Uncorked Potential: An Under-the-Stairs Wine Cellar Reveal

Every home has its hidden potential—and sometimes, it’s literally hidden under the stairs.

In one of our recent projects, we transformed an awkward, underutilized area beneath a staircase into a warm and moody wine cellar that feels both rustic and refined.

We converted an under-the-stairs nook into a personalized basement wine cellar.

We brought this small-space project to life with wood paneling, dramatic floor tile, mixed wine storage, attention to lighting, and painted finishing details.

Warm Wood & Dramatic Tile

We started by wrapping the entire space in cedar paneling. The natural grain and warm tone give it a wine barrel feel—just enough texture to feel rustic, but still polished. On the floor, we used 12x24 black and gold ceramic tiles with dark grout to add contrast and drama. Together, the cedar and tile created a rich, layered backdrop for everything else to play off.

Warm cedar paneling and modern black and gold tile set a rich backdrop for the space.

Mixed Wine Shelving

Storage in a space like this needs to be both functional and beautiful. We built custom two-tone maple shelving to hold bottles, accessories, and all the little things that make a wine nook feel personal. Two metal wine racks on the back wall add more storage without crowding, and the clean lines play nicely against the warm wood.

Lighting and Details That Make It Glow

Lighting can completely change the feel of a room, especially one this small. We installed vintage smoked glass sconces on each side wall that cast the most beautiful, dappled pattern across the cedar.

Vintage smoked glass wall sconces add a modern element and cast pretty shadows in the cellar.

And because the wine cellar sits right under the main stairwell, we cut a custom window into the angled wall so you can see into the space as you walk by. It’s our favorite detail of this transformation that adds a bit of unexpected charm with a modern twist.

A custom window cut-out gives a peek inside the cellar from the stairwell.

Giving an Old Door New Life

The door is a repurposed piece from another part of the home—now painted Sherwin Williams Iron Ore for a modern, moody finish. The glass keeps the space feeling open, while the deep paint color grounds the design and ties in with the black tile and metal racks.

Finishing the Look

To make the hallway feel just as intentional as the cellar itself, we painted the nearby trim white and updated the surrounding doors to match the Iron Ore finish. A new drum light fixture with an oatmeal shade and gold accents adds just the right amount of polish—warm, modern, and a perfect complement to the materials inside the cellar.

A modern drum light and painted trim help the hallway area blend into the new cellar.

This was one of those transformations that didn’t require a massive footprint—just a little imagination and a few bold design choices. Now, what used to be dead space under the stairs is a total standout.

Got an underused corner you’re ready to reinvent? We’d love to help make it something special.