Modern design thinking is extremely restless and inventive, and sometimes strives to use every piece of free space to place something useful and functional there.

rest area under the stairs
The staircase in the house is a wonderful field for creativity.

You can place a lot of things under its span: shelves, a cabinet with doors, a recreation area, even set up a small study there.

shelves under the stairs
The most functional option is to place shelves in the space under the stairs.

Chances are you've already thought about it. Maybe you've even asked yourself, "How do I make a closet under the stairs myself?"

Advantages and disadvantages

First, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of cabinets under the stairs in the house.The advantages of such an interior element are obvious.

  • Rational use of space.

    things under the stairs
    A staircase-wardrobe to the second floor can become a convenient place to store things of different sizes.
  • "Highlight" in the interior. Without a doubt, a staircase with shelves underneath it can organically complement the overall style of the room.

    under stairs dish racks
    This interior will immediately attract the attention of guests!
  • Maintaining order. Shelves under the stairs are a place where you can hide a vacuum cleaner, a child's bicycle, and rubber boots "until needed".

    under stairs storage cabinets
    Don’t turn it into a closet – rely on modern approaches to organizing “smart” space at home.

Just like every coin has two sides, installing a built-in closet under the stairs in your home has its own stumbling blocks. These need to be considered before you get started.Let's call them disadvantages:

  • Careful design. To ensure that the resulting interior element does not disappoint you, you need to figure out what you really plan to keep in it.

    convenient cabinets under the stairs
    Try to provide several options.
  • Complex geometry of space. For this reason, there are practically no ready-made solutions for built-in under-stairs wardrobes. It is more difficult to take measurements and takes longer to build than any rectangular wardrobe.

    ladder with shelves
    Even a staircase created together with shelves will still have to be adjusted to fit the actual space.
  • Special conditions for preserving the staircase. No matter what brilliant ideas visit your bright head, you can't forget about the staircase itself.

    cupboards under the stairs
    Try not to increase the load on the ladder, and also protect it from moisture and parasites.

Types and features

The main quality of a wardrobe under the stairs is its convenience and practical placement in space. This is what you need to evaluate first of all when choosing its external and internal appearance.Design options:

  • Shelves under the stairs;

    bookshelves under the stairs
    You can store your favorite volumes and pleasant little things, notebooks with notes on the shelves.
  • Glass showcase;

    display case under the stairs
    A wine collection requires a thoughtful approach. You can display them behind transparent display cases, like in a museum.
  • Sliding wardrobe;

    wardrobe under the stairs
    If the dimensions of the stairs allow, you can organize a mini-dressing room under the steps, arranging storage space for shoes and seasonal clothes there.
  • With conventional swing doors;

    cupboard under the stairs
    Convenient cabinets will make all things easily accessible and allow you to keep them clean and tidy.
  • With drawers;

    drawers under the stairs
    The design of drawers is suitable for storing documents, tools and other not very bulky items.
  • Headset;

    under stairs furniture
    A kitchen under the stairs is a great option to save space in your home.
  • Combined options.

    combination set under the stairs
    A kitchen or dining area can be placed under the stairs, and the area under the steps of the structure is perfect for installing numerous cabinets, which are indispensable in the kitchen.

The most affordable option is to simply install shelves. Thus, it is easy to make a closet under the stairs with your own hands. In some cases, this is even preferable.

under stairs shelving
If, for example, the stairs lead from a semi-basement, or you plan to use the space under the stairs in the house to store books, framed photographs and souvenirs.

Modern shelves under the stairs look beautiful. A display case will help hide them from excess dust.

display cabinet under the stairs
Such a wardrobe will look modern and will not overload the room with its volume.

A built-in wardrobe under the stairs will have sliding doors. This is a particularly successful design in cases where the approach to the stairwell is limited.

wardrobe under the stairs
The span of such doors will not take up extra space in the room, but you need to take into account the distance they roll to the sides.

Swing doors are suitable for spacious rooms.

under stairs wardrobe with hinged doors
The reliable and practical design will serve you faithfully for a long time.

Filling the niche under the stairs with drawers is a great idea. You just need to “play” with their width and, perhaps, shape. This option will be convenient if the stairs have a decent depth.

boxes in the stairs
It would be original to place small hidden boxes under the steps.

Another option is to simply place several hanging and floor cabinets at the bottom of the stairs. This option is convenient for forming a work and kitchen area, as they require space to accommodate equipment and various accessories.

kitchen under the stairs
Furniture items intended for under the stairs can be ready-made, made by yourself or custom-made.

Combined options can combine the features of any of the above types of stairs with a built-in wardrobe and other interior items.

sofa under the stairs
A sofa under the stairs and a few shelves for your favorite books is a great option for a relaxation area.

Furniture under the stairs and interior

In this section we will answer a difficult question: “How to make a closet under the stairs appropriate in a particular room and really convenient?” First of all, you need to look at what room it will be located in.A closet under the stairs in a summer house certainly has its own special features, compared to the same piece of furniture in a two-level apartment.

cupboard under the stairs at the dacha
In this case, it is easier to make a closet under the stairs with your own hands.

In general, the design depends on what is supposed to be stored in it. At the same dacha, not all things can be left for storage in outdoor buildings, so put in it what you would like to bring into the house after active recreation on the garden plot.In a cottage, a staircase can be located almost anywhere: the variety of modern layouts allows this.

shelves for souvenirs under the stairs
It makes sense to place especially valuable items under the stairs with a built-in wardrobe in the living room.

To show them off to your guests, make some glass doors and equip them with lighting. The staircase to the attic floor in the office will obviously require a work area with shelves for books and documents underneath. And under the staircase in the hallway it is necessary to have a wardrobe and shoe boxes.

Dimensions

In general, it is up to you to decide what size of closet you need under your home stairs. Will it fit neatly into the flight of stairs, be smaller or larger. In their practice, designers sometimes include one small part of a separate room in the under-stairs space: a dressing room or a bathroom.

bathroom under the stairs
Just make sure it's high enough to stand up to your full height.

Also, small shelves can protrude slightly beyond the stairs.Keep in mind that the amount of things in the house tends to increase, so do not skimp on shelves under the stairs to store them.

Materials, equipment, arrangement

Wood, metal, glass are the materials that deserve attention.

  • Wood is the basis of construction in the house. It is used to make a frame, using structural elements of the wall and stairs. It is suitable for creating various details: doors, drawers, shelves under the stairs.

    boxes in the stairs
    MDF and chipboard can be used as an alternative.
  • Metal is the material for fasteners, fittings, guides, frames of sliding systems, and internal filling elements.

    office under the stairs
    Polymers are not worth considering: the service life of the same plastic door wheels is on average one calendar year.
  • Glass, mirrors are wonderful decorations for doors or independent elements of the structure. Pay special attention to them.

    mirrored drawers and cabinets under the stairs
    Reliability of fastening and absence of excessive mechanical load are important.

Custom made wardrobe ladder

If you choose this option, be sure to call a surveyor or a craftsman to your home: do not provide the figures yourself.

measure the space under the stairs
An experienced worker will be able to give valuable recommendations on design and make adjustments to the drawing.

Actively collaborate with specialists at the design stage! Be sure to inform them how much space, what containers for certain things are needed, and indicate the dimensions. Together, select the style and color for the doors and handles from the catalog, and match them with other elements of the room.

arrangement of space under the stairs
Particular attention should be paid to materials and components. It is better not to save on the durability of the structure.

The most important thing is to remember that you have given your task to professionals. So do not be too intrusive. A good option is to choose a certain frequency and inquire about the progress of the work according to it.

VIDEO: How to Use the Space Under the Stairs. The Best Ideas for the Home.

50 photo ideas on how to use the space under the stairs: