Understair storage?

[Doug71]

A customer wants to incorporate some shoe storage in the bottom few steps of their staircase and have seen the video below , the other option I've suggested is converting a couple of the risers into drawers.

It's a bit of a squeaky staircase in a 1970's house, the staircase needs a bit of attention (stop the squeaking) so now would be the perfect time to do it.

The video does look fun but the drawers might be a bit more sensible, anybody done similar or got any other ideas?

 

[robgul]

Lots of reno jobs on YT have incorporate drawers and/or cupboards in the side of a staircase (assuming the side of the rise is open and not between 2 walls) - I have seen a staircase at a friend's house with a a couple of risers with drawers - not brilliant as the drawers are quite shallow and the apertures affect the structural strength of the staircase.

 

[Kayen]

The riser is usually grooved into the underside of one tread and fixed into the back of the tread below. If you turn the riser into a drawer I don't see how the unsupported tread won't flex. I'd be interested in finding out how this isn't a problem.

 

[Blackswanwood]

The idea in the video looks much safer to me than using drawers. With drawers I would anticipate one being not quite closed properly and someone descending the stairs tripping on it.

 

[Dabop]

The riser is usually grooved into the underside of one tread and fixed into the back of the tread below. If you turn the riser into a drawer I don't see how the unsupported tread won't flex. I'd be interested in finding out how this isn't a problem.

Common in 'tiny homes' and it's not even a new idea, my uncles terrace house in Sydney had drawers in the stairs- built around the end of the 1800's!!!! (we only discovered them when he had the carpeting on the stairs replaced!!! they obviously hadn't been opened in years...)

The treads with drawers under them were noticeably thicker than the rest of them so I think they allowed for that (plus in the closed position, the drawer 'front' becomes a riser support if there is any deflection of the tread above...)