8 Elegant Ideas for a Stairway Wall
Turn an awkward area into a graceful scene with low seating, a pretty wallpaper, just-right tables and more
Christine Tusher
August 16, 2014
Houzz Contributor
The wall below a flight of stairs can be one of the most awkward spaces in the house. Not only does the slope of the stairs make choosing furnishings for this area difficult, but often the wall is adjacent to a closet door as well.
Here are eight ideas for handling this tricky space in an elegant way.
Here are eight ideas for handling this tricky space in an elegant way.
1. Choose artful wallpaper. The short, curved piece of wall between the understair storage and the hallway in this space makes hanging art difficult. Instead, the designer opted for hand-painted Gracie wallpaper, which creates the feeling of artwork minus the hanging hassle and creates continuity between the two levels of the expansive apartment.
See more of this Manhattan apartment
See more of this Manhattan apartment
2. Go backless. Steep staircases don’t allow much room for tall furnishings. A backless bench or an ottoman enables you to use that awkward space as a blank canvas for a cozy seating area.
The bench here works particularly well because the closet door opens away from it. If it opened toward it, a limiter would be needed.
The bench here works particularly well because the closet door opens away from it. If it opened toward it, a limiter would be needed.
3. Create a salon. The chaise longue’s low height makes it an ideal choice for areas such as a stairway wall. Though a single chaise might have felt random here, two of them with a side table create an entryway salon that’s as comfortable for conversation as it is for lacing up boots.
New Ways With the Classic Chaise
New Ways With the Classic Chaise
4. Add storage with a chest. A tall piece of furniture would have interrupted the minimalist style of this railless stair in France. But a low chest adds storage without breaking up the jagged line the eye is meant to follow.
See more of this intriguing house
See more of this intriguing house
5. Create a perfect pair. A lone table would have seemed marooned in this large entryway. The pair of narrow planters creates symmetry and invites guests to continue into the home.
6. Try a narrow console table. This console table is tucked all the way behind the stair rail, creating a decorative spot for keys or mail without adding a tripping or bumping hazard.
Make the Most of Your Console Table
Make the Most of Your Console Table
7. Pull up a chair. Alone, the chest of drawers wouldn’t have taken up quite enough volume in this airy space. The chair makes the space feel finished without filling it up. It also is a perfect place for removing shoes.
8. Line it up. This bench is tucked neatly against the stairway wall, where paneling makes hanging artwork difficult. The bench’s height lines up perfectly with the stairway landing, creating symmetry and balance.
No Entry Hall? Create the Illusion of One
No Entry Hall? Create the Illusion of One
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I saw this really great idea of using tin ceilings to accent a stairwell here: http://www.victoriana.com/Tin-Ceilings/tinceiling-4.htm
A stairway gallery wall is one of the most popular and traditional things for any person who lives in a house. I think everyone has it in his or her home and renovates it from time to time changing the pics. A stairway is a perfect place for making such a thing because there’s a plain wall or two that can be decorated with your pics to arise some positive emotions.