Can someone please help with ideas on how to transform this weird basement stair layout? We have been remodeling our 1930’s farmhouse for the past 2 years and the previous owner added a basement with a weird stair layout.

We want to put a door to the basement but how do you do that when there is not a first step landing? It’s like you’d open the door and fall straight down? The “door frame” is wider than a normal standard door - I guess we could do bifold doors?

I would say let’s redo the stairs and make an actual landing, but isn’t that expensive?

Any ideas about that weird ledge on the side? I have thought about decor but that just seems like another place to collect dust, and we do not use our basement daily. Storage built-ins?

The garage is just to the left of the stairs - picture included (yes we need to replace/repaint the door).

Don’t judge our baby gate - we are doing the best we can 🙈 why would anyone build basement stairs like this 😩