
When designing a house, many people ask themselves: what to do with the free space that forms under the stairs. It is quite difficult to use it with advantage, and losing square meters in vain is very a pity. What can be done with this space?

The space under the stairs is quite suitable for arranging a small toilet or even a bathroom with a shower
Common options include equipment for a small utility room or an additional bathroom under the stairs. Of course, this is not easy. Indeed, far from any furniture and not at all every model of plumbing fits into a small non-standard space. However, in this article you can learn about how to plan a toilet under the stairs so that it is convenient to use.
What are the requirements for a bathroom under the stairs
Content
To realize such a desire, one will need not only temporary and financial investments, but also the availability of suitable conditions. You need to take into account the specifics of the bathroom, as well as the materials from which the house as a whole and the staircase in particular are made.

Under the long flight of stairs there is enough space to install a toilet bowl and washstand
More on what to consider when planning a toilet under a staircase in a wooden house:
- The ability to equip the selected space with all communications, namely water supply and sewage.
- The need for a forced ventilation device.
Providing the toilet with ventilation will be quite simple if the staircase runs along the outer wall of the house. With the location of the stairs inside the house, you will have to think about laying communications under the ceiling or through the second floor.
- Mandatory provision of waterproofing.
And these are not all the important parameters. The selected space should correspond to certain dimensions. The bathroom under the stairs must meet the following parameters:
- if you plan to install only a toilet, then an area of 0.8 * 1.2 meters is enough (if the plans include a sink, bath or washing machine, then a larger area is needed);
The height of the room under the stairs should be comfortable, the ideal option is slightly higher than human height
- in the place where the toilet will be installed, the ceiling height must be at least 1 meter;
- the ceiling height in front of the toilet should be slightly higher than the highest member of the family;
- the above rules apply to the height of the ceiling above the sink and other plumbing;
- in such a room the door should open outwards.

The outer lining of the door leaf can merge with the decoration of the stairs
If the area of space does not allow you to install a door that opens outward, you can choose sliding and folding options. However, they have a significant drawback: such structures do not provide sound insulation and protection against odors.
If the selected room does not meet even the minimum recommended sizes, then the solution to the situation will be modern compact models of sanitary ware.
Interior design and choice of colors
As a rule, the bathroom under the stairs is not large and the visual space is becoming a key task in interior design. Light colors come to the rescue in this.It is worth sticking to when choosing all the design elements.

The bathroom will seem visually larger if you use light materials
Light is not necessarily white, you can use shades of beige, pink, yellow, blue, olive and other pastel colors. They reflect light well, and, therefore, visually increase spaces, mirror and glossy surfaces.

Above the toilet bowl you can lay out an original panel of assorted mirror and metallized tiles
In addition to mirrors in the bathroom, you can hang lockers, the doors of which will be mirrored. Also significantly increase the space of corner mirrors. It is a good idea to install a large full-length mirror or full-length wall.
Toilet finish
When choosing materials for decoration it is necessary to take into account that the elements should be small in size. This is especially true for tiles. If you use tiles of different colors, you can make several different zones in the bathroom, which will also help to visually increase the space. Another way to increase the area using tiles is to use an interesting ornament or pattern with an unusual texture on one of the walls.

Finishing a small toilet should contribute to a visual increase in space
Walls
If the walls of the room are made of wood, they must be treated with special protective agents to protect them from mold and rot. In some cases, the tree can be hidden under tiles or plastic panels, but if not provided, then you can use stain, varnishes or tinting impregnations.

Only part of the walls in the washbasin area can be finished with ceramic tiles.
Moisture resistant materials are used as standard for bathtub decoration. Which ones, depends on personal preferences. Tiles, plastic panels, moisture-resistant paint and so on are well suited.

Moisture-resistant drywall is used as the basis for facing the walls with tiles
Ceiling
An important requirement for materials for finishing the ceiling will also be moisture resistance. If space allows, you can install complex multi-level and figured structures, suspended ceilings, but if the height of the ceilings is already small, standard painting is quite suitable.

When choosing a ceiling finish, you should be guided by the state of the stairs. It is possible that it will be possible to do a simple painting of surfaces

Otherwise, the steps are easier to hide behind sheet material - drywall or plywood.
Floor
Before you start finishing the toilet under the stairs, you need to plan how the floor will be waterproofed. When choosing a waterproofing method, it is important to consider the features of the material of which the floor is made, as well as the features of the type of finish flooring:
- floors from a natural tree are recommended to be varnished or waterproofed in several layers;
- bitumen-polymer mastic is used for concrete, after which a screed is made and tiles or linoleum are laid;
- under the laminate, you can put roll insulation on a bitumen basis.

Installing a toilet on a wooden floor is a real task if the base is strong enough. In other cases, it will be necessary to add beams to the location of the plumbing
Plumbing Installation
Due to their small dimensions, the spaces under the stairs make it necessary to search for optimal and compact options for furniture and sanitary ware. Fortunately, the modern market offers many different options that are suitable even for limited spaces.

The smaller the room under the stairs, the more carefully you should select plumbing
Consider some options for plumbing, which are both functional and correspond to a small bathroom in size.

If you need a sink just to rinse your hands, pay attention to the compact mini washbasins

If necessary, you can choose a model that is installed above the washing machine

Perhaps the best solution would be a narrow wall-mounted washbasin
Small wall-mounted toilets
You can consider the option of a hanging toilet with installation. The fact is that such models do not have a visible tank, since it is hidden in a box. Since the place under the lower steps is quite difficult to use, it often remains unused. Just in this place you can install the installation.

Small hanging toilet - the perfect solution for a compact toilet
Compact bidet
Bidets themselves are a compact plumbing option. Modern models are very functional and ergonomic.

To make the toilet look beautiful, you should choose a bidet and a toilet from one collection
A hygienic shower, which is mounted next to the toilet, will also help save space. It can replace a bidet, as well as be convenient during wet cleaning in the house.

A hygienic shower will come in handy if there is simply no place for a bidet in the toilet
Toilet Furniture
It is quite difficult to select furniture in such a small and non-standard room. It is almost impossible to accommodate full-fledged lockers or cabinets here for storing linen, household equipment and tools, as well as household chemicals. The way out can be furniture sets made to order. It can be narrow cases, cases or separately installed hanging cabinets. Hanging furniture not only helps to save space, but also to make it more spacious.

A modest space cannot be cluttered with pieces of furniture, just one cupboard under the sink and a couple of shelves for small things will be enough
The fewer hygiene devices in sight (towels, detergents, etc.), the more spacious the room will look.
You can also always find a place for various open shelves. If a box for installation is installed in the room, it (or rather its horizontal surface) can be used to hide all communications in the cavity: pipes and water supply.

Modestly, but has everything you need - a toilet paper holder, a hand wash and a towel hanger
Accessories
In such a small space it is quite difficult to talk about additional items of decoration. However, you always want to add a twist to the interior of the bathroom under the stairs in a private house. Even if we are talking about a bathroom located under the stairs. In such a space, you can also arrange various accessories, the main thing is that they are also functional.

The toilet space can be designed in any style, based on which you need to select decorative elements
Consider the most popular options:
- elegant faucets;
- beautiful curtains for the bathroom;
- mirrors with decorative but not bulky frames;
- heated towel rails;
- beautiful door handles;
- stylized laundry baskets;
- stylish trash bin;
- unusual lights and so on.

Illuminated figurine on a shelf - an original and stylish solution
Lighting
It is extremely important to establish competent lighting. If the lighting system is selected and installed correctly, then thanks to the light, the space will look visually more spacious. To achieve a good effect, it is recommended to install several point sources of light, which will be located around the perimeter of the room.

It is better to use the built-in lamps, if the ceiling height allows, or compact overhead models
In addition, each functional area should have separate light sources. Even if zoning in the room is not carried out using partitions, lighting can take on this function. For convenience, as well as to achieve the best effect, fixtures with bright and cold light are most suitable.
Conclusion
At first glance, the task of designing a bathroom under the stairs in the country seems complicated, and sometimes even impossible. However, in order to realize such an idea in his country house, it is enough to correctly plan the space, taking into account the recommendations of professionals. You can also see photos of bathrooms under the stairs to the second floor.
Video: overview of the bathroom in a wooden house