12 Home Decor Ideas for Under the Stairs

For anyone that has a set of stairs in their home you have likely wondered if there was something you could do with that space - it seems like such a waste! Well there are some really creative and useful things you can do with that space under the stairs. Whether you are looking for a weekend project or a great idea to add on to your renovation to-do list - there is something on this list for everyone!

1. Reading Nook: this is a perfect little reading hide away for any member of the family.  Add a custom cushion for seating and lots of pillows for comfort. You can add some shelving for books and some art for a personal and decorative touch.  Don't forget some light - a pot light or a sconce is perfect for a space like this!




 2. Work space: this isn't a substitute for a full home office but it is perfect for a small work center at home for catching up on bills and emails or a great homework station.  Hiding your desk under the stairs keeps papers and files out of plain sight but you still have easy access to the space.

 

3. Closet: often home owners use the under the stair space as storage for items that are not needed on a daily basis like season clothing or decor, but why not make that useful everyday storage? Having easy access to our needed items but keeping them tucked away is a great idea for the space. This is also a great idea if you don't have a front entry closet.




4.  Powder Room: Short on space? Adding a powder room under the stairs is a great way to use this space whether it's on the main floor in the basement - this is a great renovation for your property in terms of use but also for resale of your home.



5.  Book case: are you a book lover? Need more space for your books? Use the stairs for extra book storage - it's simple and tucked away.  You could keep children's books on the lower shelves for easy access.  Add some baskets and you could storage puzzles, small toys or even board games.  Extra storage is never a bad thing.



6. Dog House: Or pet space!  Even our fur babies need a place of their own, so why not a little retreat under the stairs?  You can have their toys, beds etc....some home owners have even built in a gate or crate into the space to keep the pet area looking neat and tidy.




7. TV cabinet: Most of us don't like the TV to be the focal point of any room and those TV units can be so big and bulky.  Depending on your room arrangement you might be able to create a TV unit under the stairs like the one in this image.

 

 8. Bar: Love to entertain? This a perfect idea for the host or hostess - create your own bar (or wine storage) under the stairs.  You could even have a beer fridge and shelving for stemware.



9. Sports equipment storage :  this idea isn't as glamorous  but for the active this is great!  If you don't have a shed or garage for items like bikes this is for you.  Trying hanging your bike under the stairs.  It's out of the way but easy enough to access it when you need it.



10. Mudroom: If you have kids and don't have a proper mud room this might be all you need.  Use that nook under the stairs to create a mud room space for the kids day to day things - jackets, hats, back packs, shoes and more.  Under the stairs keeps it out of sight but not so much that the kids can't find their things. Try adding a bulletin or even a chalk board to keep track of events and appointments as well.


11. Laundry Room: Doing a remodel on a smaller space? Need a a better laundry room? Under the stairs could work for you! Stacked laundry machines can fit nicely leaving you room for storage of the cleaners and a folding space too.  This is perfect to add to the space if you are renovating as you will need the plumbing to be installed so if you are in a renovation and need a laundry room this might be all you need.



12.  Playroom or Kids' Clubhouse: Harry Potter may have lived under the stairs and it wasn't pleasant but you really can make a beautiful and fun clubhouse for the kids only under the stairs! You can get as creative as you like with this one!  Kids love to hide and play and under the stairs could be the perfect spot for a little playhouse!  You can paint it - add toys, books, bean bag, large pillows, sticker on the walls, have a door or curtain - it's entirely up to you!

The Bar Cart Trend

Bar carts having been trending for a while now and we love them too!  They are the perfect open and accessible liquor cabinet plus they look chic.  But we love how multi functional the bar cart is!  here are some of our favourite ideas and uses for the bar cart.

1. Bar cart end table.  We love this gold bar cart, so 2016! it's open and airy and just perfect for someone who loves to entertain but we also love how it is being used as an end table in this small space.  Take a closer look the top shelf is styled with flowers and some books - this could be great surface space for coasters too.  The lower portion is used as the bar. 



2. Bar cart Coffee station. Short on kitchen space? Love all things coffee? why not add a bar cart and create a coffee station? We love how useful this is plus it looks great.  It's great for entertaining, too! Try wheeling it into the living space for after dinner coffee and desserts.  You can also use the lower shelves for open storage of mugs, dishes and more or try adding some baskets for tea towels or store your pretty cookbooks.



3. Bar cart bathroom storage. OK a glass of wine in a hot bath is a lovely way to unwind but maybe you don't need a bar cart serving wine and cocktails in your bathroom but here's an idea...try using a bar cart in the bathroom for some extra storage.  This is a great idea if your bathroom is short on space.  Make it pretty and spa like by adding beautiful and plush towels, candles and maybe a plant or just keep it totally functional for everyday items like towels.





 4. Bar cart guest bedroom needs.  Have an out of town guest? Want them to feel at home? We heart this idea! Add a bar cart to the room and stock it with essentials and a few treats.  this adds a bit of a hotel feel but it makes your guests feel welcome and like this space is theirs (even if it is just for a short time)



5.  Bar cart decor. We love the open and airy feel of a bar cart so why not use it as an end table? You don't have to stock with beverages you can just style it as you would any other end table. At first glance, we didn't even notice this was a bar cart - we just loved the look but this is a great idea, because it is so multi-purpose for when you are entertaining.



6. Bar cart Baby station. OK not as pretty but very functional.  If you have just had a baby, moving around is a bit of a challenge at first, so create a baby and mommy friendly space that cuts down on moving around.  Keep everything accessible.  Using a bar cart to hold the baby essentials is so smart! And you could easily use this in the nursery as well.


7. Bar cart kids crafts.  The bar cart is a great way to stay organized and because it is on wheels it can be moved around very easily.  We love the idea of a movable kids art cart!  Keep all of their supplies in the cart and you won't have to take up other storage space in your home and this way it is easy for them to access.



8. Bar cart music station.  If you love music, why not use your bar cart to store and display your love and passion for music? We love how this turntable is displayed on a bar cart, genius idea!




9. Bar cart office storage.  Need a little extra storage space in your office? Try a bar cart! It's perfect for storing items that you need access too but you don't want them to take up useful desk surface space.



10. Bar cart outdoor entertaining.  The bar cart is also perfect for the outdoors.  We love the vertical storage for drinks and other items - it's easy to clean and won't be in the way.

 

We answer Wednesday - Mirror Image

"I know everyone says mirrors are a great way to make rooms look bigger.  What are some creative ways to use mirrors in my space?"

Mirrors are a 'magic' piece that really can make rooms look bigger and brighter.  They allow light to bounce around a room so it give that illusion of a larger space, so be sure to have light in the room with that mirror.

 

The great thing about mirrors is that they are also beautiful (the reflected image: you) the mirror, itself is also beautiful plus there are many styles to suit many styles of decor.

We can offer you a few ideas to inspire how you can use mirrors in your space.

In the entry: it's usually a small and tight space to begin with so a mirror is going to help make it look and feel more spacious but ti's also very useful so you can do one final check before you head out for the day. This circular mirror with a wide frame looks great over the console table. 



In the living room: We love that added glam that a mirror can add to a space.  Mirrors serve a function but they are also a great 'fashion' piece.  They instantly add a touch of glamour and make a room look expensive.  We love this set of 3 matching mirrors in this living room.  The dark glossy frames hanging above the sofa table make the room look so chic.



Try an over sized mirror: Over sized mirrors are so stylish and we love what they can do in a room.  Try in the corner of a bedroom, the room will look instantly larger plus it another great way to check out your #OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) but try and over sized mirror elsewhere, like the entry, dining room, living room...We love this entry with the over sized mirror with a silver frame and lots of tone-on-tone.



In the bedroom: We love a mirror in the bedroom but maybe not where you would expect....try matching mirrors above each bedside table.  The symmetry is classic and something the human eye is naturally drawn to. We love this scalloped edge mirror above these white and wood tone bedside tables and with the trellis wallpaper as the backdrop, perfection!



Try a 'custom' mirror in your bathroom: Often when we move into a home, there have been some updates (maybe not to our specific tastes but updates none the less) but the bathroom mirrors are usually ignored.  Try adding an instant update to your bathroom by changing out those old mirrors for something new.  It makes a huge difference in the overall look of your bathroom. You don't have to spend a fortune to make your space look rich.



 Try above the fireplace: A perfect spot for a piece of art, yes but, if you can't find a piece you love a mirror is a great solution - it never goes out of style and should you find an art piece you love you can always place the mirror elsewhere.  Another look we love above the fireplace is layering.  So try a mirror (a large one) layered with some smaller art or photography.



Try a gallery wall: Have a gallery wall? A a mirror in your arrangement to mix it up! Lots of mirrors make a great mirror gallery wall.





A few tips when it comes to  decorating with mirrors:

- like art be sure to find the right size and be sure to hang it at the right height

- find a mirror with a frame that works with your current style. the possibilities are endless, the choices are too

- don't be afraid to get creative, try matching over sized mirrors behind bedside tables - why not?

We Answer Wednesday - Multi purpose furniture

“We love the idea of owning furniture that does more than just look nice. We want to have furniture pieces that we can use as storage and can do double duty.. what are some suggestions?” 

We hear from so many people that they want furniture that can do more than one thing. These days, we’re always multitasking, everyone is always trying to do it all, between work, friends, life, family, balancing everything is what humans do best, so why should our furniture be any different? As much as we’re advocates for everything to be beautiful, we understand that somethings need to have another purpose than just being nice to look at. We get lots of people asking about small space decorating. What are the best items to purchase for storage and that also look great? Here are a few suggestions of furniture pieces that can be multi-purpose, or do double duty.

Coffee Tables: Instead of using a traditional coffee table, try an ottoman that opens up with storage inside. This is a great place to put your extra pillows and blankets or whatever you need to keep tucked away and don’t have a space for. This can also serve as extra seating in your living room if you don’t have enough for guests.
Another option is to have a solid material coffee table but make sure it comes with ample storage. Whether it opens up, or has lots of shelves and drawers. Make sure you utilize all the storage you can.

 

TV Walls: Obviously, most people have a TV. Instead of just using that as a media space, use the extra wall space for shelves as well. Decorative baskets, books, personal photos. Create a gallery wall and use all the space available to you. Gallery walls are very on trend at the moment. Whether you create a modern, streamlined gallery wall, or an eclectic mix of all that you love – don’t let usable space go to waste!

 

Dresser instead of a Console: Most people have a table at their front door for keys and decorative pieces. Instead of just having a table there, add a dresser with storage and shelving. Having this extra storage at the front door can be very beneficial. You need spaces to put things like hats, mitts, scarves, mail etc. Having all these extra items hidden and organized will also be good for your mind. No clutter – no stress! 

 

Hall Tree instead of just a bench at your entry: Similar idea to the dresser at the front entry. Having a hall tree will give you the bench for added seating, it will also have hooks, and shelving, granting you more space for odds and ends. This is another great spot for kid’s coats, back packs, shoes, hats, mitts, etc. Having these hooks and extra shelving options will be helpful organization for the whole family.

 

Sofa Bed: A sofa bed is a fantastic double-duty item. Most people need a sofa somewhere in their home. And lots of people could also use an extra bed for guests. Why not purchase a sofa that can be used in multiple situations? Get something stylish that also serves as a guest space.  

 

Chest/Bench in the bedroom: Do you have extra space in your room? If so, add a bench at the end of your bed. Same idea as the ottoman suggestion. Add a storage bench at the end of your bed for items like pillows and blankets. Maybe even seasonal clothes. Not into the idea of a bench? Try an antique chest. Something that will add additional functionality to your home.

 

Bookshelf as a Room Divider: Depending how large your space is, you may need to break up some open concept areas. Having a book case used as a room divider is a great option for storage and privacy as well. This is a great place to add accessories and accents as well such as picture frames and books. If you have an open concept space, or a studio space, a lot of times, you lose that extra wall space. Not having the wall space to add all these extra pieces is sometimes a downfall, but utilizing the space you have in smart way will contribute to an organized home.

 

Decorating Open Concept Spaces

The open concept plan is still very popular.  Buyers love it because it is so open and fluid.  You have many options for furniture placement and layout - open concept allows you to do so much in a smaller space.  But open concept can be intimidating and tough to visualize.

As home stagers, we understand how buyers get 'stumped' when they see a big and empty open concept space.  Where do I put my sofa? TV? dining space?  Will my furniture fit? It's very intimidating and over whelming.  This is why staging is so important.  when we stage a home we not only make it pretty for pictures but we think about living and entertaining in the space.  We think about the common questions that buyers have.

Here's a great example of an open concept living/dining room in a townhouse.


It's a great space for living and entertaining.  Seeing this property vacant you would never guess that you could have dining for six, a sectional and an armchair plus plenty of room to walk around.  How did we make this work? Well, the size and scale of furniture is important but so is the placement.  We started off with this table and 4 chairs in the dining space.  Believe it or not, with 2 chairs placed on either side of the table this room looked smaller.  We re-positioned the chairs - 2 on one side and 2 at either end (as captain chairs) we then added the bench in the cream tone to create a common thread with the sectional sofa.  By placing the bench on the side of the table closest to the living room, we opened up the sight lines making the whole space look wider and therefore bigger. The chairs placed there instead of the bench made the whole space feel a bit cramped.





A sectional adds so much seating and a clean line which is one of the reasons we love them.  We used the light cream tone because it is neutral and it brightens up the space.  We used a mix of bold and pattern pillows to bring some life into the room.  An over sized art piece in an abstract style adds visual interest to the room and it makes the room look big.  We use area rugs for a few reasons: they add some soft texture, colour and pattern to a room but they also help define the space.  This rug helps buyers visually understand this space is the living room and over there is the dining area.  It's like building a wall.

 

You can apply the same ideas to a condo space.

 
In this condo, we choose the largest possible sofa that would fit in the space without making it feel and look cramped.  From there we selected some functional but smaller scale pieces so the room still felt spacious and was still functional.  We played with texture like faux fur, knits, chenille, leather, wood and metal instead of big, bold bursts of colour.  We also used an area on the diagonal help widen the space (this doesn't work in every space but it did here).  We also thought about storage and surface space.  The cabinet is acting as media storage, plus a liquor cabinet and storage for board games. The 2 tier coffee table offers great surface space when entertaining and the trunk side table adds some character and personality but also some solid surface space for a cup of coffee or glass of wine. The window dressings are not yet installed but we chose a simple white linen tone for a few reasons: the condo restrictions but the light white tone will help to keep the space looking bright and light and they won't be a distraction. 



Here's another example of an open concept condo.  Here we played with some bold colour to make it pop and look bright.  This condo is on the north side so it get minimal light.  We played with some colour and texture to get maximum impact.  What we did here was first decide on where the TV would be placed.  From there we figured out the furniture layout.  When you live in a space be sure to make it work for your lifestyle. We added some fun print on the floor with an area rug and we also added a work space in a corner nook.  We used a glass console table - plenty of surface space but no bulk.

 

What you will notice these images have in common:
- sofas: we chose the largest possible sofas to maximize on seating and the other furniture is a bit smaller
- lighting: we do not have matching table lamps on matching end tables, we didn't have the space.  Instead we have floor and table lamps around the room to help spread the light around the room
- area rug: to add some colour, pattern and/or texture; they also define the rooms and pull the space together



Remember the following when it comes to decorating an open concept space:
- size and scale matter but look for the largest dining table and sofa that will work in the space.  Lots of little items will make it look and feel cramped.
- glass is a great way to get surface space without the bulk
- area rugs help define spaces without building walls
- a consistent colour concept with make the space look fluid and make it feel larger
- layer your light so add table lamps, floor lamps, under valance light in the kitchen
- get creative with nooks and corners - think storage, organizing or work spaces.
- think lifestyle.  make the space work with your life

Best Bookcases For Small Spaces

We love to read and we love home decor but sometimes books lead to clutter which we don't love.

Clutter is very stressful. It's messy and can be overwhelming.  When you live in a smaller space you don't often have the luxury of storage.  So what do you do? Sure, you can minimize your clutter but you can't get rid of everything.

When you live in a smaller space you need storage but you also need it to be slim and stylish for your space.

We have found some amazing space saving book storage pieces.

The Brosna Bookcase from Urban Barn.  A fun and funky piece in two colours (black or white).  We love the simplicity and clean lines.  A great way to mix up books and some accessories.



We love the industrial feel to this metal bookcase with casters from Structube





The Sapien Bookcase from DWR is perfect for just stacking books.  Clean, simple, vertical and ideal for even the smallest of corners. The bookcase once filled with books almost disappears!





 We love the metallic finish on this 'etagere'.  Perfect for mixing books and decor.  The Nook Tower from West Elm.  there are a few variations on this design, some with a more industrial edge but this look transitions well with a few different decor styles.





When it comes to book storage, get creative!  Books can add a lot of colour to your space, so why not add skinny shelving for book storage and display pieces instead of art pieces on the wall.  Also think about horizontal book storage like you see here.  Under this bench is a great spot for kids books! Easy to access and to put away!

What keeps those 4 bookcases looking light, is that they do not have a backing!  You can see the wall behind the piece so it has an airy feel.  Plus the shelves are slim so they do not add bulk to the room.  Simple, slim storage can make a huge difference in a smaller space.



For kids, we also love bookcases flanking a headboard.



When it comes to your space and bookcases, you never want it too look and feel cramped, cluttered and heavy.  To avoid that be sure to not over stuff your bookcases and add some decor/display pieces or photo frames to the book storage - it will lighten up the look and feel.  For kids' books, some time it is easier to storage awkward shaped books in a basket instead of in the shelf.

And remember for books that you are done with and don't want to keep there are tons of used book stores, day cares, community centers and schools always looking to add to their inventory!

How to make any room look Bigger

Smaller spaces tend to have a cozier feel about them and they are less intimidating plus you don't need to spend as much on furniture. But to fit in everything you need can be a big challenge and you definitely don't want to feel cramped, so what can you do?

There are some great tips and tricks out there beyond light and mirrors that can help.
And if you are thinking of putting your home or condo on the resale market, these ideas will really help you maximize the space for buyers to see.

1 - When space is at a premium, rooms should serve double duty. And nothing wastes space more than a living room that's used only for company. So go ahead — put a TV in there. Here a prominent wall arrangement steals focus away from the TV, so it doesn't dominate the space.





2 -  You can also hide the TV in a cabinet or piece of furniture. In this room the TV is sequestered behind a pair of doors over the fireplace — much nicer than looking at a big, black screen 24/7.







3 -  When space is tight, always ask yourself: How can I use this room for two purposes instead of one? Here a dining room doubles as a library. It saves space, and nothing warms up a room like a wall of books. Plus it's is practical storage and to make it more decorative you can add some pieces in the bookcase

4 - If a single space needs to serve several purposes, use area rugs to define the functions, rather than walls or dividers, which stop the eye and make a space appear smaller.

 

5 -  No space for a guest room? Consider a Murphy bed. There are a lot of really sophisticated designs on the market now. And while a good one isn't cheap, it would still be cheaper than adding a guest room that would get used only a few times a year.

6 -  Forget the old adage that small rooms need to be painted a light color. When you paint a small room a really dark color, the corners seem to disappear, so you can't see the boundaries of the space anymore. Plus, dark rooms can be really cozy. And at the end of the day, is it more important that a space feel big or feel inviting?