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Using Closet over Basement Stairs: for Pantry or Store

using Closet over Basement Stairs

For many reasons, using a closet over a basement stair as storage is a great decision. A basement and the stairway are ideal places to store miscellaneous items, like tools, blankets and toys.

We will give you some ideas for ways to use closets over basement stairs for the pantry or store.

Creative ways how to use the Closet over Basement Stairs

 A closet over a basement staircase is a tricky space to design. You can only create a nice, clean look that doesn’t clash with the rest of your home.

basement staircase area

If you have a small space, this means using furniture and accessories that can be moved around easily.

Here are some creative ways to use the closet over a basement staircase:

1. Use it as an entertainment center

It is one of the most common uses for a closet over a basement staircase because it allows you to display your favorite things in one spot without taking up too much room or looking cluttered.

2. Use it as storage

 If you have many extra items that aren’t being used anymore, consider storing them in your basement closet until you’re ready for them again.

This is especially helpful if you have children who like collecting toys and other things from their rooms (and forgetting where they put them).

shelves at basement staircase

3. Use it as an office space

If you want to use your basement as more than just storage space, consider setting up an office there where you can work from home or when travelling for business meetings don’t

4. Hang Baskets

Consider hanging baskets on the wall above your basement stairs if you have a small hallway between your home’s front door and upstairs bedrooms.

These baskets will provide a place to store shoes, hats, and other items that are not in use but need to be out of sight. You can even hang them on hooks, so they don’t take up much space on your walls.

5. Use Shelves

You can also use shelves above your basement stairs for storing books or items too heavy for other locations in your home.

Just hang them from hooks and place anything you want out of sight behind them.

6. Hang Artwork

Another creative way to use a closet over the basement stairs is by hanging artwork from hooks over these spaces instead of leaving it on the floor.

Or putting it in an open cabinet where it could get ruined by dust or dirt particles blowing through vents in the ceiling above the space where you placed the artwork.

Can you Set the Pantry over the Basement Stairs?

The short answer is yes; you can install a pantry over the basement stairs. The long answer is that it depends on the size of your stairs and the space in the area between your stairs and the ceiling.

at basement area

If you have wide steps and a large area to fill with cabinets, you might get away with it. If not, you’ll need to measure first before deciding what type of cabinet system will work best for you. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • You must ensure enough clearance for your cabinets to be installed safely. This means taking measurements before you purchase the cabinets so that they go into the right space and don’t interfere with other electrical or plumbing systems in your home.
  • Your cabinets will probably need to be placed on casters to move easily if necessary. This can add extra cost if you don’t already own another pair of casters available (such as a pair of kitchen carts).
  • Make sure that all surfaces are strong enough for heavy-duty storage cabinet systems.

How to Set and Design Pantry over Basement Stairs

The pantry over basement stairs can be a challenging project. You must find the right size and style for your space and install it correctly. Here are some tips that will help you get started:

1. Measure the width of your basement stairs and the length of your pantry’s shelves.

2. Cut two pieces of MDF board to fit your measurements, one for each side of the stairs.

3. Cut two pieces of plywood to fit your measurements, one for each side of the pantry’s shelves.

4. Attach two pieces of MDF to each side of the stairs and one piece onto each shelf with wood glue and screws (see image below).

5. Cut four pieces of 1/2-in.-thick plywood to fit under your joists (see image below).

6. Secure all pieces with wood glue and nails.

7. Install a cabinet front on each side of your pantry using 2×12 lumber cut at 45 degrees from the long edge (see image below). Make sure your account for any door clearance needed by cutting away any excess material along both sides of your doorway opening before nailing on a cabinet face plate or door trim piece that will cover this gap if necessary.

Other Ideas for Stair Wall Storage

Wall shelves

basement chest of drawers

One way to create more floor space in your home is by using wall shelves. You can place them on either side of the stairs or at the top and bottom.

They’re great for keeping shoes off the stairs and books and other items you don’t want to risk falling down the stairs.

Pantry

If you have a lot of kitchen supplies, consider adding pantry shelving above your staircase.

This would allow you to keep all your spices, flour, sugar and other ingredients in one place where they won’t get damaged from falls on slippery steps.

Cardboard Boxes

If you have a lot of boxes, you can use them as a way to store items on the stairway. You can also use them to organize other items stored on the stairs, such as remotes and toys for children.

A good rule is that each box should hold at least one item or toy. If you have larger items such as books or shoes, they would be better off being stored elsewhere since they will take up more room than smaller items like remotes or toys.

Toys

You can store toys in plastic bins or baskets on your stairs, but make sure that you keep them away from other items so that they don’t get lost or damaged by other items falling over them or getting stepped on by someone else walking on the stairs above you!