Understairs cupboard fitout in Exeter
Professional understairs cupboard fitout services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
Quote
Typical Duration
1-2 days
Location
Exeter, Devon
Transform your understairs cupboard from dumping ground to organized storage with custom shelving, hooks, and lighting designed for the awkward space.
The Space Everyone Has, Nobody Uses Properly
Open your understairs cupboard. Go on, I'll wait. What's in there? Random shoes, the vacuum wedged in diagonally, cleaning products falling over, that Christmas tree you can barely get out, maybe a mysterious smell you can't identify?
Every understairs cupboard is wasted space until you fit it out properly. The awkward shape, sloping ceiling, shallow depth - it all makes it useless without proper planning.
💡 Pro tip: The secret to understairs storage is working with the slope, not against it. Tall items at the high end, shallow shelving where it's low. Obvious when you see it, but most people just shove stuff in randomly.
What Makes A Good Fitout
| ✅ Properly Designed | ❌ Wasted Space |
|---|---|
| Custom shelving fits every inch | Random bought shelves don't fit |
| Hooks and hangers maximize walls | Everything dumped on floor |
| Lighting so you can see | Dark hole of mystery |
| Pull-out storage for deep items | Can't reach anything at back |
| Painted/finished properly | Bare plaster and exposed wood |
Common Understairs Setups
🔧 Cleaning Cupboard
- Shelves for products and supplies
- Hooks for mops, brooms, dustpan
- Space for vacuum cleaner (upright or pull-out tray)
- Bucket storage low down
📦 Coat & Shoe Storage
- Coat hooks at varying heights
- Shoe racks or shelves
- Bag hooks
- Bench for sitting (if space allows)
🎨 Home Office Nook
- Desk surface fitted to space
- Shelving above
- Cable management
- Lighting essential
🍷 Wine & Drinks Storage
- Custom wine racks
- Shelf for glasses
- Cool, dark space perfect for bottles
What Goes Into A Full Fitout
Planning & Design
- Measure every angle and slope
- Discuss what you need to store
- Design custom layout
- Price materials and time
Installation
- Build and fit shelving units
- Install hooks, rails, pull-outs
- Add lighting if wanted
- Paint or finish surfaces
Finishing Touches
- Clean paintwork
- Cable management
- Door/access improvements
- Final organization
Rough Pricing Guide
Every understairs is different, so quotes vary significantly:
| Fitout Level | What's Included | Rough Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic shelving | 3-4 simple shelves, hooks | £200-400 |
| Standard fitout | Custom shelving, lighting, hooks, painted | £400-700 |
| Premium fitout | Full custom build, pull-outs, fancy finish, electrics | £700-1200 |
These are ballpark figures. I need to see your space and discuss requirements for an accurate quote.
Perfect For
✅ Making the most of limited storage - smaller houses, every inch counts
✅ Getting organized - tired of stuff falling out when you open the door
✅ Adding value - buyers love good storage solutions
✅ Specific storage needs - wines, bikes, hobby supplies, cleaning kit
Why Choose Us for Understairs cupboard fitout in Exeter?
Custom-built to fit awkward space
Maximum storage from minimum space
Proper lighting and access
Clean, painted, ready to use
What to Expect
Step 1: Site Visit & Quote
I come round, measure up your understairs cupboard (including all those awkward angles), discuss what you want to store and how you use the space. Then work up a quote based on materials and time needed.
Step 2: Design & Materials
Once you approve the quote, I finalize the design and source materials. For complex fitouts, I might show you sketches or photos of similar projects so you know what to expect.
Step 3: Installation
Empty the cupboard (or I can help). Build and install custom shelving, hooks, lighting - whatever we've agreed. Paint or finish as needed. Clean up, show you how everything works.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to tackle an understairs fitout yourself? It's doable:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Tape measure and spirit level
- Cordless drill/driver
- Saw (hand saw or jigsaw for angles)
- Stud finder
- Sandpaper and paint supplies
📐 Measuring the space
- Measure width, depth, and height at multiple points (it varies!)
- Note where the slope starts
- Mark stud positions on walls
- Sketch it out (even roughly) before buying materials
- Over-measure - you can always cut down
🪜 Building shelves for slopes
- Shelves need to follow the slope (angled brackets)
- Or step them down (better for storage but wastes some space)
- Use the high end for tall items, low end for shallow shelving
- Fixed shelves are sturdier than adjustable for this application
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Buying standard shelving that doesn't fit the angles
- Not securing to wall studs (falls down when loaded)
- Forgetting about door swing clearance
- Making everything too deep (can't reach back)
- Poor lighting (can't see anything)
💡 Pro trick: Use a piece of cardboard to make a template of your slope angle. Take it to the DIY shop to help work out shelf brackets and sizes. Way easier than trying to explain "it's kind of angled but not quite 45 degrees..."
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Planning other storage projects? Understairs, utility room shelving, garage organization - bundle them for better value. Same skills, same materials, better use of time.
Victorian/Edwardian houses in Exeter - Often have beautiful wooden understairs that just need organizing, not ripping out. We can work with original features.
Access improvements - Sometimes the door itself is the problem (old, sticking, wrong size). Can sort that as part of the fitout.
Rental properties - Check with your landlord before doing major alterations. Removable/reversible solutions are available if needed.
Timing - Best done when you can empty the cupboard completely for a few days. Otherwise I'm working around your stuff which takes longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you actually fit in an understairs cupboard?
Depends on your space, but typically: shelving for shoes/cleaning supplies, hooks for coats/bags, pull-out storage for vacuum cleaners, wine racks, bike storage, or even a small office nook. I measure up, we discuss what you need to store, then design it to maximize every inch.
How much does an understairs fitout cost?
Varies hugely based on size and what you want. Simple shelving might be £200-300, full custom fitout with lighting and fancy finishes could be £600-1000+. I need to see your space to quote accurately - every understairs cupboard is different.
Can you add lighting to the cupboard?
Yes - battery-powered LED strips are easiest (no electrician needed), or I can wire in proper lighting if you've got power nearby. Makes a massive difference for finding things in a dark cupboard.
My understairs is a weird shape - can you still fit it out?
That's literally every understairs cupboard! They're all weird shapes - that's what makes them challenging and why custom fitouts work so well. The sloping ceiling, awkward angles, shallow depth at one end... I work with it all.
How long does a full fitout take?
Simple shelving in a day. Full custom fitout with multiple sections, hooks, lighting, and finishing typically takes 1-2 days. I'll give you a proper timeline when I quote based on what you want.
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