A Home Decor Column by Laura Bullock: Under the Stairs

February 13, 2015
Who wouldn’t love this office space? It has everything you could ask for — storage, plenty of work space, and is tucked out of sight offering some privacy, yet you can still keep an eye and ear open for the kids.
Who wouldn’t love this office space? It has everything you could ask for — storage, plenty of work space, and is tucked out of sight offering some privacy, yet you can still keep an eye and ear open for the kids.

By Laura Bullock

Often a fresh pair of eyes and a little willingness to take a creative approach to a problem area can open our eyes to all sorts of possibilities. Having office space, a cozy corner to read a book, or simply more storage doesn’t always have to mean putting an addition on your home. Whether I’m staging a home for a client or helping a friend redecorate her home with what she already owns, one of the things I love about my job is the opportunity to think outside the box.

Let’s take a look at what these homeowners have done to add space without adding square footage by tapping into the potential under the stairs…

I didn’t know which of these cozy nooks I liked best so I decided not to choose.

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This one one just calls for you to grab a cup of coffee and curl up against the pillows with a good book.
This one one just calls for you to grab a cup of coffee and curl up against the pillows with a good book.
I have a feeling I’d be fighting the dog and cats for room on that cushion.  It’s large enough to even be an extra sleeping spot for a lucky overnight guest. Both nooks have a reading light above and storage below to take full advantage of the space.
I have a feeling I’d be fighting the dog and cats for room on that cushion. It’s large enough to even be an extra sleeping spot for a lucky overnight guest. Both nooks have a reading light above and storage below to take full advantage of the space.
Instead of using valuable wall space for the TV and all the components and paraphernalia that comes with it, why not free up that wall for other uses while you tuck your media center and all those unsightly wires into this beautiful built-in?
What child wouldn’t love their own hideaway? Simple touches like wood shingle siding, a porch light, Dutch door, and a window complete with a window box make this so inviting. Notice the homeowner made this space even more realistic with a shingled “roof” that follows the angle of the stair case. So clever.
What child wouldn’t love their own hideaway? Simple touches like wood shingle siding, a porch light, Dutch door, and a window complete with a window box make this so inviting. Notice the homeowner made this space even more realistic with a shingled “roof” that follows the angle of the stair case. So clever.
Not many people have room for a wine cellar, or the need for a full bar, but both these examples offer practical and attractive solutions that you and your guests will love.
Not many people have room for a wine cellar, or the need for a full bar, but both these examples offer practical and attractive solutions that you and your guests will love.
image 8
Well this is one lucky dog. An oversized mouse-hole doorway leads to a cozy den for him to call his very own. It looks like the floor tile runs right into his area making clean-ups a breeze. A comfy dog bed and a few toys make this space complete.

image 9I love books. You can find books in every room in my home — in the kitchen, on shelves in the bathrooms, ledges in the hallways, stacked on chairs, even between the spindles on the staircase. If there’s an empty space, it has a book on it or in it. The area under my staircases have their own uses, however I wish I had thought of this.

image 10And last but not least, under the stairs is a great place to tuck in a powder room.  Although I have a friend who won’t use my tucked away powder room because of the frosted glass door (Yes, Christine, I’m talking about you!), being a windowless bathroom I’m sure the light that filters through helps to keep you from feeling like you’ve been trapped in a closet.

Hopefully these pictures have inspired you to think outside the box and maybe spark an idea or two. Please share your projects and thoughts on our Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/suzanneandcompany].

About the author: Laura Bullock is a Bedford resident and Suzanne & Company’s Director of Staging, Design and Concierge Services.  She can be reached at [email protected].  Please visit www.historicmahomes.com for more ideas and posts.

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