Stairs That Double as Storage – Why Have We Not Thought of This Before?

I am all about planning for more than one purpose. Recently I was reading through some articles and I saw this great image of storage and stairs combined. I know that currently in my apartment, the space under my stairs to my loft is a dead space – I actually have my TV sitting underneath as if it was a cubby. When I saw this creative use of storage, I was awestruck and found myself asking “Why have I not seen this before?!” This is a smart solution that can also look beautiful. Just don’t let it become a junk collector! However, this could almost do away with a console table by the front door. Save money and save space!

Often enough, in a lot of living situations, the stairs can be found close to the front entry – in this photo you can see a good use of a drawer for immediate show storage. One of the “greenest” things you can plan for is reducing your overall building footprint – so why not save the space. Also, if this encourages your kids to put their shoes away and out of site, more power to you! I would just make sure to include a mat or at least clean it out often… I just would not want a pair of stinky tennis shoes to smell up the joint. Every time you open the drawer you would want to enjoy it, not dread it!

I also remember growing up and having a small closet that was built under the stairs – this is another great way to incorporate storage and stairs. If your space is built, this could be accomplished by a local millworker. The inside of the closet does not even necessary have to be finished – but if there is dead space under your stairs, why not put it to use?

It is important to keep in mind that if your stairs are “stacked” in your home, meaning the stairs from the basement are directly below the stairs from floor one to floor two, that most of these solutions will not work – but that is OK. It just means your space was planned well to begin with! But, if you live in a ranch, or in a space like mine, there is only one floor to travel to; you should be set to make your best attempt at smart storage.

How do you use your space efficiently?