Stairs to basement

8 years ago

Looking for ideas on what to do with this space. We are purchasing this house that is a total fixer upper and I’m at a loss for how to make the stairs work. The stairs lead to an unfinished basement that has a door at the bottom. I’m worried if I close that area in and add a door to the stairs, it’ll be too dark and narrow at the hallway leading to the bedrooms. The house is a ranch style built in 1980. Any design suggestions? I have two small children and don’t really want them falling down the stairs...but I want a beautiful house when we are finished too...

Featured Answer

Darzy

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I wouldn't close it up. Paint the walls and ceiling and nice bright white and add extra lighting. For the entry to the stairs, for now I'd just install a pretty an lockable gate.

Athens 5 Pts (Southview) · More Info

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
Good lighting and a baby gate until the kids are older a fresh coat of a nice light color for now then live with the space for a bit before remodelling , you might want to develop that basement while you are at it.
Related Professionals
Zanesville Home Remodeling · Pocatello Home Remodeling · Galveston Bathroom Remodelers · Bakersfield Bathroom Remodelers · Lewiston Bathroom Remodelers · Sheridan Bathroom Remodelers · Gainesville Architects & Building Designers · Rutland Architects & Building Designers · Twin Falls Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Richmond General Contractors · Kearney General Contractors · Newport General Contractors · Brattleboro General Contractors · Farmington Interior Designers & Decorators · McComb Cabinets & Cabinetry
PRO
Nanke Signature Group
8 years ago
Congratulations on your new home!

In addition to the baby gate, one way to bring a little more light to the stairwell without compromising safety would be to deconstruct the half-wall and replace it with railing. Add in some reflective surfaces- small mirrors and other metallics- a substantial light fixture, and maintain a lighter finish palette and you'll have pleasant stairwell and adjacent hallway.

Keep in mind as you renovate, if there is any way to bring more natural light into this space, look for that opportunity. An extra window, a skylight, or the exchange of a solid exterior door switching to a half or full light would be an effective element to your solution!

Best of luck with your project!
apple_pie_order
8 years ago
You can install a window with safety glass in the empty space. A door at the top of the stairway would be nice. Check with local building codes about doors to stairways.
acm
8 years ago
You can also add more lighting, whether or not you close in the wall -- that's a lot of hallway being covered by one medium fixture. I'd rather have a couple of fixtures along the hall itself (say, either side of the gap/grille in the ceiling) and then something separate serving the stairs, whether a new pendant, centered on the stairs, or a recessed can or two. They can all be on one switch, unless you decide to close the basement off...
suedonim75
8 years ago
I see you have a whole house attic fan. Do you plan on using it? If you do, you can't put up a wall. And if you put up a wall, you need to remove the fan and re-do the ceiling.
Gargamel
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Maybe some wallpaper on both walls, and not at the end wall
grapefruit1_ar
8 years ago
We have a very similar setup in our condo ( second home). It has a railing rather than the half wall. as Nanke had suggested. That allows the light to flow into the stairwell plus it looks much nicer.. We currently have a baby gate at the top of the stairs due to toddler grandkids.