Could Your Landing Become an Extra Room or Storage Spot?
When it comes to functional spaces, the landing isn’t an obvious candidate, but these UK homes show it can be ideal
If you have a staircase, you almost certainly have a landing. Perhaps it’s just a tiny square, maybe it’s a slender strip, or it might even be a generous space with a window. Whatever your landing looks like, are you making the most of that valuable floor space? Here, Houzz designers reveal just some of the ways they’ve maximised a home’s function by making good use of this often overlooked and under-used little spot.
Extend a room
The baby’s room in this project was tiny, with barely enough space for a cot, chair and changing table, let alone additional storage. The solution, executed beautifully by Black Oak Builders, was to let the room spill out onto the landing. They painted and carpeted it, adding LED lights and a large skylight.
Curious if you can transform your landing into an extra room? Browse interior designers near you to find out
The baby’s room in this project was tiny, with barely enough space for a cot, chair and changing table, let alone additional storage. The solution, executed beautifully by Black Oak Builders, was to let the room spill out onto the landing. They painted and carpeted it, adding LED lights and a large skylight.
Curious if you can transform your landing into an extra room? Browse interior designers near you to find out
Work in a window seat
With a view like this, it’d be criminal not to find some way to sit and enjoy it. Wickenden Hutley, who designed this home in Cornwall, UK, has created a calm space with a muted palette, which doesn’t compete with the wonderful nature beyond the window.
It’s also practical to include micro-lounging spots like this in a home where lots of visitors come to stay (which was the case with this project), so guests are able to have a comfortable moment to themselves away from the main living areas.
With a view like this, it’d be criminal not to find some way to sit and enjoy it. Wickenden Hutley, who designed this home in Cornwall, UK, has created a calm space with a muted palette, which doesn’t compete with the wonderful nature beyond the window.
It’s also practical to include micro-lounging spots like this in a home where lots of visitors come to stay (which was the case with this project), so guests are able to have a comfortable moment to themselves away from the main living areas.
Slot in a wardrobe
Made-to-measure storage is often the best way to make use of spare space and to tailor it precisely to your needs. In this example, designed and built by Willowfield Bespoke, six doors and a design that goes right to the ceiling make this storage area on the landing extremely practical.
Made-to-measure storage is often the best way to make use of spare space and to tailor it precisely to your needs. In this example, designed and built by Willowfield Bespoke, six doors and a design that goes right to the ceiling make this storage area on the landing extremely practical.
Make space for books
For households with a large collection of books, this might inspire. The full height and width of the landing in this Bristol home in the UK was used to construct floor-to-ceiling shelving.
Although the impressive book storage here was part of a dramatic reconfiguration of a large-Georgian home by Moon Architect and Builder, it could work in smaller homes, too. If you have a long, thin landing where there’s little room for seating or other furniture, there might be enough space for the depth of a paperback.
For households with a large collection of books, this might inspire. The full height and width of the landing in this Bristol home in the UK was used to construct floor-to-ceiling shelving.
Although the impressive book storage here was part of a dramatic reconfiguration of a large-Georgian home by Moon Architect and Builder, it could work in smaller homes, too. If you have a long, thin landing where there’s little room for seating or other furniture, there might be enough space for the depth of a paperback.
Screen it off
Where there’s a decent-size landing, you could consider this idea, brought to life by Perla Windows. A black-framed, full-height glazed wall and door keep this home office light and sociable, while allowing for it to be private and quiet when necessary, too.
Frame Up: 10 Ways to Use Crittall-Style Doors Inside
Where there’s a decent-size landing, you could consider this idea, brought to life by Perla Windows. A black-framed, full-height glazed wall and door keep this home office light and sociable, while allowing for it to be private and quiet when necessary, too.
Frame Up: 10 Ways to Use Crittall-Style Doors Inside
Turn a corner
To pack as much storage as possible into this landing, Charlie Luxton Design built around the corner.
To ensure the thoroughfare didn’t feel cluttered, sections of the storage are closed, with the tall door designed to slide across rather than swing out, in order to save space.
To pack as much storage as possible into this landing, Charlie Luxton Design built around the corner.
To ensure the thoroughfare didn’t feel cluttered, sections of the storage are closed, with the tall door designed to slide across rather than swing out, in order to save space.
Light up
As part of a whole house renovation, Hoban Design built a compact clothes-storage cupboard on this bedroom landing, complete with a mirror and shirt rails.
One particularly useful detail is the inclusion of interior lighting, which compensates for the fact the landing is darker than the bedroom.
As part of a whole house renovation, Hoban Design built a compact clothes-storage cupboard on this bedroom landing, complete with a mirror and shirt rails.
One particularly useful detail is the inclusion of interior lighting, which compensates for the fact the landing is darker than the bedroom.
Wall-mount to maximise space
A landing like this one may not immediately seem big enough to allow for much use beyond looking pretty. Yet the clever choice of furniture by Sigmar has boosted the area, giving it a purpose and function.
The inspired idea is the small, wall-mounted antique drawer. This creates a perfect spot for perching a cuppa while flicking through a book or magazine or making a phone call. For those with one living space and TV-hogging tweens or teens, the appeal will be obvious…
And a restful blue palette and pale flooring make the space particularly inviting as a bonus seating spot.
Your turn
How could your landing be improved or have you already put yours to good use? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story and save the images for inspiration. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Need more design advice for the important details in your home? Don’t miss Best View in the House: 11 New-Look Doors and Windows
A landing like this one may not immediately seem big enough to allow for much use beyond looking pretty. Yet the clever choice of furniture by Sigmar has boosted the area, giving it a purpose and function.
The inspired idea is the small, wall-mounted antique drawer. This creates a perfect spot for perching a cuppa while flicking through a book or magazine or making a phone call. For those with one living space and TV-hogging tweens or teens, the appeal will be obvious…
And a restful blue palette and pale flooring make the space particularly inviting as a bonus seating spot.
Your turn
How could your landing be improved or have you already put yours to good use? Share your tips in the Comments below, like this story and save the images for inspiration. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Need more design advice for the important details in your home? Don’t miss Best View in the House: 11 New-Look Doors and Windows
Romilly Turner of Romilly Turner Interior Design cleverly made this petite desk space in a warehouse apartment work very hard. Her trick? Combining one-wall shelving with a contoured corner desk, which allowed for a larger workspace and one into which the bookshelves don’t encroach.