If you live in a two-story house, stairs are inevitable. But they sure do take up a lot of space — and what to do with that wedge-shaped no-man's-land underneath? A lot of houses have closets in this area, but if you want to go for something a little more creative, Apartment Therapy has some ideas. 

When my husband and I impulsively tore out much of our home's carpeting two weeks ago, the stairs were a big concern. Both sets are plywood, and we're still deciding how we'll upgrade them.

When I'm running out the door in the mornings, I'm not unusually frantically searching for my wallet, phone, and keys, and that's because upon returning home one of the first things I do is to pull everything out from my pocket. Setting up a landing strip for all your pocket or purse essentials can  mean the difference from leaving on time or wasting time. Here are four ways to integrate tech into your front door...

Christine loved the period details of her dream home — though some of them had been lost under years of paint. Though it took a while (250 hours of stripping alone!), the results of her staircase restoration are light and bright and a little breathtaking. 

A staircase in the entry was a selling point for Cassity, but the builder basic quality left much to be desired. She decided to make the steps worthy of their prime location. Check out the results:

Name: Lori Weitzner, husband Mike and daughters Sophie and Emma
Location: Chelsea; New York, New York
Size: 2,200 square feet
Years lived in: 10 years owned

At first quick glance, it's all neutrals, classic choices and even a piece of oh-so-trendy typography. But spend more than a minute in the home of textile designer Lori Weitzner, her husband and two not-quite-teen daughters, and the fabrics and stories unfold, the plot thickens, and opposites definitely attract. And smack dab in the middle sits a most happy home for four.

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I love before and after projects that involve a good afternoon of organization — no paintbrush, no tools… just some motivation, a vision, and some hard work. More

Whether your mudroom is in the front of the house or back of the house, these well organized spaces show that you often don't need a whole room as a drop zone — just a wall or a corner will do. Here are a few ideas for tackling those muddy boots and misplaced mittens this winter. More

The importance of an organized entryway, or landing strip, is one of our most-repeated tenets here at Apartment Therapy. They help keep your home clutter-free and your life running smoothly, and what's more important than that? If you're only going to tackle one task for Project Month, make it the addition (or improvement) of a landing strip. More

Illuminated mirrors are beauty and brains in one. Even lighting makes your morning routine shorter and more precise. Whether you're a quick shave and moisturize kind of guy or a hair and makeup kind of girl, lit mirrors will make it snappy. Plus, there's something to be said for starting the day with a conquer-the-world ego boost that comes from flattering light. More