Creating a staircase drawer

It's an eternal truth that when you live in a home for a while, clutter tends to accumulate. It's never clear how or from where, but the steady increase in possessions that inevitably happens can create quite a dilemma for homeowners. Where can all these objects go?

One innovative and discrete storage solution that has jumped in popularity recently are stair drawers. While stairs already serve one important function in the home, who's to say they can't serve another, maximising your use of space throughout the house?

Here are some brief instructions for creating them. 

Remove the risers

The first thing you want to do is remove the risers from the steps you plan on using - leave the very bottom step, however. While you're at it, ensure the steps are as level and steady as possible, and clear out any wood or other objects which might inhibit the smooth movement of the drawers. 

Measure up

Note the distance between the two faces of the stair stringers on either side of the stairs for the horizontal measurement, and get down the distance between the top of one stair tread and the bottom of another for the vertical distance.

Install the draw runners

Cover the sides of the area under the stairs with medium-density fibreboard, which will support the drawer runners. Attach it just behind the stringers, then mount the slides onto it.

Build your drawer

Unless you get very lucky, you'll need to build your own drawers. This means getting some medium-density fibreboard. Cross cut the sides to the required length, and hire a tablesaw for cutting a groove into the bottom of the drawer. Also create rabbets on the back and front of the drawer to create corner joints. Then fit the sides together. 

You're in the home stretch now. Attach the drawers onto the runners and push it in. Be sure to cut a small hole or attach a knob in order to get it open. Now you can put a variety of items in there, such as shoes or tools.