How to decorate the space under the stairs: design ideas with photos. How to make a storage room under the stairs: interesting and simple ideas? Staircase with storage underneath

How to decorate the space under the stairs: design ideas with photos.  How to make a storage room under the stairs: interesting and simple ideas?  Staircase with storage underneath
How to decorate the space under the stairs: design ideas with photos. How to make a storage room under the stairs: interesting and simple ideas? Staircase with storage underneath

If more than one person lives in the house, an additional bathroom will definitely not be superfluous. And if there are often guests there, even more so. And sometimes you have to look for a place for the only “corner of thoughtfulness” in the house if the opportunity to create it arose much later than the completion of construction. But you can always find a way out - for example, placing a toilet under the stairs in the house.

The space under it is often not used in any way, or is used for storing rarely needed items - seasonal clothes and shoes, a vacuum cleaner, etc. So why not make this area functional and useful, and at the same time beautiful?

It doesn’t matter what style the room with the stairs is decorated in. The partitions that hide the restroom underneath can be finished to suit any style - from rustic to the most modern. This is not the most important or difficult task. Difficulties may arise in a completely different way.

Requirements for toilet design

Unfortunately, to implement this idea, you need not only funds and desire, but also compliance with certain conditions that take into account the specifics of the bathroom, and the materials from which the staircase and the house itself are made.

Among them:

  • Technical feasibility of connecting water supply and sewerage systems to the selected location;
  • Mandatory forced ventilation device;
  • The need for waterproofing.

But that's not all. A bathroom underneath can only be placed in a niche with sufficient dimensions.

  • The minimum dimensions are 0.8 x 1.2 meters, provided that only the toilet is installed. If a sink, bathtub or washing machine is planned, they are increased accordingly.

For reference. If the size of your niche is a little smaller, it doesn’t matter. In city apartments, a very tiny room is often allocated for a toilet room. Modern plumbing fixtures that take up little space will help you get out of this situation. But more on that later.

  • Where the toilet is installed, the ceiling height must be at least one meter;
  • And his height in front of him is at least a few centimeters greater than the height of the tallest member of the family. Of course, if we are not talking about a children's toilet;
  • The same applies to the ceiling height at the sink and other plumbing fixtures:
  • The door to the room must open outward.

Advice. If there is no room for a swing door to the bathroom, you can consider sliding or folding structures. But keep in mind that they do not provide high-quality sound insulation and odor protection.

Communications

The easiest way is to install a water supply under the stairs and drain the wastewater if there is a kitchen or other utility room with communications nearby. We will not describe in detail how such work is carried out; we will only touch on the most important points.

The wastewater from the toilet can be discharged directly into a septic tank or shambo using a separate pipe, or it can be connected to the general house sewer system. In this case, it is necessary to provide an angle of inclination of the pipeline for the free passage of waste by gravity.

It depends on the diameter of the pipe. The instructions recommend using pipes of the following diameters for sewer installation in a private house:

  • 50 mm– for indoor sewerage from bathtubs, sinks and showers. The optimal angle of inclination for them is 2.5-3.5 cm per linear meter;
  • 100 or 110 mm– for drainage of wastewater from the toilet with a slope of 1.2-2.0 cm per linear meter;
  • Pipes of the same diameter or the next standard size (150 mm) used for external laying and give them a slope of 0.7-1.0 cm per linear meter.

The water supply line can be laid from the nearest node using the same pipes as the entire system in the house. If it is not there, water is supplied from a well or well with the installation of a pumping station, for which a place must also be found.

In this case, for year-round living, water pipes are laid below the ground freezing level, or they are insulated and equipped with a heating cable.

It is important! If the house is intended only for summer living, the water from the system must be drained in the winter.

Another important point: before making a toilet under the stairs, take care of the ventilation of this room. Otherwise, you risk constantly smelling unpleasant odors, as well as developing mold, which is very difficult to get rid of.

This is quite a difficult task if the stairs are located far from the external walls. You will either have to run the duct under the first floor ceiling, or route it through the second floor to the roof or attic space.

Finishing

Before finishing the toilet in the house under the stairs, you need to think about waterproofing the floor. And protecting walls from mold and rot if they are wooden. This also applies to elements.

All wooden structures are treated with special protective compounds. If you decide not to hide them under tiles or plastic panels, you can use stains, varnishes or tinting impregnations.

The choice of waterproofing depends on the material from which the floor is made and the type of finished floor covering:

  • Natural wooden floors are covered with several layers of varnish or water-repellent impregnation;
  • Bitumen-polymer mastic is applied to the concrete base, then a screed is made and tiles or linoleum are laid;
  • You can lay bitumen-based roll insulation under the laminate.
  • The toilet and bath under the stairs in a country house are finished with standard moisture-resistant materials: tiles, plastic panels, moisture-resistant paint, etc. Below are some examples.

Advice. For the installation of partitions, it is best to use moisture-resistant plasterboard. It can be painted over putty and tiles can be glued to it.

  • It is important to think carefully about lighting. If the ceiling height is small, pendant and built-in lamps are unlikely to be relevant. Flat ceiling lamps and wall sconces will help out.

Equipment and furnishings

As a rule, the bathroom under the stairs has very modest dimensions, limited by the width of the span and the slope of the structure. And in such a limited space you can’t walk around, so you have to select plumbing fixtures very carefully.

Pay attention to the following items that differ in functionality and optimal dimensions:

  • Wall-hung toilet with installation. It does not have a visible tank - it hides in a niche in the wall or in a box specially built for it. In our case, if the toilet is placed at the end of a niche, there will be a place for installation under the lower steps of the stairs, which is still not used.

  • Mini-sink. If you only need it to rinse your hands, there is no need to buy a large product. Compact sinks are wall-mounted and corner, built-in and wall-mounted, deep and flat. There are even those that can be installed on a washing machine, which greatly saves space in a small bathroom.

  • Hygienic shower will successfully replace a bidet and allow you to easily fill a bucket with water for wet cleaning.

As for furniture, it is unlikely that full-fledged cabinets or cabinets for linen, household tools and household chemicals will fit into such a small room. But you can find or make to order narrow cabinets or hanging cabinets.

In any case, you can always find a place for small shelves for hygiene items. And if you have a box built for installation, you can make good use of both its horizontal surface and its cavity, in which it is easy to hide pipes and water supply.

What else can you do under the stairs?

If you live in a city two-level apartment, where “wet” areas cannot be placed above dry ones.

  • Or you don’t have the desire or ability to run communications throughout the house.
  • Or the niche is too small to fit a toilet.
  • Or you just don’t need another bathroom under the stairs - what else can be installed there?

Many things. For example, a small niche adjacent to the bathroom or kitchen can accommodate a washing machine, dishwasher or dryer. You just need to put hoses there to supply and drain water. And if you want, you can make such a structure with your own hands from a metal frame and plasterboard.

And if there is no need to lay communications, then a huge number of options arise. And the price for arranging such a space is reduced significantly.

It's easier to show examples than to describe possible solutions, so see for yourself:

It can also become a place to store bicycles and skis, a small workshop or a house for a pet.

And you need to use it not only because there is not enough space in the house for these purposes. A simply furnished niche looks much more aesthetically pleasing than empty space or a warehouse of unnecessary things.

Conclusion

In the video in this article you will find many other examples of the use of under-staircase niches. And if you want to thoroughly understand how to make a toilet under the stairs, then you will have to become a little plumber and a little builder. We wish you success in this.

Rational use of every free centimeter is the main rule for organizing functional space. That is why in today's article we will talk about space design options under stairs in the house. You can’t even imagine how many useful things you can fit in this secluded corner. Please note that in not many houses the owners use the space under the stairs, unfairly considering that it is spoiled by the flight itself and is not of particular value. And only while watching foreign TV series or films can you notice that many manage to organize even a small room there. As a matter of fact, it was in such a “closet” that a character loved by both adults and children, named Harry Potter, lived. So, we present to your attention 22 the most interesting and useful ideas, which will help you look at the place under your stairs in a new way and even come to the conclusion that a staircase in the house is not a punishment, but an opportunity to feel like a real designer.

Before you start “trying on” various ideas for organizing space in your home, you need to think through several important details that determine the possibility or impossibility of implementing this or that idea.
Namely:


A flight of stairs, depending on the layout of the house, can be located in the hallway, in the living room, and even in the kitchen or bedroom. It all depends on the preferences of the owners. It is logical to select a method for filling the space under the flight, taking into account the functional features of the room. After all, you won’t install a guest bathroom in your rest room, right?

Storage area

Let's start with the most banal and most common, but no less popular method - arranging built-in or retractable under the stairs modular boxes.
Theoretically, in your own home there should be no problem with a lack of storage space, but things tend to accumulate. Therefore, planning a suitable place for them in advance is much easier than later trying to squeeze another bulky cabinet into an already formed interior.

In this case, there is not even a need to order expensive structures. It is enough to make a regular rack and install a sliding or swing system - see what is more convenient for you and what is more realistic in your case.
Instead of a shelving unit, you can use old bookshelves. If necessary, they can be refined by painting them or covering them with self-adhesive film. Or maybe it’s not necessary to do this at all, because they will be hidden behind the doors.

Modular drawers will have to be made to order and will cost much more than a sliding system. Think in advance about how high the drawers or shelves should be placed and how deep they should be. Looking up with a stool is inconvenient and dangerous, just as it is inconvenient to get contents from shelves or drawers that are too deep.

Library

Have you dreamed of having your own small library, but couldn’t find space for bookshelves or shelving? It’s not surprising, because this element would occupy the entire wall in one of the rooms. And in a secluded place under the stairs, the home library is the perfect place. The main thing is that they do not clutter up the interior of other rooms and do not interfere with other family members. In this case, you need to take care of the light source, because the lighting from the adjacent room may not be enough, and not many people know how to search for a book by touch.

Reading space

If there is enough space under the stairs, you can create a real reading corner there. Then the space should accommodate both the library described above and a place for the reader. Depending on the size of the remaining free space, you can put a small sofa, or, in extreme cases, a chair, the main thing is that it is comfortable. In addition to lighting the bookshelves, you will need one, which should be placed on the right or left behind the seat. The side is chosen in such a way that you do not block the light for yourself when turning the pages. You can also put a small one so that you can put glasses, put a cup or put a book aside.

Fireplace area

In this case we are talking about or about. Since it is very difficult to equip a real, functioning hearth in such a place and is only possible at the stage of developing a house project. Then, taking into account the presence of this element, completely different requirements will be put forward both for finishing materials and for the exhaust system. But what's wrong with an electric fireplace?
With help, you can easily build the portal itself and install a fireplace in it. Don't forget about the power source. A stone would be perfect. Depending on your budget, it can be either natural or artificial. The mantelpiece can be replaced by a regular piece of kitchen countertop of a suitable color, for example, imitating a wooden texture. Suddenly, after replacing, you just had such a fragment left, and you couldn’t find a use for it...

Well, then, the fireplace area, which is not much different from a real one, can be decorated as you like. These could be family photographs placed on a shelf, decorative candles or other pleasant little things. Perhaps the design with deer antlers and made to resemble the skin of an animal will suit your interior. Opposite such an area, place a sofa or armchairs and spend pleasant evenings.

Pantry

Thrifty housewives will definitely like the idea under the stairs. This is very simple to do - just think over a lighting fixture, attach shelves or put up shelving on the walls, and close the place from prying eyes with a neat door. If the staircase is located in the kitchen, to simplify the process, you can replace the door with a regular thick curtain. In this case, choose the right fabric either to match the color of the curtains, or to match the color of the chairs or. Then all the elements will be combined harmoniously in the interior. In such a pantry you can store cereals, vegetables and fruits, bulky pots and pans that always have no place in cabinets, sets of spare utensils, a kitchen broom and dustpan.
If you plan to use the pantry to store canned food and other items, consider whether it will be too hot for them and whether they will spoil. It may be necessary to install some kind of cooling device. Then you will have to install a full-fledged door with a seal, which will prevent the cold from penetrating into the adjacent room.

Day nursery

What child doesn't dream of his own nook? Do you remember how you built improvised huts out of chairs or under a table, covering everything with blankets? In such huts one could spend time for hours, fantasize and have fun. Why not give your child and his friends this opportunity and organize a small but interesting room for them? Depending on its size and your child’s hobbies, you can place anything inside. The main thing is that it is soft and warm. Therefore, we recommend using medium or high pile as a floor covering. The walls of the room can be covered with images of your favorite cartoon characters, space planets or sea inhabitants. Or paint the walls yourself with your child. Place small plastic chairs and a table, a chest or a special box for toys; in a small bedside table you can store pencils, markers and coloring books. Your child will be incredibly happy.

Guest bathroom

Agree, it would be convenient if your guests didn’t have to march through the entire house or go up to the second floor just to wash their hands. Or your child could visit the bathroom before going outside or running from the yard without taking off his shoes. All this is possible if the staircase is located in the hallway. And, of course, if it is possible to bring appropriate communications to the place. There is no need to place anything special in such a bathroom – just a small hook for a towel and that’s it. Please note that for ease of use, the toilet must be installed at some distance from the wall, and the lowest part of the ceiling should be above the barrel so that when you get up, you do not hit your head on the ceiling. By and large, forced ventilation is not needed in such a room, because there will be no wet zone there, which means there will be nowhere for condensation to come from.

In principle, an additional bathroom would be appropriate in the bedroom, especially if the main bathroom is located on the second floor.

Aquarium zone

Aquarium lovers can please themselves with a large aquarium, which will fit very conveniently under a flight of stairs. After all, large aquariums are most often installed in the wall so that they do not take up too much free space, but if you have not thought about this in advance, or the desire to make silent and interesting “friends” has arisen only now, we have found a suitable place for this. All you need to take care of is a durable cabinet that can withstand considerable weight and the presence of at least one outlet. To connect all the necessary equipment, you can use the carrying case.

Workplace

Those who often bring work home or those for whom remote work is the main source of work definitely need their own work area. Considering that apart from a table, a chair, a lamp, a computer and maybe a couple of wall shelves, nothing else may be needed, the space under the stairs should be more than enough to arrange your own office. Whether this area will be open or fenced off by a door is up to you to decide. It is clear that in an isolated space it is easier to concentrate, disconnect from the knowledge that you are at home, develop self-discipline and resist the desire to take a break and go drink tea or watch TV. But you also need to take into account the size of the space under the stairs. There may not be room for a chair after installing the door if the area is too narrow.

TV zone

If, sitting on your favorite sofa, an empty space under the stairs comes into your field of vision, then you simply cannot help but take advantage of it. This is just the right place to organize a TV zone. How exactly to arrange the equipment and what pieces of furniture to use is up to you to decide. The main thing is that the design style of the TV area matches the one to which it will belong. This is ensured by the use of furniture that matches both in color and shape. Depending on the layout, such a location may have advantages. Firstly, light from a chandelier and other lamps is unlikely to be reflected on the screen and interfere with comfortable viewing. Secondly, window openings are often located at a considerable distance from the flight of stairs. This way the sun will not heat the surface of the screen and create glare.

Wall of Achievement

If someone in your family is involved in any kind of sport and participates in various competitions, they have probably already accumulated a lot of certificates, cups and medals. Some people place their trophies on their desks, while many simply put the awards away in a drawer after some time. But this approach does not at all motivate new achievements, and friends are not given the opportunity to brag. We suggest setting up a small corner where there will be a whole wall of your achievements. For all certificates, you can purchase beautiful frames and hang them on the wall. Place cups and other related items on neat wall shelves. For medals, come up with hooks that suit the style. And be sure to leave room for new prizes.

Kitchen area

Typically, kitchens in their own homes are quite spacious, but there are exceptions. Therefore, someone may find the idea of ​​arranging a mini-kitchen under the stairs useful. In the very first paragraph, we wrote not only about the need to provide for the possibility of supplying various communications, but also about the importance of the material used to make the staircase itself.
And this is due not only to the possible difficulties of installation work. The fact is that in many pictures on the Internet, the kitchen in this case is a countertop with a sink and a hob, which is not entirely correct. If you decide to place the stove under the stairs, then you must install it, which is problematic. If this is not done, hot steam and high temperatures can have a detrimental effect on the material of the flight of stairs. Therefore, we recommend limiting yourself to one. But there will be more space specifically for the cooking process itself. In general, a kitchen under a flight of stairs is an excellent option for spacious rooms. After all, it becomes possible to fit bulky household appliances, such as a refrigerator, freezer, without losing useful space.

Souvenir corner

Travel lovers probably cannot deny themselves the pleasure of bringing another souvenir that would remind them of an exciting vacation and the country they visited. Over many years, a large number of such pleasant little things can accumulate. And it’s already difficult not only to remember what and where, but also to find a suitable place. Now is the time to remember the empty space. To make the area smaller, and to ensure that the pieces of furniture on which souvenirs will be placed do not distract from the products themselves, we recommend using glass wall shelves. You can add a few more shelves at any time if there is no longer enough space. So you can gradually fill the entire wall from top to bottom, and then move on to the inclined surfaces of the stairs themselves. If you collect decorative plates, you can also place them on shelves on special stands or attach them directly to the wall. In any case, such a corner will be interesting not only to you, but also to all guests.

Minibar or wine cellar

What real owner has not dreamed of having his own wine cellar? Especially if you have experience in winemaking and are gradually collecting a collection of homemade wine. But setting up a real cellar can take not only a lot of effort, but also money. Therefore, you can arrange an improvised one, where there will be space for placing bottles, beautiful glasses and wine glasses. Perhaps there will even be a small bar, and you will feel like a real bartender. In addition, you can limit yourself to two small but comfortable armchairs and place a mobile minibar between them. At one time, similar bars in the form of a large globe, the upper part of which folded back or opened in two directions, were very fashionable.

Green Zone

Those who want to refresh the interior, fill it with vibrant colors and simply ensure a healthy microclimate in their home can take up the idea of ​​​​organizing a real green area. This idea can be implemented in two ways:

  • green wall
  • indoor plant greenhouse.

If you think that the first method is very expensive and difficult to implement on your own, do not rush to conclusions.
Yes, this will indeed be a costly undertaking if stabilized moss and other small plants processed using the same technology are used as landscaping material. But, if you replace moss with familiar indoor plants, which are placed in special pots that are attached to the wall to create the effect of a solid wall, costs can be kept to a minimum. The only caveat is that you will have to be patient a little while the seedlings grow up and hide all the auxiliary elements with their leaves.

Relaxation zone

For everyone, such a zone may appear differently. Some people enjoy simply lying on a comfortable couch and listening to their favorite music. Some people like to embroider or do other handicrafts. Others dream of a small corner where they can meditate or just be alone with themselves. Depending on your preferences, such a place can be open or closed. There can be a comfortable sofa or just a soft carpet and lots of pillows. Listen to yourself and create your own personal relaxation corner.

Storage area for sports equipment

What items in the house never have a suitable place? What is your balcony/attic/corridor/closet filled with? Personally, my corridor between two apartments is filled with my neighbor’s bicycle, sleds and skis, balls and other similar things. Fortunately, you can avoid this in your home.
It is enough to attach the appropriate fasteners to the wall under the stairs and hang bicycles on them. Arrange everything else and hide it out of sight with a neat door. The only rule that must always be followed is to keep equipment clean. Otherwise, you will simply get tired of sweeping out dried garbage in the closet and cleaning up dirty “paths” while you take the same bicycle across the house to the street.

Hiding large equipment

No matter how spacious your bathroom is, you still don’t want to take up space with items like a washing machine or dryer. Moreover, they take up a lot of space. The ideal place for these household appliances is under the stairs. Of course, in this case it is necessary to take into account the location of the span. Carrying wet laundry across the house can be cumbersome and inconvenient. But if there is drying, this issue is automatically removed. You can also put a large laundry basket in such a necessary “closet”. A cabinet for storing various laundry and cleaning products. This will free up the bathroom space to the maximum.

Music corner

By analogy with sports equipment, it is sometimes difficult to find a place for a bulky piano or other musical instrument. They can be installed under the stairs painlessly for the rest of the space. You can even set up a small rehearsal corner if you are in a group and your family is not against your creativity. To add the right atmosphere or for inspiration, you can hang posters of your favorite artists, old records and shiny CDs on the wall behind the instruments. In general, in this case, you, as a creative person, will know better which scenery will be more suitable.

To the delight of pets

Many people simply dote on their pets. They buy them all kinds of toys, beautiful clothes, soft houses and collars with rhinestones. But isn’t it better to show your love in a slightly different way, namely by arranging a real play corner for your animal? This idea is more suitable for those who love cats. It was for these animals that entire labyrinths and ladders were invented, which are attached to the wall and consist of separate fragments. The fragments are located at a short distance, so the animal will have to jump and play with a rope, which can be tied to the section located below. There is also a place to relax.
Dog owners can simply install a dog house under the stairs, put bowls there, put a rug or buy a special basket. Your pet will be grateful to you. This solution is very functional and convenient and allows you to save a lot of space in the hallway. You can also install a built-in wardrobe to store outerwear or shoes.

If the space under the stairs is very tiny

There are staircases of very modest size, which can accommodate very few steps. Naturally, the space under such an element will have minimal dimensions. But that doesn't mean you can let it sit empty. The best option for filling the void is shelves. There is something to put on them in every home. This could be anything from books to decorative items. The shelves are convenient because they can be easily adjusted to the shape of the opening yourself, which will avoid unnecessary expenses. Or you can make the shelves not horizontal, but vertical, and put beautiful vases with decorative dried flowers in the resulting sections. It will be no less impressive.

Do you still think that the space under the stairs is absolutely useless space? Share in the comments to the article what other interesting ideas came to your mind while reading, or have already been implemented in your home.

You have probably often seen in private houses, in which there is a staircase to the upper floor, that the free space under the flight is completely neglected or in a neglected condition. But the free space under the stairs can be transformed using original arrangement solutions. We are sure that this idea will significantly decorate the space of your home.

This article will tell you how to completely transform the space under the stairs, and the accompanying photos and videos will help you. The area under the stairs can be made closed or open.

Under the flight of stairs, work areas, a bathroom, a storage room, a niche, etc. are arranged. The tips given in the article will help you, but your imagination should also be involved in the process.

If sewer and water pipes are located next to the flight of stairs, then the free space is quite suitable for arranging rooms such as:


Options for using the free space under the stairs

When we see the open space under the stairs, we immediately get the impression of spaciousness. Perhaps the most common use of this space is to create a storage system under the stairs, as shown in the photo and video. In the free zone you can make shelves for storing things or, for example, arrange a wardrobe. A great idea for removing unnecessary things from your eyes.

Bathroom or toilet

The area under the flight of stairs can be converted into a guest bathroom. An additional toilet in which you can put a sink will fit perfectly into this area. This solution will allow you to solve your needs without going to the top floor of your home, and without disturbing your household once again.

If space allows, consider installing a mini shower under the stairs. However, keep in mind that water and electricity will have to be installed under the stairs. When using this option for using the area under the stairs, do not forget about ventilation, it is extremely important. By the way, it is better to contact specialists to install ventilation.

You will have to invest additional funds into the planned project, but the result is worth it. As a rule, a bathroom or toilet fits perfectly under a staircase with a flight of 8-10 steps. This space is quite enough.

Here are the parameters for arranging a bathroom under the stairs:

  • minimum height – 1 m;
  • maximum height – 2.6 m;
  • room width – 1.2 m;
  • length of the room – 2.3 m.

Of course, judging by the parameters, you can immediately guess that the bathroom will be a bit cramped. You can visually increase the area of ​​such a room by using light colors for decoration and large facing tiles.

You can also place mirrors in the bathroom under the stairs, which will visually expand the space. Instead of spotlights, we recommend hanging regular lamps around the perimeter of the ceiling.

Arrangement of an additional room

If your home has a small living space, then the area under the stairs is perfect for an additional room where you can place a fold-out sofa, bed or appropriate furniture. The result is an excellent area for relaxation and sleep.

Also, the space under the stairs can be used as a children's corner or play area.


Another arrangement option is a kitchen under the stairs. In such a kitchen you can place a small kitchen set, kitchen furniture, and a dishwasher. If the area under the flight of stairs allows, then a small dining-living room will fit organically into the free area.

What other options for arranging the open space under the stairs exist?

If you love books, then you probably have a home library. So, the area under the stairs is great for placing books on shelves. Install shelves of various configurations and place your books on them. Paint your bookshelves to match the baseboards and paneling. Such a library will fit perfectly into the overall interior of the house.

A work area is another option for using the space under the stairs. Place a homemade table or cabinet in your work area. Arrange your work area according to your needs. It turns out to be a real mini-office.

Advice! When creating a work area, take care of good lighting, because when working, you will have to be with your back to a natural light source. Another option is to use sconces.

Use the area under the stairs for a mini workshop and mini bar.

A telephone corner is a great idea for using the space under the stairs. Set up a comfortable chair, a telephone table and enjoy conversations: both work and friendly.

If the staircase in your home is located in the living room, then you can install a home theater underneath it.

Location under the stairs of a closed area

The area under the stairs can be made not only open, but also closed. For this purpose, wooden boards and plywood are used. For example, you can build a real storage room under the stairs.

Pantry room

You can store a variety of things in the pantry:

  • bike;
  • sleds and sports equipment;
  • winter clothes;
  • small furniture;
  • fishing gear.

In this case, the pantry will resemble a balcony, which is most often used by us for storing things (see video).

Original solutions for using the area under the stairs

You can not only arrange the space under the stairs in an original and useful way, but also in a creative way. Under the stairs you can place an aquarium, a wine cellar or a place for pets.

The fireplace looks great under the stairs.


Conclusion

When deciding on arranging free space under the stairs, first consider all the options. Decide for yourself exactly what you would like to place in this area. Don't be afraid to experiment and imagine!

Video

The space under the stairs in a private house is used in different ways. Wardrobes, shelves for books, storage rooms for gardening tools are organized here. There are also more exotic options, for example, a bathhouse or a toilet under the stairs in the country.


Bathroom arrangement

To bring this idea to life in a private home, a number of requirements must be met. The main ones include:

  • the fundamental possibility of organizing water supply and sewerage;
  • possibility of installing a ventilation system;
  • Possibility of waterproofing.

If all these requirements are met, then it is permissible to install a toilet, a shower, and even a bathhouse under the stairs to the second floor. The photo shows the design of the bathroom.


Dimensions of the under-staircase space

In order for the bathroom to be comfortable, the niche for it must have the appropriate dimensions:

  • the minimum niche area is 0.8 * 1.2 m. If you plan to install a washbasin, shower or washing machine, then larger dimensions will be required;
  • in the place where the toilet is supposed to be installed, the ceiling height must be at least 1 m;
  • in the area next to the toilet where an adult will stand, the height of the room should be 10 cm higher than the height of the tallest family member;
  • the height above the washbasin or shower is determined in the same way;
  • The door to the toilet must open outwards.


The last problem can be solved without improving the design. Instead of a swing door, a sliding door is installed, which saves space and gives the whole room a more modern look.

Communication requirements

The toilet under the stairs to the second floor also needs communications. This will require water supply, sewerage, electricity, and ventilation.

The presence of all these components allows you to create a normally functioning bathroom in a wooden building.

  • The most complex systems include sewerage. To install it you need to do the following:
    • The riser from the toilet must be discharged directly into the septic tank or shambo using a separate pipe. You can connect the pipe to a public sewer, if possible;
    • When laying pipes, a slope must be provided to ensure drainage by gravity;
    • To operate the toilet you will need a pipe with a diameter of 100 or 110 mm. Lay with a slope of 1.2–2 cm;
    • To remove waste from a washbasin or shower, a product with a diameter of 50 mm is required. The best angle of inclination is 2.5–3.5 cm per 1 m of length;
    • For external installation, water conduits with a cross-section of 150 mm are used. They are laid with a slope of 0.7–1 cm.
  • The water supply is laid to the nearest node - the kitchen, for example, the same pipes are used as in the entire water supply system of the building. If there is no running water - a dacha, for example, then the water supply is organized from a well or a well. In such cases, it is necessary to install a pumping station.
  • Making lighting is the simplest thing, both in a private country house and in the country. As a rule, there are no difficulties here.
  • Ventilation is also not an easy task. If the space under the stairs is near an external wall, it is not difficult to organize a ventilation window. But if the staircase structure is adjacent to the partition and up to the outer wall, you will have to install ventilation under the ceiling of the first floor or even lead it through the second floor to the roof or attic. In this case, you should also install a fan, since if the length is long, natural ventilation will most likely not be enough.

Finishing requirements

The toilet under the stairs in the house will require a number of other works. This applies equally to both wooden and stone buildings. We are talking about waterproofing.

If there is a catastrophic lack of free space in the house, then it is necessary to rationally use every corner, every meter and the space under the stairs is no exception.

Very often, home owners simply neglect this area, sealing it tightly, and completely in vain: with a little imagination, time and building materials, the space under the stairs will not only allow you to effectively use precious space, but will also become some kind of original solution in the interior.

How to use the space under the stairs - arranging a niche

Arranging the space under the stairs requires careful design. The following points must be taken into account:

  • staircase size. Sometimes you can equip a whole office under it, and sometimes you have to limit yourself to just some small piece of furniture;
  • design features: shape, presence of risers;
  • location. If it is located, for example, in the hallway, then it is advisable to use the area under the stairs as a dressing room, if in the living room - as a library;
  • availability of utilities. If you plan to place a mini-toilet under the stairs, then water supply and sewerage pipes must be connected here. It is also necessary to take care of lighting;
  • the use of space under the stairs requires compliance with safety regulations, taking into account the number and age of residents, the need for certain premises and functional areas. Do not forget that the design of the space under the stairs should harmoniously fit into the decor of the entire room.

Room under the stairs - photos of rooms

In a country house or country house, the space under the stairs can be equipped as a full-fledged room. The room under the stairs, although it has a small area, can become very useful if the space is used rationally.

Kitchen under the stairs - interior photo

A staircase in the kitchen is not common, but it does happen, especially if we are talking about a room decorated in the “loft” style, that is, a studio apartment. In this case, it is advisable to use the area as rationally as possible. To do this, you can place some of the equipment in a niche under the stairs. Thus, the entire structure ceases to look like a foreign body in the interior.

Kitchens under the stairs, as a rule, consist of a sink, cabinets and shelves for every little thing; sometimes in this area you can see a gas water heater or boiler. Finding suitable furniture will be quite difficult, so you will either have to make it yourself or order it.

The kitchen under the stairs has its own nuances associated with the inclined shape of the flight. Consider whether you will hit your head on the steps while washing dishes. Plan in advance the supply of communications to the under-staircase area.

It is also important to take into account that the hot steam rising from the sink will not have the most beneficial effect on the condition of the stairs (especially wooden ones). Therefore, you should take care of good vapor and moisture insulation, as well as provide this area with good ventilation.

The drawing shows a kitchen under the stairs, consisting of a sink and cabinets.

If there is another place for the sink and kitchen cabinets, then any household appliances can be installed in the niche under the stairs. A refrigerator for which you allocate the highest place will fit perfectly. And next to it, where there is a little less space, you can put a dishwasher or a small table with a microwave oven. If the bathroom is a bit cramped, you can also place a washing machine under the stairs.

Toilet under the stairs in a house or country house - photo of a bathroom

Usually, under a flight of stairs of 8 or 10 steps there is enough space to install a toilet and washbasin. A toilet under the stairs, located on the lower floors of the house, will come in handy if you have guests. And at the dacha it can easily pass for the main bathroom.

The arrangement of the toilet room begins with enclosing the space with walls. The bathroom under the stairs is located on the square:

  • minimum height 1 meter;
  • maximum height 2.6 meters;
  • room length 2.3 meters;
  • The width of the room is 1.2 meters.


If space allows, you can install a small bathroom under the stairs. In this case, it is better to use a small-sized bathtub or replace it with a shower stall.

When arranging this room, take into account its specifics: changes in humidity and temperature. The understairs finishing should be such as to protect the stairs from dampness and water. When arranging a bathroom, be sure to ensure ventilation, good vapor and heat insulation, and compliance with all safety requirements.

It is also important to consider that the bathroom space will most likely be small and cramped. Therefore, when decorating it, it is better to use light colors, avoiding a dark border around the perimeter, which visually makes the room smaller. It is also worth refusing to use large-sized facing tiles. Mirrors and shiny surfaces will help to visually enlarge a cramped room. It is better to replace the point light source with several lamps installed around the perimeter of the ceiling.

Hallway under the stairs - photo of a functional interior

If the staircase is located in the hallway, you need to carefully plan the room. Some of the furniture can be placed under a flight of stairs, for example, installing a small sofa or bench, where you can sit down and take off your shoes.

If there is enough space, a coffee table and an armchair or a mirror with a wooden bedside table for bags and things that you need to take with you when leaving the house can be placed under the stairs.

How to make a storage room under the stairs - photos of storage rooms

A small closet under the stairs is ideal for storing household items. If there are animals in the house, it is in the pantry room that you can place everything you need for your pet. For every little thing, install shelves, securing them not only on the walls, but also on the back side of the rise. If the pantry does not look very aesthetically pleasing, then you can fence it off by installing a door under the stairs.

There should be no heating pipes or radiators in the under-stairs area. It is necessary to maintain room temperature and humidity. Under-stairs storage is ideal for storing items that need a “dark and dry place.”

Wardrobe under the stairs - photo of dressing room design

A dressing room under the stairs will save the hallway from a clutter of closets with outerwear and shoes and save space. With a well-chosen project, it is possible to create a very interesting design.

The figure shows an option for arranging a dressing room with a height of more than 2 meters. In the cabinets (6) and mezzanines (12) it is possible to store shoes and small items. A closet (10) is provided for storing outerwear.

A wardrobe under the stairs is ideal for storing items that are rarely used and require careful storage, such as fur coats.

If the hallway is small, then you should not make it a closed room, otherwise, use mirrored doors to visually expand the space. So, the dressing room under the stairs will not look massive, and the mirror will definitely come in handy in the hall.

Cellar under the stairs with bar

If the house does not have a real cellar, then a niche under the stairs is suitable for this. At the same time, in the lowest part of the span there is space for a wine cabinet, and the higher part can be used to install a bar counter and a pair of chairs. With this design of the space, you get not only a cellar, but also a bar under the stairs.

To store alcoholic beverages, racks with cells are installed, each of which holds a bottle.

When equipping a wine cellar, you should remember that if the staircase is in the house, then a full-fledged storage facility suitable for aging and long-term storage of wine will not work, because it is impossible to meet strict requirements for temperature conditions and lighting.

A real wine cellar can only be made in the basement. It is here that the air temperature ranges from 8 to 14 degrees, the humidity is slightly high and there is no light, that is, there are all the conditions for storing wines.

The closet under the stairs is a secluded corner in the house

Everyone in their home has a bunch of unnecessary things that they hate to throw away. The closet under the stairs is just the place where such household items can be stored.

When arranging a closet, a good solution would be to use pull-out sections that will make it easier to find the necessary things in a tight space.

Place a vacuum cleaner, children's bicycle, skis, sleds in the closet, and these items will not clutter up your home. It is better to make the door invisible, merging with the partition.

If the area of ​​the closet is large enough, then it can be converted into a living space. A cozy closet under the stairs will appeal to children and can serve as a sleeping place for guests.

Office under the stairs or home office - photo of the workspace

If you want to equip every meter of your home with maximum benefit, then you can place a small office in the space under the stairs. Depending on the design and size of the flight of stairs, it can be either a desk with a couple of shelves, or a full-fledged room with all the accompanying attributes. The photo shows how you can equip a home office under the stairs.

As a rule, the disadvantage of an office under the stairs is the acute lack of light, so when designing a work space, you need to carefully consider the local lighting system.

The workplace under the stairs is best equipped with folding furniture, lots of drawers and hanging shelves. This approach will allow you to use every corner.

If you like privacy, then you should isolate your office using sliding doors or a static partition. Such a decision is sometimes dictated by the need to hide expensive office equipment or important documents from children's eyes.

If you have an entire home office under a flight of stairs, you'll need a sophisticated storage system. . These can be just shelves attached to the bottom of the stairs, or drawers, cabinets and racks - it all depends on the area of ​​the room and your imagination.

Library under the stairs - shelves and racks for books

In a modern interior it can be difficult to find a place for books, especially if you like minimalism. In this case, the space under the stairs is perfect for equipping a small home library. Books are placed either on special shelves or in drawers and racks.

Books mounted on shelves under the stairs will successfully complement the interior look of any home. Fortunately, the design of the library and its functionality do not conflict with each other: books with beautiful spines add completeness to the interior, making the library look elegant and monumental.

If you also install a neat table with a cozy chair, you will have a comfortable reading place under the stairs.

Garage for bicycles or strollers under the stairs

Any family, especially if there are children, has bicycles, strollers, skateboards and other vehicles that take up quite a lot of space. Therefore, using the space under the stairs as a mini-garage will be absolutely justified.

This solution works especially well if the stairs are located close to the front door.

Furniture under the stairs - photo of built-in fittings

As a rule, the area under the stairs is equipped with special furniture, made to order or made by hand. This is due to the specifics of this space.

Wardrobe under the stairs in the house - design and photos of built-in wardrobes

Today it is possible to manufacture cabinets of the most unexpected shapes, which allow maximum use of the space under the stairs. These include a wardrobe, pull-out models, and a built-in wardrobe under the stairs.

Doors can be solid, sliding, glass or mirror. Cabinets under the stairs are installed in all cases where it is necessary to rationally use the free space. Such fittings also perform a purely aesthetic function, decorating the interior.

Installing drawers allows you to make the most efficient use of the area under the flight of stairs. Their depth is usually equal to the width of the stairs, so they are very roomy.

The drawers are equipped with special mechanisms that make it easy to remove everything you need from them. This is the best option for storing small items.

Shelves under the stairs

Using shelves of various configurations under the stairs, you can create an entire storage system. The shelves will not be empty, because in the house there will always be a bunch of little things that have nowhere to go. They can be attached to a wall or to the underside of a flight of stairs.

Bed under the flight of stairs - photo of sleeping places

A bed located under the stairs is a fairly common attribute of country houses. This lounger is very cozy; you can sit on it with a book or take a nap after lunch.

Under the bed there are drawers for storing bedding. Although such a bed is unlikely to be suitable as a permanent sleeping place, it can help you out if guests arrive.

Sofa under the stairs - photos of places to relax

A small sofa can become your favorite place to relax. A few small pillows, an old blanket and a cozy place is ready.

In the case where the staircase is located in the bedroom, which is quite possible in studio apartments, the niches under the stairs can be equipped as a sleeping place by placing a transforming sofa there. In this case, it is necessary to choose a mechanism that will be most convenient in the given conditions.

Shelving under the stairs

The shelving unit is functional furniture that allows you to make the most optimal use of the space under the stairs. Moreover, the entire structure is divided into cells, which allows you to sort things into groups.

The main requirements that shelving designs must meet are capacity and functionality. Outwardly, they seem light, airy and do not create a feeling of bulkiness. And this is all that is needed to effectively use the space under the stairs.

Modern shelving units are equipped with drawers and sliding doors that make them even more functional. To fill the space under the stairs, mobile racks are especially popular, which, thanks to their compact size and mobility, can fit into any nook.

What else can be done under the stairs - alternative options

If the owners of the house are not concerned with the idea of ​​rational use of every centimeter, but simply want to diversify the interior of their home, then placing a TV, flowers, paintings, an artificial waterfall, a piano or an aquarium under the stairs is a very good idea.

In living rooms with access to the second floor, you can install a fireplace under the stairs. However, it is necessary to adhere to all fire safety rules. This interior detail will become a stylish decoration for your home.

If you decide to place a dollhouse with a real door and window in the space under the stairs, the child will enthusiastically support such an idea. Having an additional play area will help eliminate constant quarrels between children.

You should think about arranging the space under the stairs in advance, even at the stage of designing the house. After all, even installing a TV requires an outlet, not to mention such complex projects as a boiler or stove under the stairs.