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Shoes, coats, backpacks, dog leashes—when they start piling up, it’s time to get strategic. For Swedish homeowners Julia Sjödin and Jonathan Niclasson, the solution started with an overlooked utility area under the stairs. A few cans of paint and pieces of plywood were all it took to complete a DIY storage makeover. “With limited square meters, it’s all about making the most of every corner,” Sjödin says of their vibrant brick house in Hälsingland, Sweden. “Our goal was simply to create one more functional area.”
Initially, Sjödin says, the alcove was “dead space without any structure, where things were hidden behind a closed door.” Priority number one? Removing the door to create accessibility. Suddenly, it felt less like a closet and more like a mini-mudroom, complete with a visual inventory of daily essentials.
Next, the pair painted the walls and built custom pegboards by mounting plywood panels and drilling evenly spaced holes for wooden dowels. They even added makeshift shelves by resting extra plywood pieces across pairs of pegs—a flexible setup that can be adapted as their needs change. Finally, they hand-painted the floor, square by square.
“We extended the checkered flooring from the hallway to give the entire ground floor a unified and cohesive look,” says Niclasson. “And for the walls, we chose a warm, happy color paired with a touch of wood through the plywood pegboards.”
Now, instead of a jumble behind a door, the pegboard allows them to grab what they need and go. Off-season extras are tucked into Hay’s plastic crates on casters, making them easy to slide out when it’s time for a seasonal swap (especially helpful in a spot with low ceilings).
“We’re really happy with the project and how it turned out!” says Sjödin. “The space isn’t big, but it doesn’t need to be when you make the most of what’s available. It’s a lovely little area to step into, and it’s actually fun to both take things out and put them back where they belong.”
