This Under-the-Stairs Makeover Adds Smart Storage in a Tricky Spot (for Less than $400!)
You can add color and pattern to even the tiniest spots in your home, like the insides of drawers, closets, and more.
When Salma Chatto (@chateauchatto) sealed up a door underneath the main stairway in the home she shares with her husband, Stuart, and her kids, she used the opportunity to create a cozy, colorful nook. Not only does the under-$400 DIY project add florals, but it also adds function, with bench seating and drawers.
DIY bench seating makes the awkward spot a bona fide nook.
Selma says this little spot under the stairs, due to its size and shape, was tough to figure out, but she maximized the space using two pine benches and one individual set of pine drawers. She and Stuart bolted the pine pieces together and wrapped the tops and sides of everything with plywood for a seamless look. (Note: She had to scoot the dresser out from the wall a bit to make it flush with the staircase.)
For the bench portion, “We added 1 1/2 cot mattresses to the top and covered them with a single mattress sheet,” Salma explains on Instagram.
There’s overhead storage, too.
In addition to the bench, Salma added a shelf and hooks overhead. She also added a rug from Wayfair and a mirror from Aldi. “The area is utilized with plenty of storage and a chill-out area for the kids,” Salma says.
The flowers are hand-painted.
Landing on a backdrop for her new under-stairs nook was one of the trickiest parts of the project for Salma. She once created a version that had hand-painted stripes, but she ultimately landed on a flower mural. The base paint color behind the mural is Dulux’s Blush pink.
(And if you don’t have Salma’s hand-brushing skills, you could try a floral wallpaper instead.) For more cool under-the-stairs projects that make the most of a small space, check out this neat desk nook, this under-stairs transformation, and these seven smart ways to decorate the dead space under your stairs.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.