Understairs storage ideas

NeverTooLate

Hoping the clever people here can help me with some ideas for understairs storage.

See below a couple of pics of the area, the stairs have one turn and there is some room to use under there. In this area I was thinking of cutting out the existing plasterboard and skirt and replace with mdf with the skirt stuck on and some sort of handle that would then pull out a drawer for storage.

For the main area I want to hang doors to enclose the whole space. In the tall end I want to store upright hoover, brooms, mops etc. (Ignore the stuff there now - won't be storing decorating stuff there).

So need ideas on how to best use the space and how to go about making the doors for it - we have reasonable diy skills. Doors will be painted, so mdf would probably be used.

Depth of storage space in pic one is 90cm and width at the bottom 115cm. Width of stairs including newel posts is 97cm.

ThisIsWeird

Perfect project.

Step one - Google and Pinterest for 'understairs cupboards'. Save a few pics of your fav designs.

I think I'd caution against also cupboarding the end part, as the available space underneath that last couple of steps must be pretty limited? But, that's your call. I presume you can see right under there from the open area?

I think I'd tackle the main part first, and see how that turns out. If totally and blindingly awesome, then by all means do the end piece as well, with the confidence that you can make it work. Obviously a pull-out drawer system will be more tricky than a simple door, but still doable.

Check out PaperClap's threads on wardrobes and alcove units - lots on there on how to make 'shaker' style doors.

MSE_Laura_F

I can't wait to see how this turns out. Best of luck.

NeverTooLate

ThisIsWeird said:

Perfect project.

Step one - Google and Pinterest for 'understairs cupboards'. Save a few pics of your fav designs.

I think I'd caution against also cupboarding the end part, as the available space underneath that last couple of steps must be pretty limited? But, that's your call. I presume you can see right under there from the open area?

I think I'd tackle the main part first, and see how that turns out. If totally and blindingly awesome, then by all means do the end piece as well, with the confidence that you can make it work. Obviously a pull-out drawer system will be more tricky than a simple door, but still doable.

Check out PaperClap's threads on wardrobes and alcove units - lots on there on how to make 'shaker' style doors.

Thanks for the advice.

Funny, I was thinking the other way around - doing the little drawer at the end first cos it would be easy!
We've got things stuffed under there now but they would be completely inaccessible when the doors are on, hence the drawer at the end idea - I can't live with idea of not using the space at all.

I've looked at pinterest etc and can find some examples of how I want it to look from the outside but I'm struggling for ideas on how to kit out the inside to max out the storage.

Newcad

If you do put a drawer under that lower part, or even just a door on it, then you'd have to leave an empty space in the main part to be able to open it.

Rather than a drawer or door a simple 'lift-out' hardboard panel with a finger hole in it could close off the endspace if you want. (The sort of panel you see under the seating in caravans, but stood upright).
Magnets could be a neat way to hold it in place. A couple of magnetic cupboard door catches would do the job.

ThisIsWeird

NeverTooLate said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Perfect project.

Step one - Google and Pinterest for 'understairs cupboards'. Save a few pics of your fav designs.

I think I'd caution against also cupboarding the end part, as the available space underneath that last couple of steps must be pretty limited? But, that's your call. I presume you can see right under there from the open area?

I think I'd tackle the main part first, and see how that turns out. If totally and blindingly awesome, then by all means do the end piece as well, with the confidence that you can make it work. Obviously a pull-out drawer system will be more tricky than a simple door, but still doable.

Check out PaperClap's threads on wardrobes and alcove units - lots on there on how to make 'shaker' style doors.

Thanks for the advice.

Funny, I was thinking the other way around - doing the little drawer at the end first cos it would be easy!
We've got things stuffed under there now but they would be completely inaccessible when the doors are on, hence the drawer at the end idea - I can't live with idea of not using the space at all.

I've looked at pinterest etc and can find some examples of how I want it to look from the outside but I'm struggling for ideas on how to kit out the inside to max out the storage.

I'm surprised you think a drawer will be easier!

The doors should certainly be straightforward; a pair of sloping-topped doors will fill that gap, with no need for a frame or a false skirting board at the bottom. Or, fit a perimeter frame first if you prefer the look.

For fitting out the inside, again, what could be easier?! An MDF shelving unit for the RH half, leaving enough free-standing space to the taller LH side for the cleaner.

That is all peasy.

Then there's the end drawer... Again, in theory, you just remove the plasterboard, and replace it with an MDF panel. This panel would/could have a horizontal cut around half-way up from the floor, so the bottom half becomes the drawer front. 

Your call on whether to try and 'disguise' it so that all that shows is this horizontal cut, and the whole end is still flat, flush, and painted matt white and still has the skirting board attached - the only change will be that the bottom section, complete with still-attached skirting, slides out on drawer runners. You can fit a 'pop' latch - ie, press the panel in to release-spring the drawer out. Or, make it look conventional, with a frame and handle and stuff, and lose the skirting. 

Find a photo, and copy it. 

Could you post some photos of the designs you've found that you wish to replicate?

ThisIsWeird

How much help do you think you actually need with this? 

A whole range of ideas and solutions are shown here:https://nookdesign.co.uk/under-stairs/ amongst others.

Will you have any problems making the doors and fronts - I presume you'll be using MDF? What style of door finish?

NeverTooLate

I like this design, but with the taller side just being a door, however OH thinks that the depth of the cupboard might be too much for the drawer runners.

ThisIsWeird

You'd need runners made for the task - ie longer, and heavy-duty. They will (must) exist!

The rest of that design is straightforward. Note they've run the skirting along the bottom, so the drawer bottom is a few inches off the ground. You'll certainly need a bit of clearance so the door and drawer won't scrape the ground, so that's a good way of doing it, but it doesn't have to be full skirting height.

NeverTooLate

Mmm, not sure about the skirting, I want to be able to run the hoover straight in on the floor without having to lift it.

subjecttocontract

Can t see anything wrong with the existing storage solution.....but then being a bachelor brings a whole raft of advantages.