Staircases are always interesting focal points and can have splendid designs but they also have a downside. They take up a portion of the floorspace when they don’t really have to. Luckily, that space can be converted into storage. Here are some really nice ways to make the most of that otherwise dead space.

One idea is to transform the area under the staircase into a workspace. You can design a corner desk and a few open shelves. It will feel comfortable and intimate and you’d be taking advantage of that nook in a really practical way.

Or how about adding a door under the stairs and creating a tiny secret room in there? The kids would sure enjoy using it and this would be a clever way to add an extra feature to your home to make it more interesting.

When the staircase is part of a large room and not a hallway, a good solution would be to have the furniture organized in such a way that you cover the entire wall, even the area directly under the stairs.

And if the staircase is a feature in the hallway, then you can turn that nook into a lovely seating area. Put a comfy armchair in the corner and complement it with a side table or a console table, maybe even a floor lamp so you can relax there and enjoy your favorite book.

Another clever idea is to use the space under the staircase as bike storage. The staircase provides you with a really simple and practical way to store your bikes and keep them off the floor and out of the way.

If you put a bench in the corner under the stairs you can transform this space into your very own reading nook. You can even mount cubbies or shelves on the walls and they’ll serve as storage space for the books.

Or, if you’d rather use that space as extra storage, you can have some custom pull-out compartments built. You can have clothing rods for your jackets, shelves for storing shoes and boxes for the accessories.

A very nice and simple idea is to have a bookcase under the stairs. You can have the shelves and cubbies designed as extensions of the steps. A great way to get all the books out of the way and to make room for something else in the living room or office.

A combination of open shelves and pull-out drawers could also be practical and efficient. The drawers can be at the bottom and you can use to hide personal items or store shoes and accessories while the open shelves can be used for bags, books, decorations, etc.{found on lynndonaldson}.

In case of a layout such as this one, you can seamlessly blend the staircase into the living room décor by treating the staircase wall as any other wall in the wall and covering it with furniture.

But if all you need is just a small nook for a desk, then perhaps a design such as this one would be an ok option. The irregular shape and the overall simplicity make this workstation eye-catching and interesting.{found on tomhurt}.

In case of an open floor plan, perhaps the space under the staircase could become a kitchen station. You can have custom cabinetry built in there and a countertop with a sink. The corner here is a wine rack.{found on brillohomeimprovements}.