Ask Joshua - What to do with loft stairs.

Hi Joshua,

I live in a loft apartment and I’ve always been at a loss what to do with the space along the staircase that leads to my bedroom. It’s the slope that makes it awkward to put furniture or try to put up art. I’ve just never been satisfied with it and am hoping for some suggestions. I’ve attached a picture of my space for your reference.

Thanks!

Amy - Chicago, IL

Industrial Loft with stair. Image created using AI via Canva

Hi Amy,

Thanks for writing in! I’d be happy to help you out with some ideas of what to do in your stairs space. The picture helped me visualize your particular situation, so I appreciate that. I have some suggestions for you that I think you’ll find helpful. The fundamental point about decorating odd spaces, for me, is to think nontraditionally. Why does art have to be on the wall? Why does décor have to be on a shelf or table? These aren’t new concept in design certainly, but perhaps they didn’t come to mind or when thought of individually it seems strange to do. I found a picture, posted above, that illustrates these points and how they all come together.

Firstly, the wall of the stairs themselves. I suggest making it interesting by adding color, texture, or pattern. In this case they went with shiplap to provide some visual interest, breaks up the wall, and keeps in line with the neutral color scheme in the space. You can paint the space, or perhaps even better, wallpaper it. For such a small space, you can get away with a more bold wallpaper without it dominating a room, which can be really fun. A mirror here is the largest vertical piece. You can swap that out for a large piece of art or perhaps shelves, or a tall cabinet or curio. The bench provides some extra seating if your space would benefit from it, or you can change it to be a lounge or accent chair and small side table. If you need more storage, a console or buffet also works and give more space for décor. In this example the décor is utilizing that space at the end of the stairs. Stacked books and art on the floor really work; especially the haphazard stacking of the books is in contrast to all the very straight lines of the rest of the room and provides some needed organized disorder. The art is actually slightly taller than the stairs, but it works…especially since it’s using a transparent frame, which gives a cool floating effect. A smaller potted plant would work in that short space, or a couple of baskets for holding shoes, blankets, or magazines.

I hope that these ideas give you some inspiration of what you can do in your own home. Have fun with it and I’d love to see pictures of what you come up with!

Warmly,

Joshua Jones

Have an interior design related question? You can ask Joshua here.