You’ve got space under your stairs, but what should you actually do with it?
It’s one of the most common questions homeowners ask, and one of the most underrated home improvements you can make. The right choice transforms a cluttered, wasted corner into one of the most useful spaces in your home. The wrong choice just moves the problem somewhere else.
Here’s a complete breakdown of every under stairs storage option available in the UK, the pros, the cons, the costs, and what actually works in a real home.
Option 1: Open Shelving
Open shelving under the stairs looks great in interior design blogs. In practice, it tends to collect dust and showcase clutter rather than contain it.
Unless you’re displaying neatly arranged books, plants, or decorative objects, and keeping them that way, open shelving turns into a visual dumping ground quickly.
- Cost: Low (£100–£300 DIY)
- Best for: Decorative use, low-traffic homes
- Not great for: Families, everyday storage, anything that needs to stay tidy
Option 2: A Single Hinged Cupboard Door
The classic approach, a door across the opening, hiding whatever’s inside. Cheap, simple, and familiar.
The problem is access. You open the door and everything tumbles out, or you have to crouch and dig to find what you need. Items at the back are effectively lost. And unless it’s made to measure, there’s a lot of wasted space at the sides and top.
- Cost: £200–£800 depending on whether it’s DIY or carpenter-fitted
- Best for: Hiding large, infrequently used items (Christmas decorations, luggage)
- Not great for: Everyday access, organised storage
Option 3: DIY Flat Pack Units
Flat pack drawer units from IKEA or similar are a popular choice, and they work reasonably well in square rooms. The issue is that under stairs spaces aren’t square. The ceiling slopes, the dimensions are irregular, and standard units simply don’t fit properly.
You end up with visible gaps at the top, drawers that catch on the slope, and a result that looks clearly improvised rather than designed.
- Cost: £300–£600
- Best for: Tight budgets
- Not great for: A clean finish, awkward staircase shapes, long-term durability
Option 4: Pull-Out Drawer Units (Fitted Specialist)
This is where under stairs storage gets serious. Fitted specialist units, like those from Pro Spaces, are built on site to your exact staircase dimensions. Every drawer is designed to work with the slope. Every panel fits flush. The result looks like it was always part of the house.
Push-to-open drawers on full-extension soft-close runners mean everything is accessible without kneeling, scrabbling, or losing things at the back. You can see the full contents of every drawer at once.
- Cost: From £989 fully fitted (Pro Spaces)
- Best for: Families, everyday use, anyone who wants a clean professional finish
- Includes: Delivery, installation, waste removal, 5-year guarantee
Option 5: Mixed Configurations (Drawers + Cupboards)
The most popular choice with Pro Spaces customers. A combination of drawers for everyday items and a tall cupboard section for bulkier things, hoover, golf bag, buggy, large sports kit.
Pro Spaces offer 3, 5, and 6 drawer configurations, with options to add single or double cupboard doors. The configurator shows you exactly what fits in your space and what each combination costs.
- Cost: From £989 (3 drawer) to £2,339 (6 drawer + cupboards)
- Best for: Busy households with varied storage needs
Option 6: Bespoke Local Carpenter
A skilled carpenter can build something completely custom, unique shapes, integrated lighting, built-in charging points, whatever you want. If budget isn’t a concern and you want something truly one-of-a-kind, this is the route.
The downsides: cost (typically £2,500–£5,000+), lead times of 6–12 weeks, no guaranteed process or aftercare, and the quality varies widely depending on who you find.
- Cost: £2,500–£5,000+
- Best for: High-end renovations with flexibility on budget and timeline
- Not great for: Those who want certainty on price, timeline, or aftercare
Which Option Is Right for You?
Here’s the honest summary:
- Tight budget, happy to DIY: Flat pack, but manage your expectations on fit and finish
- Want it done properly without breaking the bank: Pro Spaces fitted unit from £989
- Unlimited budget, totally custom: Local carpenter, but allow 3 months and do your research
For most UK homeowners, the fitted specialist route is the clear choice. You get a proper built-in result, a fast turnaround, fixed pricing, and a guarantee, without paying carpenter prices.
How Much Does Under Stairs Storage Cost in 2026?
See our dedicated under stairs storage cost guide for a full breakdown of prices, what affects the cost, and whether it’s worth the investment.
Get an Instant Quote
One measurement is all you need. Get a fixed price for your space in minutes and see exactly what’s possible.
