Under the Stairs – Making Best Use of the Space

Unless you have Harry Potter living in your home, there is a very good chance that your under-stairs area is underused and a bit of a waste of space. Even if it is an open area, the slope and lack of head height can really make it hard to use it for anything functional. However, with a little imagination your under-stairs area can actually add space to your room and become usable once again.

The under-stairs cupboard

For most of us, this area is full to the brim with vacuum cleaners, ironing boards, dirty washing and kids toys. You avoid opening it and hope that nothing falls out when you do. However with a little imagination and some DIY know-how you can transform it.

• A pantry: most of us would love extra cupboard space in the kitchen and having a storage area for those ingredients your use less often is the perfect compromise. Simply line the inside of your under-stairs area with shelving and pull out baskets and you have an instant pantry.
• A laundry area: You can use this cupboard for your dryer as long as you are able to incorporate some venting. Add some shelving to store your linen and baskets for your clean and dirty washing and you have a mini utility room.
• A downstairs toilet: As long as you have the head height and the access to suitable piping, the under-stairs area can be perfect for this function. A plumber will need to be asked about the suitability however.

The open under-stairs area

It is a common assumption that having an under-stairs area which is open leads to a more open and airier feel to a room. But if this area is underused and awkward, then it is of no help at all. There are a few ways to make this area more useful and to help it fit into your overall room scheme.

• A wall unit: Many DIY stores sell shelving which is designed especially for the sloping ceiling of this area. This type of mix and match shelving, cupboards and boxes idea can be the perfect place to store books and the ideal place to put your television and audio equipment.
• A study area: having a spare room which can be used as a study is a luxury in most homes these days, so making the most of your under stairs area can be a life saver. While you may need to build your computer desk to fit the slope of the ceiling it will be worthwhile. You can also section this part of the room off by using a room divider which can then be pulled back out of the way when not in use.
• A play area: Use the room divider idea to section off the under-stairs area so that your children have somewhere to store their toys and to play. As children are smaller they will not be affected by the head height issue. You could build some shelving and toy boxes at one end to store the toys and add some cushions for them to sit on.