Stairway to storage: How to save space and add impact with your staircase

Author: Kate Shaw on Houzz

With the move towards tiny houses and small-space living, the need to go up rather than out is definitely increasing. Thinking outside the square with staircase design can not only save you space, it can add visual interest and a designer touch to your home.

Doubling up
So, we all know what a staircase looks like, right? Well, think again. While a traditional staircase consists of wide, flat treads, a staggered-step design such as the one seen here is a practical alternative in tight or infrequently used spaces. “You get used to it very quickly,” says Tom Scott, who lives in this converted artist’s studio. “We can run up and down it now!”

Tip: It helps to know your step terminology before you start planning your staircase. While risers are the vertical part of a stair, treads are the flat part you step on. The rise is the height the staircase runs, nosing is the front edge of the tread, and stringers are the sides that support the treads and risers. If your staircase adjoins a wall, concealed stairs are possible; the stringer is hidden underneath the treads and risers, allowing them to butt right up to the plaster.

There’s nothing worse than a rise that is too steep or a tread that is too shallow; as well as being annoying, it’s possibly illegal. Check out the Australian regulations for stairs here.

Goes both ways
The open stairs leading to this loft bed are reminiscent of a ladder, but provide extra stability and safety, while the climbing wall on the right is a fun-filled alternative route.

Note: Stairs can be open or closed. Closed stairs have a solid riser, and you can’t see in through the staircase, while open stairs  mean the risers, or part of the risers, do not exist.

In a spiral
Spiral staircases are a traditional solution for small spaces. And don’t worry, they need not be old-fashioned, as this stunning Sydney example shows.

Secret storage
Storage can be a problem in small homes, so making use of under-stair space makes absolute sense.

For the ultimate use of space take a look at this stunning Parisian example…

… and here’s how it looks all closed up.

Divide and conquer
The staircase in this Melbourne home has been cleverly hidden by American-oak battens that work as a room divider.

Statement stairs
But, of course, staircases don’t always need to fade into the background – they can be fun and functional, as this playful Parisian example shows. Just make sure you watch your step.