Living in a double-storey apartment, townhouse or house means having to use the staircase to access the upper level.
Here's a practical storage space idea that blends in with the rest of the home.
In many apartments and homes, these staircases are located within the living or dining space.
Here’s how to make good use of the space beneath the staircase for storage or decorative display.
Under stairs storage
In many homes, the space under the staircase goes to waste.
It isn't always easy to come up with practical storage space ideas that blend in with the rest of the home.
The space under my stairs is completely closed off on the sides, and only the one end is open.
I call this space my ‘hooky’, and use it to pack away cleaning accessories such as the vacuum cleaner and brushes.
Here are some ideas and inspiration on how to use the space under the stairs:
Create a cosy, practical working space by setting up a small home office that won't take up valuable floor space.
Under stairs bathroom
Need an extra bathroom or guest loo?
If the area under the stairs is conveniently located close to existing plumbing lines, you could install a small, guest toilet.
This is an affordable way to add an extra bathroom without going to the expense of adding on.
There is plenty of room under a staircase for a small, guest bathroom, with toilet and basin, or for a separate loo if your home only has a single bathroom.
Home office
Create a cosy, practical working space by setting up a small home office that won't take up valuable floor space.
With a little bit of DIY you could easily fit in a small desk and some shelving to create a home office.
This small office space could easily fit in a small desk and some shelving.
When designing the space, match your furniture and décor to blend in with the style of the surrounding room.
Kitchen and storage
In a small apartment or townhouse, where every bit of floor space needs to be put to use, the area underneath the staircase can be used to house a variety of appliances.
If you have access to plumbing, install front-loading appliances to free-up valuable floor space in a small kitchen.
Or you could simply fit a door to the area, and make use of the space for storage as well.
A wine rack is also a way to make use of this space, because most homes do not have space for a wine cellar.
Entertainment area
There is no reason why you cannot mount a flatscreen TV, and keep all the wires out of sight behind built-in panels.
Other ways of using the space, is for entertainment.
Installing a home bar underneath the stairs is one way to add an entertainment area if you don't have space for it anywhere else.
Build a freestanding home bar, or incorporate the design so that it can be packed away out of sight when not in use.
A wine rack is also a way to make use of this space, because what home has space for a wine cellar?
Building a wine rack, bookcase, TV and media cabinet, or putting up decorative shelving is an easy DIY home project.
Once you have an idea, and we've given you more than a few, put your idea down on paper and work out how you can use this valuable space.
Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za
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