Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects designed a surprisingly spacious home office under the stairs of this Greek Revival cottage in Austin. Who doesn’t love an office with a sloped ceiling?

Designs Northwest Architects built a powder room beneath the staircase of the "Tsunami House" on Washington’s Camano Island. When your footprint is a mere 30 by 30 feet, below the staircase is a perfect place to tuck in a bathroom.

Annie Fitzgerald and Maria von Hartz of Von Fitz Design created this hobbit-sized hideaway underneath the stairs. The miniature door blends in seamlessly with the lacquered paneling to give the room a fun, secret vibe.

Turn the space under your stairs into an exposed wine cellar, such as this one from Canadian design firm Beyond Beige. The backlit space stores wine and bottled beverages to create an industrial yet rustic ambience.