Design
Under-Stair Storage Ideas
Updated 2 min read
The short answer
Almost every house has an under-stair void and almost none are properly developed. What you can do with it is decided by the geometry: the tall end takes coats and a vacuum, the middle takes a desk or drawers, and the low end only works as drawers pulling out from the side.
What fits where
| Zone | Height | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Tall end | Over 1800mm | Coats, vacuum, sports gear, or a powder room |
| Upper middle | 1200–1800mm | Shelving, a desk nook, a pet space |
| Lower middle | 700–1200mm | Drawers, shoe storage, filing |
| Low end | Under 700mm | Side-opening drawers only |
A powder room needs the tall end plus drainage nearby — check where the existing stack runs before assuming it is possible.
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The approaches that work
- Full-depth pull-out drawers
- The best use of the low end by a wide margin. Drawers that pull out from the side reach the full depth of the void, which a cupboard door cannot.
- A cupboard at the tall end
- Coats, vacuum, ironing board. The simplest and most common development.
- A desk nook
- Works where the stair is in a room rather than a hallway. Needs power and reasonable light.
- A powder room
- Possible at the tall end where drainage allows. Requires a plumber and usually a permit.
- A pet space
- A built-in crate or bed under the middle section. Genuinely popular and it keeps a crate out of the living room.
- Open shelving as a feature
- Where the stair is visible from a main room and a closed cupboard would look heavy.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Are under-stair drawers expensive?
- Not cheap per cubic metre, because every drawer is a different size and the angled geometry makes it fiddly work. But it is volume you already own and are not using, which changes the calculation. It is one of the better returns on awkward carpentry.
- Can I put a powder room under the stairs?
- Sometimes — you need headroom at the tall end and drainage within reasonable reach. It requires a licensed plumber and usually a permit. The feasibility question is almost always where the existing drainage stack runs.
- What if my electrical panel is under the stairs?
- It must remain accessible, and there are clearance requirements around a panel. That does not rule out development — it means designing around it, typically with a removable or hinged panel providing access.
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