![Who wouldn’t love this office space? It has everything you could ask for — storage, plenty of work space, and is tucked out of sight offering some privacy, yet you can still keep an eye and ear open for the kids.](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/image-11.jpg)
By Laura Bullock
Often a fresh pair of eyes and a little willingness to take a creative approach to a problem area can open our eyes to all sorts of possibilities. Having office space, a cozy corner to read a book, or simply more storage doesn’t always have to mean putting an addition on your home. Whether I’m staging a home for a client or helping a friend redecorate her home with what she already owns, one of the things I love about my job is the opportunity to think outside the box.
Let’s take a look at what these homeowners have done to add space without adding square footage by tapping into the potential under the stairs…
I didn’t know which of these cozy nooks I liked best so I decided not to choose.
![This one one just calls for you to grab a cup of coffee and curl up against the pillows with a good book.](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/image-2.jpg)
![I have a feeling I’d be fighting the dog and cats for room on that cushion. It’s large enough to even be an extra sleeping spot for a lucky overnight guest. Both nooks have a reading light above and storage below to take full advantage of the space.](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/image-3.jpg)
![](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/image-4.jpg)
![What child wouldn’t love their own hideaway? Simple touches like wood shingle siding, a porch light, Dutch door, and a window complete with a window box make this so inviting. Notice the homeowner made this space even more realistic with a shingled “roof” that follows the angle of the stair case. So clever.](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/image-5.jpg)
![Not many people have room for a wine cellar, or the need for a full bar, but both these examples offer practical and attractive solutions that you and your guests will love.](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/5-and-6.jpg)
![image 8](https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/image-8.jpg)
I love books. You can find books in every room in my home — in the kitchen, on shelves in the bathrooms, ledges in the hallways, stacked on chairs, even between the spindles on the staircase. If there’s an empty space, it has a book on it or in it. The area under my staircases have their own uses, however I wish I had thought of this.
And last but not least, under the stairs is a great place to tuck in a powder room. Although I have a friend who won’t use my tucked away powder room because of the frosted glass door (Yes, Christine, I’m talking about you!), being a windowless bathroom I’m sure the light that filters through helps to keep you from feeling like you’ve been trapped in a closet.
Hopefully these pictures have inspired you to think outside the box and maybe spark an idea or two. Please share your projects and thoughts on our Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/suzanneandcompany].
About the author: Laura Bullock is a Bedford resident and Suzanne & Company’s Director of Staging, Design and Concierge Services. She can be reached at [email protected]. Please visit www.historicmahomes.com for more ideas and posts.