• Blog
  • About
  • Press
  • Privacy

Let’s be social!

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Sawdust 2 Stitches

Sawdust 2 Stitches

  • Tutorials
    • Around the House
    • Organization
    • Wall Decor
    • Sewing
  • Makeovers
    • R.V.
    • Room Makeover
    • Furniture Makeover
    • Decor Makeover
  • Build Plans
    • Small Builds
    • Wall Decor
    • Dresser
    • Tables
    • Seating
    • Shelving
    • Hidden Compartment
  • Seasonal
    • Summer
    • Spring
    • Fall
    • Winter
  • Home Tours
    • First Home
    • Current Home
    • 70’s Ranch Home
  • Workshop

Under the Stairs Fort

January 24, 2014

  When we were looking at homes to buy, I remember opening the storage closet under the stairs and saying… “This has so much potential!”  I am  fairly certain our realtor thought I was nuts…
Well, My boys birthdays are the 16th and 17th of August. So,  the week before their birthdays we locked the door  and created this little hide-away in  just 5 days!

 

http://sewingandsanding.blogspot.com/2014/01/tour-of-fort.html
 So, would you like a tour of  “The Fort”?
 

 The “Bottom Floor”

Instead of heading up the stairs, you can duck  under and find this little area.

The lower level of the fort is dedicated to toy and play space.  It is complete with a nice clean and convenient toy storage.  I just love organization.  (I am pretty certain my kids may be doomed to a future of OCD.)

Once you get to the end of the toy storage it splits off the left…  This always surprises everyone!  At the far end they  have  “busy board” and a built in tool bench.

What always shocks people even  more, is  secret room if you continue around the corner!

This fun hideaway has become known as the ball pit…how original.

Complete with wall maze, and basketball hoop.  I would have killed for a place like this when I was little.  In fact  I recall making a “fort”  in the dirt crawl space under our house…  yeah that was gross.

 

Fun fact:  While we were in the midst of  building the fort,  my husband brings in a hammer and says…
Andy-” I want to hit a hole in the wall..”
Me- ” Makes sense, Why ? ”
Andy- ” I want to see whats behind this wall” (pointing to a nicely finished wall)
Me- ” Of course you do.”

Well his odd curiosity , is what  brought about the ball pit.  We busted down the wall made a door and completely  finished off the space , that was even further under the stairs. (Yes,  this detour project was included in the 5 days we had to finish  it.)

“The Upstairs”

If you  go up the stairs to the top floor you are greeted by some of the kids favorite characters.

The evening before their birthday  I stayed up very late working on these guys.  Look how cute  Wall-e is even eating popcorn.   Why is he eating popcorn ?  Because , my dear,  they are…

watching  a movie !  Can I tell you how nice it is to NOT have to watch/hear Curious George ?  It makes all the hard work completely  worth it.
On occasion Andy and I will crawl up there with the kids and watch a movie.  It is a pretty  big space,  it can actually  fit a twin size mattress…  just ask  my  younger brother. (We may or may not have had him sleep in there.)

The dvd player is conveniently  located out side the fort in the hidden storage area behind the treetops/curtains.

My kids love it and when friends come to play,  they all just  stay in there.  It’s great.  Not to mention, all of their toys are contained to one place.  They aren’t strewn about all over the place.  I love it.

So, do you have an odd size storage space somewhere ?  Maybe you should sort through all the random books that you now have in digital copy,  and clothes that are too small, and make it into a kids hide-away.

Just a  thought. You will be glad you did.

Have a great day !

More from my site

  • Pottery Barn Inspired Crate DresserPottery Barn Inspired Crate Dresser
  • DIY Dr. Suess Themed Book NookDIY Dr. Suess Themed Book Nook
  • Makeover Media ConsoleMakeover Media Console
  • Under the Stairs Playhouse/FirestationUnder the Stairs Playhouse/Firestation
  • Trash to Toy TrunkTrash to Toy Trunk
  • Wall PlanterWall Planter

in Uncategorized # Fort, Tool Bench, Toy Room, Toy Storage, Under Stairs

Reader Interactions

you may also like
Back of Door Spice Rack
Pool Patio Design
How To: Exterior Door Makeover
Out-feed Assembly Workshop Table

Comments

  1. Elaine says

    January 24, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    Totally freakin awesomeness!

  2. The Deckers says

    January 24, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    Thanks Lady! It is one of my favorite parts of the house… We have guests over … “go look in that closet…”. Kids have friends over … “Go play in the fort “. UPS carrier stops by… ” Do you want to see the Fort !?”. I am pretty proud of it.

  3. Michaela says

    January 24, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    Un believably cool! I want a space like this to hide from my children and husband! A nice little tree house to read and watch my movies in. Another little space to paint my nails or work on crafts. Wow, you guys are awesome! LOVE this piece!!!!

  4. The Deckers says

    January 25, 2014 at 1:09 am

    Thanks Michaela, I think you are on to something, it would just need to be lockable from the inside… Haha
    Thanks for reading!

  5. Adelina Priddis says

    January 25, 2014 at 3:06 am

    Wow! We made a playhouse/puppet theater under our stairs, but it's got nothing on this! I just showed my husband and he loves the ball pit.

  6. Colette says

    September 4, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Holy crap! That is awesome and genius!

  7. Amy D says

    September 21, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    That is seriously the coolest thing ever! I’m going to have to attempt something similar. Do you think you could post a top view of the tool bench? Or email it to me? That would be my sons favorite spot!

    • coreydecker@gmail.com says

      September 21, 2014 at 6:55 pm

      Thanks Amy! Look for an email from me shortly. I basically took their old “workbench” (like the plastic store bought ones) and cut off the top portion and built a shelf that would accommodate it. Do it! My kids seriously love it!
      Thanks for reading.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
IMG_9167 (1).jpg fd

Popular Projects

  • How to: Faux Brick Wall
  • Cheap White Curtains
  • Ikea Cubbies into a Rustic Apothecary
  • Cabinet Transformed Into A Kitchen Island
  • R.V. Makeover
  • How to: R.V. Curtains
DIY & Design

Meet Corey

Hi everyone, my name is Corey, and I have a problem. I can’t leave well enough alone… The best therapy usually involves a variety of power tools. So, in the few “spare” moments I am not entertaining my two beautiful, rambunctious, boys, I can typically be found hunched over a sewing machine and/or covered in sawdust. All in the efforts to create a perfect balance of aesthetics and practicality in our home.
read more

Join our mailing list!

DIY & design ideas - right in your inbox!

Top Hits!

  • How to: Faux Brick Wall
  • Cheap White Curtains
  • Ikea Cubbies into a Rustic Apothecary

Featured

Back of Door Spice Rack

Categories

  • 70's Ranch Home
  • Around the House
  • Build Plans
  • Crafts
  • Current Home
  • Decor Makeovers
  • Dresser
  • Exterior
  • Fall
  • First Home
  • Furniture Makeover
  • Hidden Compartment
  • Kitchen
  • Lighting
  • Makovers
  • Master Closet
  • Organization
  • R.V.
  • Room Makeovers
  • Seasonal
  • Seating
  • Sewing
  • Shelving
  • Small Builds
  • Smart Home
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Tables
  • Tablescape
  • Tutorials
  • Uncategorized
  • Wall Art
  • Wall Decor
  • Winter
  • Workshop

Footer

Contact Me: Corey@Sawdust2Stitches.com

Latest ‘Grams

Follow on Instagram
2020 © Your Blog Name
theme by soleilflare
Enter your name and email and get the weekly newsletter... it's FREE!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.