Making Every Step Count with Unique Space-Saving Staircases
In small homes, every design feature needs to pull double duty. Staircases – often a bulky necessity – demand serious ingenuity to stay compact, functional, and design-forward. Whether leading to a loft or connecting split levels, the right staircase doesn’t just take you places – it transforms the entire space. We’ve rounded up some of the most ingenious space-saving staircases featured on NTS, from sculptural statement pieces to stairs on wheels. These designs don’t just save space – they redefine it.
Half-Step Stairs, Whole Step Up
A steep staircase usually means awkward, toe-curling steps, but half-step staircases – also called alternating tread stairs – flip the script. They keep the footprint minimal while ensuring each step stays deep enough for safe, comfortable use.
At Shoji Apartment in London, architect John Proctor created a Japanese-inspired micro-apartment where space-saving design was paramount. A sleeping pod, accessible via an alternating tread staircase, was installed above an integrated storage unit tucked behind sliding polycarbonate screens. This style of staircase allows for a steep incline, preserving a sense of openness in the 29sqm home while allowing for the privacy of a separated sleeping area. A slim handrail and a sleek, built-in wall niche enhance both safety and aesthetics.
Meanwhile, at just 56sqm, the ultra-narrow 6 Tsubo House in Tokyo turns every vertical inch into an opportunity – especially when it comes to stairs. Designed by Yugo Yamada of Arte-1 Architects, this home features multiple staircases, culminating in an ultra-compact, alternating tread staircase at the end of the clients’ bed. Leading to a rooftop balcony, it multitasks as open shelving for books and a wardrobe for hanging clothes. The crisp white stairs pop against the dark green of the bedroom, adding a highly functional and seamlessly integrated visual feature to the narrow room. “Under the stairs, there is even more storage space for clothes and small items,” says Yamada, showcasing how every inch is optimised in this cleverly stacked home.
Stairs That Do More Than Climb
Some staircases go beyond their expected use – they change how a home functions entirely. Take the Salhaus-designed Flagpole House in Tokyo – a uniquely shaped home that’s taller than it is wide. Here, the rise of every single curved step between the living and bedroom doubles as an open storage cubby, creating a seamless blend of access and organization. A bathroom also hides within the area beneath the stairs to ensure there’s no wasted space. Taking the staircase-cum-storage to another level, architect Karolina Howorko turned stairs into a multifunctional powerhouse in Warsaw’s Studio H. Leading to a lofted bedroom and home office, the staircase also conceals storage, a hidden fridge, and even a dining table that slides out as needed. “The dining table magically slides out from under the staircase,” says Howorko, highlighting how the flow and function of the space can transform at will.
On the more flexible end of the spectrum, Billinghurst in Buenos Aires features a mobile staircase that can be wheeled around as needed. Picture the stairs that let passengers off a plane but smaller and more chic. Designed by MoobArq, this roving white staircase isn’t just about access but adaptability too; it allows the homeowners to get up to their mezzanine bedroom and, when needed, to reach the high-up storage areas lining the apartment’s perimetre. And by keeping sight lines open with the stairs’ skeletal design, MoobArq maintained a sense of spaciousness throughout the compact home wherever it’s placed.
Stairways to Style
Minimalist staircases can be more than just a functional necessity – they can be striking architectural statements within themselves. At Villa Saint-Michel in Paris, Nicolas Bossard Architecture crafted a floating staircase from birch and white plywood. The staircase doubles back on itself to minimize floor space while maintaining an airy, sculptural aesthetic. And hidden beneath? A small desk to work from and a tucked-away coat closet that allows for discreet storage without disrupting the home’s sleek design.
Meanwhile, Project Ordener, another Parisian gem, transforms the staircase into an artistic centrepiece. Chayeb & Paradis turned what was once an awkward mezzanine ladder into an artful, ultra-thin sculptural metal staircase. Designed to feel as weightless as possible, the staircase doesn’t just provide access – it elevates the home’s bright, modern atmosphere, or as Paradis described it: “We didn’t want the stairs to just be functional, we wanted them to be like a piece of art in the space.”
Smart Stairs, Smarter Living
These innovative staircases prove that small homes don’t have to sacrifice function, style, or personality. Whether maximising vertical space with alternating tread stairs, turning staircases into sculptural statements, or building in clever storage, these designs push the boundaries of what’s possible in compact living. With clever engineering and a little creativity, staircases can become much more than just a way up – they can be the heart of a beautifully designed small home.
