In a typical house, the space under the stairs tends to get used in one of two ways: as a loo or as a cupboard (assuming you're not depositing unwanted nephews with magical powers there). Of course these are brilliantly practical uses of space and much-needed functions in most houses, and there are ways to make both loos and cupboards feel jewel-like and indulgent. On the other hand, there is an argument to be made for using this bonus space in a more frivolous way – it might be one of the first things people encounter when they come into your house, after all. The ideas below are, above all, fun: brilliant conversation pieces and magical spaces to enjoy as well as use.
Stella Weatherall's home bar
Home bars are increasingly popular, and if you entertain a lot at home, they're such a fun way to create a sense of occasion. Some people go for bar trolleys or cabinets, but we adore this bespoke bar in interior designer Stella Weatherall's west London house. Stella Weatherall has made the most of the space by having the joinery made especially for it by Alfred Newall, building in smart raffia-lined cabinets, racks on either side for bottles, and even a handy sink. We love the antiqued mirror glass that forms the backsplash, as this helps to bounce light around in the hallway and gives the illusion of more space than is actually there. You could choose to blend the joinery into the rest of the walls by painting it the same colour, but Stella has chosen to make it an eye-catching feature, painting the woodwork in Farrow and Ball's ‘Radicchio’ in gloss.
Charlotte Smiley's children's wendy house
What child wouldn't adore having a magical hideaway like this in their house? Charlotte Smiley, a designer whose playful approach to decoration includes building ‘Borrower holes’ into the skirting boards of rooms, has created this wendy house under the stairs in the basement of her London house. Adjacent to the children's playroom, it's the most delightful space, with pretty gingham curtains and a window box of faux flowers.
Lonika Chande's reading nook
If you're particularly clever about the way you organise the space under the stairs, you can fit in storage as well as something a bit more fun. That's what interior designer Lonika Chande managed in her former house in Queen's Park, London. There are cupboards to the left, and the bench doubles as storage, but the showstopper here is the brilliantly clever reading nook she has created. Displaying books is always a good way, as the saying goes, to furnish a room, and it's all the more impactful in a hallway where you rarely see them. A little wall light and mirror makes the nook feel all the more cosy and considered. A bench like this also provides a handy place to sit and put shoes on, as well as sit and wait for any dawdling children or spouses to get ready to go out.
