. Yes, a little bureau or table will fit there – maybe even a welcoming spray of flowers – but, again, the space that’s lacking can easily stand out more than the space that’s actually there.

So, how do you make the most of this (we hesitate to say ‘bonus’) bit of space beneath the stairs? Here are three of our most reliable tips that’ll help you enjoy the extra space, not resent it.

Embrace it as a space of its own, rather than an extension of the room

This may sound counterintuitive, given the scathing review we just gave of its purpose for a living room or entryway, but hear us out. By acknowledging the fact that it’s its own space, and not trying to incorporate it into the rest of the space surrounding it, you can avoid running up against the logistical difficulties it poses to the main room.

How do you do this? While some of the tools we use for ‘zoning off’ parts of a room won’t work – a small rug, for instance, will just look out of place on the part of the floor that is walked on the least – but using colour or pattern to create that sense of difference can be highly effective.

Wallpapering that relatively small space of wall under the stairs is an excellent way to incorporate something new into the space without going quite so far as the feature wall. You’ll utilise a small enough area that you could get away with mirroring that print elsewhere, either on another small section of wall or in your curtains.

Some patterns – particularly striped wallpaper – will also help to make the space feel bigger than it is, particularly if you introduce a good source of light, too.

Keep in mind, however, that wallpapering that triangular bit of wall is not for the faint of heart. This is one job that’s best left to the professionals.

If you’re not convinced, then consider closing it off for storage space

Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like you have to make the most of having those extra few feet of space in a room, even if you can’t find a real use for them. While bigger, more open rooms are great, it may just be that you get more versatility out of your room – and more use out of the space under the stairs – if you can bring yourself to cut your losses and close them off from one another.

Closing off the space under the stairs isn’t a big project, but it will make a big difference. It can be turned into storage for coats and shoes or, in the living room, for board games, spare blankets, or anything else that doesn’t quite suit the vibe of the room on a daily basis.

If you want to avoid the feeling of too many doors going in too many different directions – particularly important to consider if your staircase is in the hallway – then a great solution is to use a curtain, rather than a cupboard door. Take a look at beautiful fabrics that introduce something new and special into the room, and take a look at our guide to ordering fabric for your curtains to get started.

Turn it into a space for the four-legged friends

The great thing about being a cat or dog – we can only imagine – is being able to find a lot of value in spaces that humans just can’t find much of a use for. Animals, and particularly the more skittish among us, love to be able to fit in smaller, more secure spaces – and they also love to still feel involved with the usual come-and-go movement of the house.

Creating a space fit for Spot may take some imagination. After all, while you want it to be comfortable, inviting and, most importantly, used, you don’t want it to represent an eyesore in the corner of the room, or visible right when you (and your guests) walk through the door.

We’d start by piling up a few comfortable cushions – maybe on top of a small rug that marks off the space (see, there is a use for the under-the-stairs rug after all). You’ll want them to match your décor, but still have that extra durability you need for animals, so a good, hard-wearing and waterproof performance fabric is probably your best bet here.

The space under the stairs is, without a doubt, one of the more challenging areas of the home. The bold sweep of the stairs is a beautiful architectural feature, but it also creates a shape beneath it that refuses to accommodate most pieces of furniture – or most heights. But the best way to celebrate that extra space isn’t to pretend it isn’t irregularly shaped – it’s to lean into those unique dimensions, and to embrace the fact that it’s just not like the rest of the room around it. You may never praise its usefulness, but you can celebrate its unique charm.