8 Elegant Ideas for a Stairway Wall

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.

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.

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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.


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


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.

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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


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

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