When it comes to functional spaces, the landing isn’t an obvious candidate, but, as these ideas 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.
Capitalise on a corner
Romilly Turner of Romilly Turner Interior Design cleverly made this petite desk space in a warehouse flat 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.
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 was to let the room spill out onto the landing. The team painted and carpeted it, and added LED lights and a large skylight.
Work in a window seat
With a view like this, it would be criminal not to find some way to sit and enjoy it. Wickenden Hutley, who designed the home in Cornwall, have created a calm space with a muted palette that 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, six doors and a design that goes right to the ceiling make this landing storage 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 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, 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-sized 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 connected, while allowing for it to be quiet when necessary, too.
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 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.
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 function.
The inspired idea is the small, wall-mounted antique drawer. This creates a perfect spot for perching a cuppa while flicking through the post, or even a couple of evening drinks, should the residents want to enjoy looking out of the window while relaxing.
For those with one living space and TV-hogging tweens or teens, the appeal will be obvious… A restful blue palette and pale flooring make the space particularly inviting as a bonus seating spot.