Welcome to a hidden gem of home design, the area under the stairs! Nestled beneath the steps to the floor above lies a usable space waiting to be transformed. One of the most popular ways to make the most of this often under-utilised space is to create a home office.
Whether you're tight on space or simply seeking to add a unique touch to your home, prepare to be inspired by the endless possibilities of under-stairs office ideas.
Scandinavian Home Office Nook
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The beautiful sleek design and white and oak finish of this understairs office, where every inch of the tapered vertical space is utilised for storage, is a testament to clever small space design. Adding a cute table lamp and gorgeous chair finishes off the Scandinavian home office nook in style.
Open Under Stairs Office Space
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With the natural light from the door and open style staircase, this is the perfect area for an understairs office space. Loads of light and plenty of room to work in an area that is away from constant distractions.
Mini Office Under Stairs
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This mini office shows what can be achieved in a very small space, that would otherwise be wasted. A custom-cut piece of wood as a desktop, comfy chair, lamp, and some simple decoration is all that is needed to create a practical work space under the stairs.
Dual Function Understairs Office
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Following on from the wallpaper design of the previous office idea, this next example also incorporates a bold wallpaper pattern into its design, which is a stylish backdrop to the space. This area also serves the dual function of being a kitchenette, with a small sink and integrated fridge.
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Minimalist Contemporary Office Space
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Although I wouldn't class this as a fully-fledged office space, the clever way that a lower step has been extended to form a floating desk is genius! For me, this is a perfect contemporary work or study space for the modern remote worker.
Built in Desk Under Stairs
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With plenty of storage space for housing office equipment and files, this traditional custom-built desk unit has been meticulously hand-crafted from solid wood to give this beautiful finish. With the addition of a leather chair and subtle lighting, this home office is a fitting use of this handy space under the stairs.
Modern White Home Office Under Stairs
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Displaying an all-in-white modern shaker design, the built-in shelves, desk and cabinets of this working space offer a variety of useful storage areas. The combination of the white walls and white cabinets helps this wide home office to seamlessly blend into the background, thus being less intrusive in the living space.
Green Understairs Office
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Using bold colours within your office design is a great way to make a feature of the space under your stairs, as opposed to making it blend into the background.
Small Office Under Stairs
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As seen in this next example, not every under-stair office space needs to be a permanent fixture. A simple freestanding desk has been sited under the stairs, accompanied by an ergonomic grey desk chair. The choice of using a freestanding desk allows flexibility if you wish to change the use of the space at any time.
Under Stairs Workspace
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More of an industrial shared workspace than an office, this space under the stairs is the perfect spot for drawing, modelling or crafting, due to the easy wipe-clean stainless steel worktop.
Under the Stairs Office Space
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This is a home office space where storage and task lighting are clearly important to the homeowner. With a table lamp on each side of the desk, seven large desk drawers, and lots of open storage by way of the tall wall units, both of these elements have been well catered for.
Under Stairs Home Office Nook
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This small home office nook has been neatly designed to make the best use of the limited space available. Its small desk, shallow table-top and narrow floating shelves allow just enough space for the homeowner to take full advantage of being able to work remotely from home.
Bold Understair Office
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Below this wooden lightweight staircase lives a vibrantly wallpapered office area consisting of a corner floating desk, floor-level storage cabinets and recessed wall shelves. This example shows that an under-stairs space doesn't have to be bland and boring, but can also be bright and bold.
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Workstation Under Stairs
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When you have the benefit of open stair runners with lots of natural light, utilising a glass desk is a great idea for allowing light to flow through the whole understairs space, making the area feel open, airy and bright.
Under the Stairs Home Office
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With the benefit of a large glass display cabinet, open shelving and plenty of storage space, this home office has a wealth of practical uses. Whether you are working remotely, writing reports, or you simply require a large work area for collating multiple documents, this understair office has it all.
Understair Desk
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This limited height space under the stairs lends itself perfectly for use as a home office. Although there isn't much storage space available, the minimal black desk and comfy black leather chair are ideally suited for remote working.
Under the Stairs Computer Desk
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Nestled within an industrial warehouse setting under a metal staircase with open wooden treads, a white Ikea desk with double drawer units serves as a practical office area, offering ample storage and surface area. The simple work setup maintains an uncluttered aesthetic, fostering focus and productivity amidst its urban surroundings.
Understairs Corner Office
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In this small home office nook under the stairs, a simple corner desk maximises functionality, while a table lamp provides focused lighting for office tasks. White floating shelves above the desk offer storage without overcrowding, keeping the area visually spacious and inviting for work or study sessions.
Under Stairs Workstation
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The space under your stairs doesn't have to be solely utilised as an office space or remote working, but as shown here, can also be used as a practical area for crafting or workspace for running a small business.
Small Understairs Office
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This simple little nook shows what can be achieved with only a floating desk, plastic seat and a lamp. For me, this is all that is required for a low-cost study or work area for the majority of people who occasionally work from home.
Under Stairs Desk Area
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By utilising an existing piece of furniture, a couple of shelves, and a computer chair, it is easy to create a small home office space under the stairs that can accommodate all your needs.
Home Office Under Floating Stairs
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For a functional and spacious home office space, plenty of drawers, cupboards, open storage and a built-in desk are essential elements for making the most of every inch of space that you have to work with.
Industrial Understairs Office
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Making full use of this understairs space, the homeowner has used a long built-in desk, wall-mounted open shelving with built-in lights and paired a modern wood veneered finish within industrial surroundings.
Under Stairs Desk and Storage
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Beneath the contemporary floating lightweight staircase steps resides a small desk, grey chair, and filing cabinet. With a curtain for privacy and separation from the rest of the room, this small home office space is perfect for occasional or everyday use.
Black Home Office Design
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Hall Office Under the Stairs
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Stairwell Office with Room Divider
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Computer Desk Under Stairs
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Under Stairway Home Workspace
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Author: Matthew Chiappini
