If you appreciate vino, a wine cellar under stairs would be a good home renovation project. Wine storage spaces are not hard to create. If you have unused space, like a basement, then you won’t have a problem building a stylish wine cellar.

Some may think that under stairs wine cellars are for the wealthy, but that isn’t true. Keep in mind that wine cellars don’t have to be large underground spaces filled with barrels of vintage wine. There are plenty of options to choose from, and we’re going to show you a few of them.

You could build a wine display cabinet or a tiny wine cellar. Before we show you the various options, let’s learn more about the benefits of a wine cellar.

Why Build A Wine Cellar?

There are many reasons why someone would want a wine cellar in their home. Here are the main reasons why:

Wine Preservation

The most practical one is that custom wine cellars allow you to preserve wine. Since wine is perishable, you wouldn’t want it to spoil. A vino cellar maintains a steady temperature and controls humidity so your wine collection remains protected.

Wine Collection

Wine collecting isn’t relegated o the upper classes. Many people at all income levels collect wine. When you have a small wine cellar, it helps you rest easy knowing that your vino collection is safe.

Having a wine cellar right there in your home is also convenient. It allows you to have a personal collection of wine bottles and easy access to them and it means you won’t need to go shopping every time you have a get-together. You’ll always have something special waiting for you for such an occasion.

Wine Organization System

Wine cellars also offer another advantage: they provide you with away to store and organize your wine bottles in an efficient manner. You can use labels to differentiate between different types of wine in your collection or come up with your own storage system.

Wine Education

There’s also another reason why someone would want to add a wine storage space in their home and that’s to improve their expertise in wine. Actually having a wine cellar makes one more interested in learning about wine and its varieties.

Wine Cellar Under Stairs Ideas

Here are a few examples of the latest wine cellars that any wine connoisseur would enjoy.

Full View

Put emphasis on the cellar with a bright and transparent design. Ceiling height glass walls, door, and open shelves with backlighting provide optimal effect. This design was done by studio Architectural Plastics.

Minimalist Design

Keeping things simple is a good way to ensure that you use the limited space under the stairs to its full capacity. Make it extra efficient by maximizing the storage capability of the cellar with wine racks and shelves.

Glass Encasement

Sometimes an issue with the space underneath the stairs is that you can’t see and access it. This layout takes advantage of the area, using the lower stairs space for wine storage. sThe vino cellar is encased in glass and the fact that the stairs make a turn helps with its placement. This design is from Patterson Custom Homes.

Convenient Location

Instead of squeezing a tiny cellar underneath the stairs, you could build something bigger and better at the foot of your stairs. In this setup by Associated Design the stairs twist and wrap around the cellar which was custom built for this little nook.

Wine Decor

Having a cellar underneath the stairs is a cool feature you should be proud of. Put it on display and make it stand out by exposing the interior with glass partitions. The lighting is important as well. For a traditional design take inspiration from this setup by studio Case Design.

Space Under The Stairs

There are many elements and features that can be included in wine cellar design. You can add individual display racks or wine coolers or shelves which can be paired together in different ways. In this design by Bill Cook Luxury Homes, it’s all done in a simple, practical, and elegant manner.

Wine Storage Spaces

It can be practical and it would also look interesting to include more than one type of storage for the bottles when designing a cellar underneath the stairs. Check out Sommi Wine Cellars for some inspiring ideas in this regard.

Stair Wine Cellars

Here are a few designs that combine stairs and the space under the stairs to create wine cellars.

Stairs Wine Storage Combo

The cellar’s design is dependent on the staircase. A long floating staircase like this one leaves plenty of space underneath for a big and spacious cellar. It’s all encased in glass which exposes the wall behind the racks and the staircase itself.

Repurposed Space Under The Stairs

The staircase wine cellar combo can be designed as a pair right from the start but this space can also be repurposed later on. It’s a valid idea even for old houses. This particular design by Cellar Maison is a fitting example.

Ceiling Height

The wine racks can be placed against the wall and cover the whole space from the stairs down to the floor. This emphasizes the height of the wine cellar which is long and emphasized by the horizontal wine racks running through the center of the wall. Check it out on pinterest.

Modern Wine Cellar Design

This under-stair wine cellar has a modern design based on puzzle-like modules that fit together perfectly. It’s also all custom built to fit under the stairs and behind the glass railings that extend all the way down. Check out Genuwine Cellars for more ideas and details.

Space Divider Combo

When space isn’t limited there’s room for some really impressive wine cellar designs, like this one. The floating staircase is a gorgeous sculptural feature and the cellar makes for a unique space divider. Check out Demax Staircase&Railing on Pinterest to learn more about it.

Tiny Wine Cellar

This acrylic and oak wine cellar may not be as big or as the other ones but it’s the ideal fit space underneath the stairs. It was designed by Sorrells Custom Wine Rooms in the same style as the rest of the house.

Small Closet Space

Do you have small closet that your don’t use? Many homes have at least one. If you like wine, you can turn your small closet space into a makeshift wine cellar. Even if you don’t have a floating staircase or open space right underneath it you could still manage to fit a wine cellar in this area.

This one is placed to the side, into the staircase wall. It’s small and narrow but nevertheless very practical and quite elegant as well. Check out One Kindesign for more details.

Open Wine Display

The space underneath a staircase is like a secret room and it still keeps that mystery even when it’s actually exposed and in plain sight. Turning it into a wine cellar is a great use of space no matter what size it ends up being. Check out this design and more on pinterest for inspiration.

Wine Cellar Vs. Wine Cooler?

Although they may seem to be the same thing to the uninformed eye, wine cellars and wine coolers are different from one another.

Wine Cooler

A wine cooler allows you to store wine for a short period so it can be served at the right temperature. It’s not meant to store aging wine or long-term storage.

A wine cooler often functions as a wine display. It has glass walls and a racking system for easy organization. Wine coolers are common in restaurants.

Wine Cellar

This is a dedicated space where wine is stored for long periods. It can include a wine cooling system that maintains a constant temperature. It also controls the humidity levels and lighting, and prevents vibrations.

There are many different types of wine cellars. You can put one in the basement, in a closet, or anywhere there’s space for it.

The space underneath a staircase can be used for many things including a wine cellar. Depending on how much space you have there you can choose from all sorts of stylish designs and storage systems that would turn this space into a cool feature and even a focal point of the house.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Wine Basement Cellar?

The average cost of a basement wine cellar or walk-in wine room is roughly $40,000. However, the price is impacted by the size of the cellar. A custom cabinet can cost as little as $500 while building a room for 5,000 wine bottles can cost as much as $100,000.

What Is The Difference Between A Wine Cellar And Wine Fridge?

An appliance used to store wine with preservation features is a wine cellar. A wine cooler refers to a refrigerated cabinet with shelves, but without the conservation properties of a wine cellar.

What Is Considered A Large Wine Cellar?

For home wine cellars, it’s recommended the space should be between 100-500 square feet. This space can store 1,500 to 5,500 bottles of wine.

How Deep Should A Wine Wall Be?

A wine cabinet’s depth depends on the cabinet’s contents; the wine racking used, cooling system, lights, insulation, and more. On average, the interior depth of a wine cabinet is around 24-inches, 27-inches, or 29-inches.

How Much Space Do You Need Between Wine Racks?

There should be ¾ of an inch between wine racks. Therefore 2-3/4″+3/4″ = 3-1/2″ bottle space. The cellar space should be big enough to fit burgundy bottles and most large Pinot Noir bottles.

Wine Cellar Under Stairs Conclusion

A stylish wine cellar is an investment that adds value to your home. If you’re a wine connoisseur, then you need a wine room. It doesn’t matter how much space you have under your stairs. A tiny wine cellar is useful and just as effective among wine storage ideas.

When you have a wine room, it means you care about wine. Your downstairs space or unused space can be converted into a wine cellar. If you wanted to be fancy, your wine storage could feature glass walls and an advanced racking system.

A modern wine cellar complete with wine racks and a wine display would be the ideal home addition for wine lovers. Custom wine cellars are easy to install, but they do require planning and professional help.