How to arrange a room under the stairs. How to make a pantry under the stairs: interesting and simple ideas. Wardrobe with hinged doors

Many owners of country cottages, multi-level townhouses, private houses and summer cottages are faced with the problem of arranging the space under the stairs in the premises. It is a pity to lose part of the usable area if a mid-flight or screw structure with platforms and steps is installed in the room. To wisely use the free space, you can install a cabinet under the stairs of the built-in type, made according to an individual project and drawing. Any design and design ideas are available for implementation, so the owner wins doubly - he gets functional furniture and effectively uses the space under the stairs.

Currently, built-in wardrobes mounted under a flight of stairs in a two-story cottage, multi-level room, country house architecture have ceased to be considered an exotic design option and are among common pieces of furniture. Built-in structures organically complement the interior, effectively combined with the stairs and the decor of the room. The purpose of furniture is the competent use of free space under the stairs. At the same time, the cabinet located under the stairs is a functional structure for the ergonomic use of furniture in everyday life. Features and benefits of original furniture:

  • rational use of free space for compact installation of furniture for various purposes - a library, a mini dressing room, a storage module, a hallway, a workplace;
  • the absence of unused and uncomfortable areas - a cabinet made strictly according to the size of the space under the stairs is ergonomic and functional;
  • installation of a built-in type structure - it is irrational to install a stationary model under the stairs, since the walls, roof, floor will take away useful centimeters of area;
  • implementation of non-standard design solutions, the ability to mount a cabinet model of any design in an empty area under the stairs - a sliding compartment, a hinged cabinet, a cupboard, a rack;
  • aesthetically attractive addition to the interior of the room, the visual effect of a holistic tandem of a cabinet and stairs (marching, spiral, on bolts or stringers);
  • the versatility of products in the living space - it is important to install cabinets under the stairs in a private house, cottage, townhouse, in the country.

Furniture enterprises are engaged in the manufacture of cabinets according to individual projects of customers after measuring the free space for mounting the product. As an option, you can make a simple cabinet in the under-growth zone yourself - it is easy to equip a rack with open shelves with your own hands. In the built-in models, the walls of the room act as load-bearing elements, the stairs are the roof, the bottom of the cabinet is the floor in the room, but you can install a separate slab of modern wood-based materials.

Kinds

In a private house, cottage, in the country, two types of stairs are installed - mid-flight with straight spans of steps, intermediate platforms and screw, the design of which is made in a spiral around the support axis. It is problematic to build a wardrobe into the space of a spiral staircase - it is easier to limit yourself to creating a small corner for relaxing with a compact table, to install a chest of drawers or a cabinet. Spiral structures are equipped with a main support, on which degrees are hung, the staircase to the attic or floor looks attractive as an independent element of the interior, takes up little space, so cabinets are built in under the marching steps. The main types of cabinets:

  • compartment model - ideally combined with all interior styles, selects a minimum of free space. It is attractive that the doors can be finished with various facade options, using photo printing, sandblasting, mirror panels for decoration. The internal filling of the cabinet depends on the size of the space under the stairs. It is convenient to install a compartment with a sliding door system under the stairs of small and medium turn of the steps;
  • a built-in wardrobe with hinged doors is the best solution for spacious rooms. When developing a project, you need to take into account the free space for opening doors. You can use this option for equipping the hallway, equipping the furniture with a mirror, accessories for storing outerwear, baskets for shoes, drawers for small items, accessories, key holders, stands for umbrellas, hats. In the presence of a small usable area, a pantry is equipped here;
  • sliding wardrobe according to the principle of a spacious chest of drawers - you can mount furniture sections in horizontal and vertical versions, as in the photo below. Structural elements (boxes with beveled top) move on roller wheels, so they do not leave mechanical damage on the flooring. It is convenient to store dimensional objects, things, sports equipment (skates, skis, golf sets) or household appliances for cleaning premises in capacious retractable modules;
  • shelving with open shelves - often used to equip the library in the space under the stairs. Shelves of various sizes are built into a free niche, fixing parts on the back and side walls. Open shelving looks organic in the home living room - with their help you can equip a cozy corner with memorabilia, souvenirs, family photos, books. It should be noted that dust settles faster on open shelves, so it is often necessary to put things in order in the rack;
  • the combined version of furniture is an interesting design solution that combines open sections with closed modules. Behind the doors in the high part of the closet it is convenient to store outerwear, and open shelves are suitable for placing original interior items - vases, figurines, fresh flowers and other things. If the internal space allows, a TV is built into the niche, audio and video equipment is placed on the shelves, as in the presented photo.

The space under the stairs can be equipped with a cabinet for any purpose, the area under the steps can be equipped with a bar counter, racks for storing a collection of wines. The main condition is that the furniture material, decorative fittings, cabinet finishing should be combined with the staircase in style and color in order to get a solid structure that complements the interior of the room.

swing

retractable

Facade decoration

What makes a cabinet stand out? The original design of the facades, for the manufacture of which you can use a variety of materials. There is no need to make a case for a built-in wardrobe, but as an option, a staircase to the attic can be supplemented with a case model. The main materials used in furniture production are MDF and chipboard, less often natural solid wood. Facades can be implemented and designed in several ways:

  • mirror panels - visually expand the space of the room, look appropriate in the hallway, dressing room. Behind the mirrored doors you can hide hangers for outerwear, shoe racks, shelves for hats, accessories;
  • facades with photo printing - with the help of professional equipment, a pattern is applied to the base using laser engraving technology, ultraviolet printing. The photographic quality of the finish gives the images a realistic look;
  • sandblasting on tinted glass. Very interesting design ideas are matte images that give the space near the stairs a luxurious and sophisticated look. Sandblasted drawings are not erased, do not require complex care;
  • glossy plastic facades - this design visually enlarges the room space, looks spectacular in contrast to the floor and carpeting. Plastic is affordable, facades are presented in a wide color palette;
  • rattan or bamboo doors. Finishing is relevant for interiors in ethnic and oriental style. The material is light, looks simple, natural. Rattan and bamboo can be included in a minimalist interior style.

In addition, decorative leather is used to finish the facades - it goes well with natural wood furniture. If the staircase to the attic is made in a simple style, with minimal decor, you can equip a modest pantry, and use vertical louvered doors as facade panels. Such a cabinet looks inconspicuous under the stairs, does not focus on the niche under it.

The wardrobe rack is equipped with open shelves, so all things and objects will be in sight. If you need to close part of the sections, it is preferable to install combined furniture.

Popular design ideas for furniture construction are an open section and shelves with roundings, a middle compartment, a compartment with a hinged door or a drawer with a decorative panel. You can choose any design of the cabinet under the stairs, but the facade decoration should be in harmony with the design of the steps, the rest of the furniture, and the style of the room.

Glossy

Mirrored

Photo printing

How to fit into the interior

The stairs to the attic or the second floor, depending on the dimensions of the room, can be located along one of the walls, start in the central part of the room, have turns, curves. The easiest way is to install the cabinet under the stairs, located along the wall - you can mount a lightweight structure that complements the flights of stairs. The main advantage of using the space under the stairs is that interior elements can be made invisible or, on the contrary, focus on an interesting idea for decorating a room. Depending on which room and building you need to equip the space under the stairs, you can choose several ways to harmoniously fit the cabinet:

  • if the stairs to the attic, second, third floors are located in the area of ​​​​the entrance doors, it is worth installing a hallway or dressing area with storage systems under the steps. The room does not have to be additionally equipped with furniture with hangers for outerwear, shoe shelves, hooks for umbrellas, bags;
  • when the stairs to the upper floors in the living room are located, the space under the stairs is convenient to use for arranging an open shelving of a library with bookshelves, a wine cellar, a “souvenir” shop, and a recreation area with a TV. Option - a combined cabinet with several closed sections;
  • in a narrow space under the stairs, it is appropriate to install deep and high drawer cabinets under the stairs, equipped with Cargo pull-out mechanisms, as an inconspicuous pantry for storing overall items and items that are needed every day - children's toys, sports equipment, ironing board;
  • in modern duplex apartments, a staircase is a must. The first tier is traditionally used as a living room, kitchen, dining area, the second level is for sleeping and working space. Under the stairs, you can effectively fit a cupboard or furniture with a bar counter into the interior;
  • in the dacha, the area of ​​​​the rooms is limited, the staircase to the attic (attic) or the second floor is small, has a simple design, and the interior is dominated by country, retro, Provence, classic, less often loft, modern, minimalism. It is important to use the free space under the stairs for a closet with an antique entourage.

Furniture design depends on both the interior style and the house as a whole. For example, in a country villa, the staircase serves as a decoration of the building; it is better to fit under it a chic closet, a rich library, furniture with glass display cases and shelves for a collection of expensive wine. In small country houses, small-sized cottages of standard architecture, the space under the stairs is used to optimize free space - more often they install inconspicuous cabinets, simple open shelving, secret pantries, dressing rooms.

When choosing the color of a single design, the cabinet stairs to the second floor are based on the design of the railings and steps. In some cases, deep horizontal drawers are installed, which serve as a natural constructive continuation of winder steps and do not stand out from the general background. You can competently fit a wardrobe in any interior style, while solving two problems at the same time - the use of an empty under-stair space, spectacular room decoration.

Nuances of placement

An important advantage of equipping a room with a wardrobe under the stairs is the optimal capacity of the furniture, since the depth of the model corresponds to the width of the stairs, and the height at the maximum point is at least 950 mm. Such dimensions are quite suitable for organizing storage systems for overall items, clothes, shoes, household appliances or for the implementation of a decorative corner with an aquarium, souvenir shelves, TV, mini bar, wine collection. To correctly design and place a cabinet under the stairs, you need to consider a few nuances:

  • when using a sliding door opening system, it is necessary to provide enough space for the panel to move along the lower or upper rails. In some designs, it will not be possible to fully open the sashes, so unused zones will remain in the locker;
  • when installing a built-in cabinet with hinged doors, the width of the wings should not exceed 1000 mm. Under the weight of a heavy panel, the hinges are skewed and the mechanisms for opening / closing the wings fail. It is inconvenient to use a wide swing door - it is better to install two small doors;
  • when placing drawers under the stairs, it is necessary to ensure their full extension for access to the back wall of the space under the stairs - it is especially important if communication systems pass under the stairs. Vertical boxes are equipped with Teflon-coated rollers - they have a long service life;
  • when installing an open shelving cabinet, you need to combine shelves in height and width in order to place objects of various sizes on them. The shelves are mounted into the wall and to the steps, so the base is made strong, and the finishing is done. The weight of the shelves filled with things should moderately load the stairs;
  • An alternative solution is to install a compact cabinet ladder, suitable for arranging a flight of stairs that is small in height and length. The steps simultaneously serve as the roof of the furniture structure; for their manufacture, durable material is used, for example, a shield, natural wood.

There are a lot of interesting ideas for equipping the space under the stairs. In addition to mounting the cabinet, under the steps you can design a separate room - a playroom for children, a study, a lounge for relaxing with a comfortable sofa.

Sometimes the space under the stairs is used to install washing machines inside the cabinet, but care should be taken to supply communications and constantly ventilate the area under the stairs. A variety of design solutions allows you to rationally use the unused space under the stairs and add bright accents to the interior.

Video

A photo

Basically, residents of country houses, cottages or cottage owners think about using the space under the stairs. If the staircase is not a spiral one, but an ordinary one, then it will be infinitely insulting if a lot of space remains empty. How to arrange the space under the stairs in a cottage, apartment or country house comfortably, beautifully and practically is a very topical issue. There are many photos on the Internet where you can see how people decorate their interiors, but not all options are easy to do.

Why fill the empty space under the stairs

There is a huge variety of options for using the space under the stairs, because in addition to a more rational use of space, the design of the stairs will become more reliable and durable. Exclusive design solutions will be a great find for the whole family and will be able to surprise relatives and friends.

Possible use of free space under the stairs

Stairs in each room are located differently, it will depend on what will be in the free space, whether it is possible to install a door, how the design work will go. There are several options: space under the stairs in the hallway (corridor), in the living room.

The space under the stairs in the hallway or hallway

In the hallway or corridor, the space under the stairs can be occupied by:

  • pantry;
  • wardrobe (dressing room);
  • a room (for example, an office);
  • toilet;
  • shelves under the stairs;
  • kitchen.

In the pantry under the stairs it is very convenient to store household items, preparations for the winter, sleds or skis, a boat, car parts, a vacuum cleaner, garden supplies or other useful things. The pantry can be arranged using materials, with your own hands, or you can entrust the matter to professionals. The pantry can be made both closed and open, although experts recommend making it a mixed type. The pantry can be decorated with various improvised means, such as sparkles, pieces of fabric, figures made of cardboard or colored paper. You can also use purchased phosphor stars or other interesting additions, the design can be any. Here the imagination of the inhabitants of the house is limitless. Photos of projects can be seen on the website.

Wardrobe (part-time dressing room) under the stairs

The cabinet under the stairs is a very convenient and effective option for using the space under the lower flight and the first landing. Now it will not clutter up the living room or bedroom space. Such a cabinet can be made independently at home with the right materials, or ordered by specifying the desired size and color. The wardrobe can be decorated as you wish (for example, with children's drawings).
If there is a lot of space under the stairs, you can arrange a whole dressing room in the closet, the design of which can be either developed independently or agreed with a specialist. As an example, the wardrobe frame can be viewed at the link.

Room (study) under the stairs

If one of the family members spends a lot of time at the computer, and there is no way to allocate a separate room for this, then the office under the stairs is a wonderful solution, the photo shows options for such a design of the space under the stairs.
There will be a comfortable atmosphere for more efficient work, and the opportunity not to interfere with the rest of the family to go about their business. A small built-in table, a computer or laptop, a lamp on the wall and a comfortable chair are all you need for this.

Toilet under the stairs

The organization of a bathroom in the space under the stairs is perhaps the most irrational use of this free space. However, if the owners of the house nevertheless decided to equip it in this way, then it is better to use the services of specialists in the field of plumbing. True, it is worth preparing for the fact that it will be expensive, and the installation of a ventilation system and a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room can cause a lot of inconvenience in the future.

Shelves under stairs

When using the space under the stairs, it is important to decide whether there will be shelves or drawers. Designers agree that randomly placed drawers and shelves together will create a sense of gaudiness and clutter. You can store various small things, dishes, clothes, a collection of wines, tools and much more in shelves or drawers. A small greenhouse will look original (it is important to choose plants that do not need an abundance of light and fresh air). Multi-colored shelves will be a kind of highlight of the design (photos of such shelves are available on the net and it’s easy to make them even with your own hands).

If the owners decide to make a small kitchen under the stairs, you should pay attention to one extremely important point. Due to the fact that you cannot do without gas in the kitchen, and it is rather problematic to connect the stove, you can put a couple of electric stoves and carry out ventilation. A kitchen under the stairs is quite possible (see photo), but arranging it is quite troublesome.
The simplest option would be a small kitchen corner for tea drinking or a small bar where you can have a good time with a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

Space under the stairs in the living room

Often modern cottages are designed in such a way that the stairs go straight to the living room and there is not much space left. The space under the stairs in this case can be used:

  • for TV;
  • for a fireplace;
  • for a rack;
  • for an armchair or a small sofa;
  • for an amateur photo studio.

TV under the stairs

The best option would be to use the free space for a TV or a small home theater. It will perfectly fit into the interior, and if there are small children at home, it will remain safe and sound if you install a door to a small room under the stairs.

The presence of a fireplace under the stairs is a very convenient and practical way to fill the free space. It will serve as an excellent addition to the recreation area (you can arrange a cozy armchair and a bookshelf nearby) and will be safe for family members, besides, it will serve as a decoration for the room and give its design a kind of chic.

The fireplace under the stairs is beautiful, warm and does not take up much space

Shelving under the stairs

For collectors and just lovers of various small beautiful things, a rack built under the stairs is suitable. It will conveniently accommodate vases, African or theatrical masks, figurines, and other interesting souvenirs. You can also place frames with photos dear to your heart on the rack. Book lovers will be pleased with their own small library, which will take pride of place on the rack.

Armchair or small sofa under the stairs

Many people want to be alone sometimes, but it is difficult to feel calm, being in the middle of a large room. But a cozy armchair or a small sofa of original design under the stairs will create the necessary atmosphere for relaxation. You can read a book, drink tea or just close your eyes and dream.

Using the space under the stairs in the country

The space under the stairs in the country house is useful for storing various things.

Due to the slope, the staircase occupies a significant part of the area, which would be unreasonable to ignore. After all, the space under the stairs in a country house can become a completely functional and self-sufficient part of the living space.

Utility rooms under the stairs

An empty space under the stairs, taking up a significant part of the free space, can be turned from a disadvantage into a virtue. Moreover, an interesting design and thoughtful execution will make this part of a country house or cottage a highlight of the entire interior. We offer you original options for using such a room: from a place for storing food to equipping a full-fledged kitchen, bathroom, library or study.

Toilet or bathroom

Under a large flight of stairs, there is enough space for arranging a toilet with a washstand, shower or bath. As a rule, they are equipped as additional rooms for guests.

For the toilet you will need a room:

  • width from 1.2 m;
  • length from 2.3 m;
  • height from 2.6 m (closer to the corners, the smallest height is up to 1 m).

In a room where residents or guests can fully wash themselves, a little more space will be needed - one of its walls should be large enough to install at least a sitting bath or shower. Do not forget only that such premises require not only high-quality ventilation, but also waterproofing of floors and vapor barriers of walls and ceilings. Subject to all the above requirements, it is possible to equip here even a miniature bath or sauna.

The bathroom will appear visually more spacious if you use light-colored finishing materials and mirrors. In dim light, part of the space is hidden, so it will be necessary to take care of sufficient lighting.

Each country house has a lot of things: skis, a bicycle, a stroller, a stepladder, an ironing board, a vacuum cleaner and other bulky items, the placement of which sometimes becomes a real problem.

Free space under the stairs to the second floor in this case will be most welcome. Moreover, it is located near the front door. But it will be possible to use it as a pantry in the absence of batteries or heating pipes here.

The space under the stairs is also suitable for storing seasonal items: sheepskin coats, fur coats, down jackets, raincoats, jackets, shoes, etc. There are many options for the location of cabinets - it all depends on the free space and your desire.

Retractable structures, closed most of the time, are not only original, but also very convenient. It is not necessary to hide a small space under the landing behind the door. If you choose cabinets in the same style as the rest of the furniture, they will look harmonious and stylish.

Food storage

In the absence of a cellar, some of the blanks that do not require a low temperature for storage will be placed on shelves under the stairs. Rarely used kitchen utensils are also stored here. It is also possible to equip such a room with a storage for ready-made, already corked wines (for their aging, you still need a cooler room).

In order for the light to fall on the bottles as little as possible, it will be necessary to take care of dark or tinted doors. For real winemakers, this is also an opportunity to once again demonstrate to guests the fruits of their labor.

Functional areas

Depending on the size, configuration and location in the house, the space under the stairs can be used as independent functional areas or parts of them.

Hallway

In most cases, the staircase is located near the front door, so a piece of furniture from the hallway is placed under it - a wardrobe or hanger and a shoe rack. A small bench or even a sofa would be appropriate, on which you can sit down, taking off or putting on your shoes.

If you choose furniture to match the main hallway, you can not close the room with a door. Here you can place a coffee table and a couple of chairs.

In this case, guests, while waiting for the hosts, will be able to take their time to look through the latest press. A mirror, an umbrella stand and a bedside table for seasonal items or bags complete the interior.

Kitchen

It is placed under the stairs mainly with a lack of space, when every meter has to be saved. But with a reasonable approach, even from the space under the stairs, you can make a full-fledged kitchen.

Standard furniture will not work here - due to the specifics of the architecture, it will have to be made to order or assembled by hand. First of all, it is necessary to think over the laying of communications and the hood. Otherwise, the steam coming from the stove and sink will quickly render wooden structures unusable. In order not to often bend over, it is better to equip cabinets in the place of a small rise in the flight of stairs, which will have to be used less often.

Another option is also used - a room located nearby is allocated for washing, stoves and cabinets, and only a refrigerator, a freezer, a washing machine and dishwashers are placed under the stairs.

A wood or charcoal fire under a wooden or log staircase is not a good idea. But if the flight of stairs has a concrete base, this option is quite possible. It will only be necessary to think over a place for the removal of burnt fuel - a chimney.

Depending on the overall style, such a hearth can be finished with tiles, bricks, stone or wood.

The equipment of an electric fireplace under the stairs in a wooden house is much easier and safer. Moreover, modern models of electric fireplaces outwardly differ little from conventional ones heated by wood.

Library

A small home library with your favorite publications can also be placed in a niche under the stairs. Shelves or a cabinet are most often installed under the flight of stairs itself, and a small table and a couple of comfortable chairs are located nearby.

Shelves with books can be combined with a bed - a small sofa or sofa. A fairly roomy upper part of the niche in this case will not be empty.

Workplace

If the house does not have the opportunity to allocate a significant area for the study, it is quite possible to use the space under the stairs for these purposes. It can become either a full-fledged room with a computer desk, a comfortable chair, a bookcase, or a small corner with a couple of armchairs, one or two shelves and a coffee table.

Part of the furniture can be moved outside the stairs. For example, install a computer desk in a niche, and place shelves with office equipment and books nearby.

Please note that the office should be well lit. It will be better if the lighting is not only local, but also point. To do this, you can use both several lamps built into the ceiling and a floor lamp, which will give the room a special coziness and harmony.

Rest zone

Depending on the size of the space under the stairs, you can equip a full-fledged sleeping place or a small corner for relaxation here.

A comfortable couch, a sofa or even a single chair can be installed even in a small niche. If you make a small window in this place, your household will be able to enjoy the surrounding landscape in the evenings or just dream in half-asleep.

Children's play area

The space under the stairs is a finished house in which the younger members of the family will spend their free time with interest. A small room is the best fit for children's ideas about comfort. It remains only to make a door for it and equip it with children's play furniture. Depending on the inclinations of the child, the room can be designed in the form of a dollhouse, a sports corner or an art workshop.

Be sure to take care of high-quality lighting. Twilight in the children's room is unacceptable. To make the room seem more spacious, try to use more light, pastel shades in the decoration. Bright figures of your favorite cartoon characters on the walls or furniture cases will help to revive the corner.

You can also equip a children's bedroom in this place by installing a small sofa or a full-fledged single or bunk bed in a niche. Bright pillows, a soft, fluffy blanket will make this corner extraordinarily cozy.

Bar

Under the stairs there is enough space for arranging a full-fledged bar. The rack and chairs are located in the highest part of the span.

When equipping such a room, it is left open or provided with a light door. Here you can place a shelf for glasses and a small refrigerator for drinks.

Furniture placement

Standard furniture cannot be installed in the space under the flight of stairs. But experts offer today on individual projects any kind of cabinets, racks and other furniture of any, even the most unexpected shape and size.

Cupboard

The design of the open space under the stairs, including cabinets, should match the color scheme and style of the rest of the interior.

You can order any number of shelves and shelves for the cabinet, blind or glass doors, which can be either sliding or hinged.

Rack

You can replace a full-fledged wardrobe with a whole system of shelves or racks - in some cases it will even be more convenient. They look less bulky, but things fit in them no less. Here you can place a TV, family photos, children's toys, put an aquarium, equipment, etc.

If there is additional lighting or a window on the shelves, you can arrange designer flower pots.

If you have little experience in carpentry, then you can assemble an unusual rack with your own hands.

Bed

A sleeping place under the stairs is a cozy corner for the rest of the residents of the house or guests. Here you can use a bed or a sofa in the form of a transformer so that it can be assembled for the day, freeing up free space.

Bright pillows and a cozy soft blanket will help to make such a sleeping place truly cozy. For children, you can order an unusual bunk bed.

Sofa

A soft corner under the stairs can become a continuation of the living room or be a separate piece of furniture designed to relax residents or receive visitors.

The walls on the side of the sofa can be equipped with shelves on which not too heavy items will be stored.

Original idea - boxes in the steps

The arrangement of stairs with drawers in the steps looks very unusual. When closed, it forms an original design that can become a very attractive interior detail. You can store anything in them - from children's things to books or household utensils.

Drawers under the flight of stairs are roomy, because their size is limited only by the height of the stairs and the width of the steps. In order for them to be easily put forward, they are equipped with special mechanisms.

We have listed only the main ideas for the rational use of space under the stairs. But you can realize your own idea - install a large aquarium here, equip a real garden of plants or even a cozy place for a pet dog in the form of a capacious original booth. Any unusual and non-standard ideas will only give the house individuality, make it a special cozy place where you want to return again and again.


If more than one person lives in the house, an additional bathroom will definitely not be superfluous. And if there are often guests in it, even more so. Yes, and for the only “corner of thought” in the house, sometimes you have to look for a place if the possibility of its device appeared much later than the end of construction. But you can always find a way out - for example, place a toilet under the stairs in the house.

The space under it is often not used in any way, or is used to store rarely needed things - seasonal clothes and shoes, a vacuum cleaner, etc. So why not make this area functional and useful, as well as beautiful?

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

Toilet requirements

Unfortunately, the implementation of this idea requires not only funds and desire, but also the observance of certain conditions, taking into account the specifics of the bathroom, and the materials from which the stairs and the house itself are made.

Among them:

  • Technical possibility of bringing water supply and sewerage systems to the chosen place;
  • Mandatory forced ventilation device;
  • The need for waterproofing.

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

  • The minimum dimensions are 0.8x1.2 meters, provided that only a toilet is installed. If a sink, bathtub or washing machine is planned, they increase accordingly.

For reference. If your niche is a little smaller, no problem. In city apartments, a very tiny room is often also allocated for a toilet room. Modern plumbing fixtures that take up little space will help get out of the situation. But more on that later.

  • At the installation site of the toilet, the ceiling height must be at least one meter;
  • And his height in front of him is at least a few centimeters more 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 height of the ceiling at the sink and other plumbing:
  • The door to the room should open outwards.

Advice. If there is no space 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 bring water supply under the stairs and draw out drains if there is a kitchen or other utility room with communications nearby. We will not describe in detail how such work is performed, we will only touch on the most important points.

Drains from the toilet can be brought directly into the septic tank or shambo with a separate pipe, or connected to the general house sewer system. In this case, it is imperative to provide for the angle of inclination of the pipeline for the free passage of drains by gravity.

It depends on the diameter of the pipe. The instruction recommends using pipes of the following diameters for sewerage in a private house:

  • 50 mm- for domestic sewage 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 draining drains from the toilet bowl with a slope of 1.2-2.0 cm per linear meter;
  • Pipes of the same diameter or the next size (150 mm) used for outdoor laying and give them a slope of 0.7-1.0 cm per linear meter.

The water line can be laid from the nearest node with 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 you also need to find a place.

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

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

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

This is a rather difficult task if the stairs are far from the outer walls. You will either have to pull the duct under the ceiling of the first floor, or lead it through the second floor to the roof or into the attic.

Finishing

Before finishing the toilet in the house under the stairs, you need to think about waterproofing the floor. And protecting the walls from mold and decay 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 finish flooring:

  • 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;
  • Under the laminate, you can lay bitumen-based roll insulation.
  • 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 partitions, it is best to use moisture-resistant drywall. It can be painted over putty, glue tiles to it.

  • It is important to think well and lighting. If the ceiling height is small, pendant and built-in lights are unlikely to be relevant. Help flat ceiling lights and wall sconces.

Equipment and furnishing

As a rule, the bathroom under the stairs has a very modest size, limited by the width of the span and the slope of the structure. And in such a limited space you can’t clear up, so plumbing has to be selected very carefully.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What else can you do under the stairs

If you live in an urban two-level apartment, where "wet" zones cannot be placed above dry ones.

  • Or you do not have the desire or the ability to pull communications through the whole house.
  • Or the niche is too small to equip the toilet.
  • Or you just do not need another bathroom under the stairs - what else can be equipped there?

Many things. For example, a small niche adjacent to a bathroom or kitchen can house a washing machine, dishwasher or dryer. It is only necessary to bring hoses there for supplying and draining water. And if you want to do it yourself with your own hands, here is such a design from a metal frame and drywall.

And if there is no need for laying communications, then there are a huge number of options. Yes, and the cost of arranging such a space is reduced at times.

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

And 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. Just an equipped niche looks much more aesthetically pleasing than empty space or a warehouse of unnecessary things.

Conclusion

On the video in this article you will find many other examples of the use of undergrowth 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.