Understairs storage · Made in Dorking since 1995
Bespoke Understairs Storage, Made to Measure
Home/Understairs Storage
Turn the most awkward space in the house into drawers, cupboards and shelving that fit it exactly. Designed and hand-built in our Dorking workshop and fitted across Surrey and Sussex.
Since 1995
Over 30 years of hand-built wardrobes.
Made in Dorking
Every panel cut and edged in our own workshop.
10-Year Door Warranty
On all movement of our sliding doors.
4.9 on Google
Rated by our customers.
Understairs storage
Make Every Inch Under the Stairs Work Harder
The space under the stairs is in almost every home, and in almost every home it is wasted. Too often it becomes a dark cupboard where coats, the vacuum cleaner and anything without a proper home get pushed in and forgotten. Finding anything means emptying half of it onto the hall floor.
The problem is the shape. The ceiling slopes, the space gets shallower towards the back, and no standard cupboard or chest of drawers fits it. That is exactly why it suits bespoke furniture. Because we design and make everything ourselves, we can build storage that follows the line of the stairs precisely, using every inch from the tall end to the shallowest corner.
We start by finding out what you actually need to store: coats and shoes by the front door, laundry, cleaning supplies, pet food and leads, or simply the everyday clutter that needs somewhere to go. Then we design a solution around it, with built-in drawers, custom shelving and cabinets arranged so the things you use most are easiest to reach.
Every piece is made in our Dorking workshop from high-density Egger panels with 2mm ABS edging, finished in colours to suit your hallway, and fitted by our own team.
Request an Understairs Storage Quote
Showroom visits by appointment.
Storage options
Understairs Storage Options
Every staircase is different, so every design is too. Your understairs storage can combine:
Built-in drawers: deep drawers that use the full depth of the space, on full-extension runners so you can reach right to the back.
Cabinets with doors: for a clean, tidy finish that hides everything away.
Custom shelving: open or behind doors, at heights that follow the slope.
Dedicated zones: spaces planned for laundry, shoes, pet products, cleaning supplies and other items.
Hanging space: for coats near the front door.
The tallest part of the space is usually best for full-height cupboards, while the lower end suits drawers that you can pull out rather than reach into.
Ideas by use
What Could Your Understairs Space Become?
01
A boot room by the front door
Coats on hooks or rails, shoes on shelves or in drawers, and a place for bags and keys, so the hallway stays clear.
02
A laundry and cleaning store
Somewhere for the ironing board, vacuum cleaner, mop and cleaning products, all behind closed doors.
03
A home for pet supplies
Food, leads, beds and toys stored neatly together, so everything is in one place.
04
General household storage
Drawers and shelves for the things every home has too much of, organised so you can actually find them.
Why bespoke?
Why Bespoke Understairs Storage Beats a Cupboard
Built for your stairs
- Uses the whole space: storage follows the slope of the stairs, so no corner is wasted.
- Easy to reach: drawers bring things from the back of the space to you, rather than making you crawl in after them.
- Tidy and organised: a place for everything means a clutter-free hallway.
- Looks part of the house: finished in colours and materials that suit your hall, landing or living room.
- Built to last: solid construction from our own workshop, not flat-pack.
Open, closed or both?
Closed doors and drawers give a clean, calm finish, which suits a hallway that guests walk through. Open shelving works well for things you grab every day, such as shoes and bags, or for displaying books and favourite pieces. Many designs combine the two, with closed storage lower down and open shelves where they are easy to see.
It is the same approach we bring to our made-to-measure wardrobes: measure every angle, design around how you live, and build it to fit perfectly.
Finishes
Finishes to Match Your Hallway
Your understairs storage can be finished in the same wide range of colours and materials as our wardrobes and furniture, from Super Matt and High Gloss to woodgrain and painted oak effects. You can match your existing doors and skirting, pick out a colour from the hallway, or choose a feature finish that makes the storage a focal point.
If your staircase is painted or has timber treads, we can choose a finish that complements it, so the storage looks like part of the staircase rather than something added afterwards. Samples are on display at our Dorking showroom, and you can see every option on our customisation options page.
Planning around what's already there
Planning Around Meters, Cables and Access
The space under the stairs often hides things that still need to be reached: a gas or electricity meter, a consumer unit, a stopcock or a tangle of broadband cables. A good design keeps these accessible rather than boxing them in. We look at what is in the space during our survey and plan doors, removable panels or open sections so you can always get to them.
Ventilation matters too, especially if you plan to store shoes, coats or laundry. We will talk through how air can circulate so the space stays fresh.
Our process
How We Create Your Understairs Storage
1
Show us the space
Send photos, call us, or book a visit to our Dorking showroom.
2
Measure every angle
We survey the space under your stairs, including the slope and depth.
3
Plan the storage
We design drawers, cupboards and shelves around what you need to store, as hand-drawn or CGI images.
4
Make it in Dorking
Every panel is cut and edged to fit in our workshop.
5
Fit and finish
Our own installers fit it in place and check everything with you.
Why choose us
Why Choose Sliding Wardrobe Warehouse
Specialists since 1995
An independent, family-oriented company that has been making wardrobes in Surrey for over 30 years.
Our own workshop
We design, make and fit everything ourselves, so quality never leaves our hands.
Over 150 years of combined experience
Across our manufacturing and installation team.
Built to last
2mm ABS edging on every panel and a 10-year warranty on all sliding door movement.
Trusted installers
Trained in-house and CSCS-carded.
Fully insured
Federation of Small Businesses members with £5m public, employers’ and product liability cover.
Reviews
Rated 4.9 on Google by Our Customers
Areas we cover
Understairs Storage Fitted Across Surrey and Sussex
From our Dorking workshop, we make and fit understairs storage for homes in:
FAQs
Understairs Storage FAQs
Can’t see your question? Call us on 01306 741488 or ask during your showroom visit.
What is the best storage for under the stairs?
A mix usually works best: full-height cupboards in the tallest part of the space, and drawers in the lower part where reaching in is awkward. The right combination depends on what you need to store, which is why we design each one individually.
Can you build storage into an existing understairs cupboard?
Yes. We can fit drawers, shelving and cabinets into an existing understairs cupboard, or open up the space completely for a fully fitted solution.
Will the storage follow the slope of my stairs?
Yes. We measure the slope precisely and build the storage to follow it, so the space is used right to the shallowest corner.
Can the storage match my other doors and furniture?
Yes. Understairs storage can be finished in the same colours and materials as our wardrobes and furniture, so it suits your hallway.
Can you build understairs storage for coats and shoes?
Yes. Shoes are one of the most common things people want to store under the stairs, and we can plan shelves, drawers and hanging space around them.
Can you work around a meter or fuse box under the stairs?
Yes. We plan the design so meters, consumer units and stopcocks stay easy to reach, using doors or open sections rather than boxing them in.
Is bespoke understairs storage worth it in a small house?
Often it is most worthwhile in a smaller home, where every bit of storage counts. Fitted drawers and cupboards can hold a surprising amount and free up space elsewhere in the house.
How long does it take to fit understairs storage?
It depends on the size of the space and the design. We will give you a realistic timeframe when we agree your plans.
Can I have a mix of drawers and cupboards?
Yes. Most understairs designs combine both, with tall cupboards where the ceiling is highest and drawers in the lower part of the space, so everything is easy to reach.
How much does bespoke understairs storage cost?
Every design is priced individually, depending on the size of the space, the mix of drawers, cupboards and shelving, and the finishes. We give you a clear quote once we have measured up and agreed the design.
Ready to Reclaim the Space Under Your Stairs?
Send us a photo or book a home visit, and we will show you what your understairs space could hold.
- 01306 741488
- [email protected]
- Unit 4, Glebelands Centre, Vincent Lane, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 3HW (by appointment)
- Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm · Friday 9am to 3pm · Saturday 9am to 2pm