Is your under stair situation a total waste of space? Be inspired by these creative ideas from Grand Designs Live’s Under the Stairs showcase…

The space under your stairs can be a tricky spot to use to its full potential. While built-in storage is a classic go-to, and some homes are lucky enough to have room for a small cloakroom in this spot, we’ve been inspired by Grand Designs Live‘s Under the Stairs competition to come up with some more creative uses for this awkward spot.

Showcasing at Grand Designs Live Birmingham, the organisers invited a range of interior designers to come up with innovative design ideas to really make the most of under the stairs. You can see all these designs until the 13 October 2019 at Grand Designs Live at the NEC Birmingham.

Home gym

This ingenious creation by Pritpal Chana Architects opens out into a fully-functioning home gymnasium. The wire door pulls out to reveal a treadmill recessed into the floor, while vertical shelving holds a mirror-TV that can be used to follow exercise videos and check your form all at once.

Image: Grand Designs Live

Cocktail bar

The winner of this year’s NEC Birmingham competition was Zoe Perks of Beautiful Rooms by Zoe, who created this smart, Art-Deco inspired cocktail bar. A stool pulls out with a flip up bar to give your guest somewhere to perch while you whip them up a wonderful tipple. Want to know more?

Image: Grand Designs Live

Kid’s den

If you’re looking to grow your family, finding extra space for bedrooms, playrooms and storage can mean you may need to move or improve. This fun set up by Helen Crouch has plenty of storage for baby clothes and toys, and makes for a fab makeshift nursery.

Image: Grand Designs Live

Snug

How’s this for a sweet snug area? The wall-mounted TV makes this a perfect place to relax with a cup of tea or glass of wine when someone else in the house is hogging the remote  in the living room.

Image: Grand Designs Live

Reading nook

We love this stylishly put together corner created by Nicola Ash – an inspiring spot to take a moment to yourself with a good book.

Image: Grand Designs Live

Potting station

Got green fingers? This botanical creation by Samantha Theakstone would be a great zone to care for your house plants, but also seems to double up as a gin and tonic bar!

Image: Grand Designs Live

Statement storage

Sometimes you just need storage in your hallway, but if you think built-in is boring, this design using freestanding furniture by Amanda Dawn Clother is a riot of colour and style.

Image: Grand Designs Live

Home office

This compact desk offers all the space you need to answer your emails from home, plus a surprising amount of storage for paperwork and tech.

Image: Grand Designs Live

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