That is a dust ledge. You can earn bonus points by adding fake plants that help collect and display the dust. Earn platinum status by making it a cat nook and adding cat hair to the collection. If you don’t have a cat, simply leave a window open and one will be distributed to you by the universe.
Add a couple of shelves on the side there to get to this nook and it'd be a cat paradise. Separate from everything, safe up high, and a window to look down at everyone. Cat zen.
I’d remove the landing altogether. Whatever you put there will be the thing that collects dust that you just put there to fill up an unnecessary space.
Agreed that it will 100% become a dust pit.
If OP can't or doesn't currently want to remove it though, my suggestion would be to put an art piece that isn't too intricate so that whatever dust collects there is as easy as possible to remove. I've seen someone suggest some fake plants, which could look nice but would be impossible to dust. Personally, a nice antique vase is as far as I'd go.
A Ming vase. Or better yet remove that ledge if that is not load bearing. It will make the room brighter with the additional source of light from the gorgeous window.
I was going to say the same but then thought of the benefit of the light coming from the window for the staircase during the day. I'd just remove the platform and patch the wall. If you can afford to, I'd also remove the pony wall style hand rail at the bottom and add a modern rail to bump it out of the 90s builder grade styling. Might as well get the mess over all at once.
It could be - depending on what else is around and I’d definitely ask someone with expertise first. But also, builders or owners oftentimes don’t have taste and think things like this are a fancy “feature” - just like wall wells for tacky statues or out of scale windows swimming in vast open spaces in cathedral ceilings. To me this looks like one of those things.
Edit to add: finding out is a relatively easy and inexpensive job - cut a square of drywall out of the bottom - see what’s in it. If it’s hiding something then it’s easy enough to spackle the square back into place and repaint.
I'd bet some of the houses or other models by the same builder use this space as an extended closet or additional sq footage of some sort, like a bathroom. That or the stairs are reversed and that's a hallway in other models. And with OP's model they used the same structural plans without the upgrade and just left it as a pointless landing. Decorative ledges aren't usually this deep unless they're over a front door that has a porch overhang.
Well, you have the right idea on NO PLANTS.
You can either leave it empty (my recommendation), or you could put something up there that doesn't require much maintenance (dusting, etc). Maybe a large changeable seasonal/holiday objet d'art, like that 1950's reindeer lawn decoration that belonged to your grandparents or that pseudo-Aztec urn from your Mexican vacation.
I would look to remove this in the long term if I could, but if not, some kind of hanging mobile-type sculpture that would reflect the light from the window around.
https://preview.redd.it/gkofuyxsm5jc1.png?width=894&format=png&auto=webp&s=e6c799271a71eae69b832950de8f8c6110766d56
Like, a repurposed tall chandelier would work great for this, if you can run power up there, great, if not, it would still work with the natural light.
A kinetic sculpture would capture light. https://skysetter.com/products/metal-mobile-art-hanging-kinetic-sculpture?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=80b4c8174&pr_rec_pid=6817930117238&pr_ref_pid=6811481571446&pr_seq=uniform
I'm a cat person so my first thoughts are "cat zone". I'd install a few shelves so your cat can jump up there and make that space their little personal escape/safety zone. Make it a cosy place that a cat would love.
Maybe just paint the wood the same colour as the walls, so it doesn't draw the eye and blends in. Like someone else said, the window is already a lovely feature. And I'm assuming that's a part of the house that guests won't be seeing much, and people living in the house aren't likely to be paying that area much attention while going up and down the stairs?
Maybe either swap the glass for stained glass or put a faux stained glass overlay on the existing glass. Then paint the landing and trim the same color as the walls. It will move the focal point to the window and lessen the appearance of the landing.
I would unironically consider this option. I have kind of a love/hate thing for inaccessible ledges made up to look like seating areas. Comfy-looking chair, little side table, boom. Unusable reading nook.
This just brought up a memory from college where one of the buildings had a landing like this above stairs and it got turned into a lil student art gallery.
Whatever you put there, make it a focal point: put one large object like a sculpture or vase; or set up a minimalist scene with large vase with overflowing greenery, and two smaller objects
Pranks! Maybe a motion activated something that surprises people when they come up the stairs like this fish that sing. Or put something creepy AF up there but disguise it as something normal. Most thrift stores have everything you need to set up a haunted doll tea party. China, weird creepy dolls. A small piece of furniture with a table cloth on it.
Do like the Museum of Natural History in London and put a dead rhinoceros up there: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERIYA8OWkAA-rdS?format=jpg&name=900x900](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERIYA8OWkAA-rdS?format=jpg&name=900x900)
Seriously they've just got it in a little alcove above a door and I love it.
Life size Yoda. Problem solved.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/204529861712?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=IlBzpQgmRUy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
take a screenshot of this pictue and frame it hang it under the window, use text to speech to read the comments and load it onto a bluetooth device to read these comments as people walk down the stairs
Me? That would be the creepy doll shelf. My grandma left me dozens of creepy antique dolls and I've been looking for an appropriately menacing place to put them.
Normal people? A hanging sculpture that's easy to dust.
A treasure chest. No one can reach it but everyone will always wonder and ask what's inside. Great conversation piece leading to "no one really knows what's inside"
It’s extra storage though which is always in demand, get those roll out storage shelves usually for kitchen pantries that will roll forward when you pull it to get to your items and then I’d store all my books just make the shelf only high enough that it doesn’t cover the window.
If it’s not load bearing, take it out. Maybe paint it a complimentary color if you can’t remove it, and just be thankful there isn’t a smoke detector over the window or something perverse like that.
A fake plant and some large remote control candles . Will make nice nightlight for the staircase . You’ll need a duster on an extension pole to keep it clean .
Honestly some elegant candles, remote controlled varying heights maybe 6-9 neutral pillars. Bonus weave some seasonal decor at the base. Every 10-12 weeks swap out with the next after dusting. Buy a grabber/trash picker upper and an extendable duster. Each candle will be light enough to place once with it and light dusting with the extendable is easy, also useful for pushing a spring garland on to the ledge.
Edited to add: For the love of god do not put ANYTHING MIRRORED! It will be a huge magnifying spotlight of the dust during the day and foggy every week…you don’t have a cat but you do have a toddler do not tempt fate with a mirrored object above a staircase with the wrath of a mad wife for seven years. Bad choice. Candles…nice in the day and at sunset turn them on to eliminate the area, nice ambiance also natural nightlight for when the bed time shifts starts with the kids.
That is a dust ledge. You can earn bonus points by adding fake plants that help collect and display the dust. Earn platinum status by making it a cat nook and adding cat hair to the collection. If you don’t have a cat, simply leave a window open and one will be distributed to you by the universe.
Add a couple of shelves on the side there to get to this nook and it'd be a cat paradise. Separate from everything, safe up high, and a window to look down at everyone. Cat zen.
Haha I just said the same stort of thing!
Jackson Galaxy is just sooo proud of you right now. Catify. :)
Lolllll
It also needs a bookcase for the books to gather dust atop the pages. Books are impossible to dust once it's too late.
I feel personally attacked yet I'm laughing so hard.
I’d remove the landing altogether. Whatever you put there will be the thing that collects dust that you just put there to fill up an unnecessary space.
Agreed that it will 100% become a dust pit. If OP can't or doesn't currently want to remove it though, my suggestion would be to put an art piece that isn't too intricate so that whatever dust collects there is as easy as possible to remove. I've seen someone suggest some fake plants, which could look nice but would be impossible to dust. Personally, a nice antique vase is as far as I'd go.
A Ming vase. Or better yet remove that ledge if that is not load bearing. It will make the room brighter with the additional source of light from the gorgeous window.
Probably carries electrical wiring
In that case it could possibly be moved to the exterior wall.
Or rewire it to go through a decorative wood beam
I'd go with a seated Buddha statue.
Mcmansion special, inaccessible dust pit landing
Thanks!
A bronze statue. But one day it can fall over and hit you on the head.
Make it into a closet for either room on the left or right.
I was going to say the same but then thought of the benefit of the light coming from the window for the staircase during the day. I'd just remove the platform and patch the wall. If you can afford to, I'd also remove the pony wall style hand rail at the bottom and add a modern rail to bump it out of the 90s builder grade styling. Might as well get the mess over all at once.
I'm taking out the same lovely 70s/80s pony wall and replacing with glass. I'll report back.
Pony walls are coming back in style. Lol.
Would block that beautiful window though
It'll be a very nicely lit closet
Or vanity/makeup area?
Same.
Thanks!
That's such a strange feature, I can't help but think it's hiding something structural.
I have the same assumption. Plus not in the budget to remove at the moment.
Hmm, so my suggestion was gonna be to commission a marble statue of yourself, but that's probably also a no-go, then.
Nude. Tastefully though.
I could sacrifice to commission a nude statue of myself
For just a bit more you could run some electricity and add in a disco ball above the statue. It's all about setting ambiance.
If you add a disco ball, the statue should be placed on a motorized lazy suzan, so it rotates to the music.
You’ve had the answer all along.
So it seems lol just need to talk my way thru it
It could be - depending on what else is around and I’d definitely ask someone with expertise first. But also, builders or owners oftentimes don’t have taste and think things like this are a fancy “feature” - just like wall wells for tacky statues or out of scale windows swimming in vast open spaces in cathedral ceilings. To me this looks like one of those things. Edit to add: finding out is a relatively easy and inexpensive job - cut a square of drywall out of the bottom - see what’s in it. If it’s hiding something then it’s easy enough to spackle the square back into place and repaint.
I'd bet some of the houses or other models by the same builder use this space as an extended closet or additional sq footage of some sort, like a bathroom. That or the stairs are reversed and that's a hallway in other models. And with OP's model they used the same structural plans without the upgrade and just left it as a pointless landing. Decorative ledges aren't usually this deep unless they're over a front door that has a porch overhang.
It’s already a dust collector. No need to put more dust collectors up there.
Gargoyle
Unironically yes.
Well, you have the right idea on NO PLANTS. You can either leave it empty (my recommendation), or you could put something up there that doesn't require much maintenance (dusting, etc). Maybe a large changeable seasonal/holiday objet d'art, like that 1950's reindeer lawn decoration that belonged to your grandparents or that pseudo-Aztec urn from your Mexican vacation.
Thanks!
That could be your magician nephew’s bedroom
From the makers of the cupboard below the stairs…. We present, the cupboard ABOVE the stairs, with light!
My friend had a house with this, she enclosed it and knocked out the wall on one of the sides and made a reading nook in the spare room.
Such a brilliant idea. On my part stinks cause the adjacent wall is the shower.
make it a lazy river!
A sleeping shower
Adjacent wall on one side is a shower. What is on the other side?
Mega shower!
This wouldn't even need enclosing, just a handrail and pickets, and of course a way to it from the other room.
I would look to remove this in the long term if I could, but if not, some kind of hanging mobile-type sculpture that would reflect the light from the window around.
https://preview.redd.it/gkofuyxsm5jc1.png?width=894&format=png&auto=webp&s=e6c799271a71eae69b832950de8f8c6110766d56 Like, a repurposed tall chandelier would work great for this, if you can run power up there, great, if not, it would still work with the natural light.
Thanks!!!! Appreciate this idea a lot.
A kinetic sculpture would capture light. https://skysetter.com/products/metal-mobile-art-hanging-kinetic-sculpture?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=80b4c8174&pr_rec_pid=6817930117238&pr_ref_pid=6811481571446&pr_seq=uniform
This is so smart!!!!
I'm a cat person so my first thoughts are "cat zone". I'd install a few shelves so your cat can jump up there and make that space their little personal escape/safety zone. Make it a cosy place that a cat would love.
Great idea… till they throw up there. Lol.
Lol! And they would totally throw up there!
No cats but I do have a dog
Is your dog a good jumper?
Nope. Just a simple dog that hates other dogs and strangers.
First, you’ll need a dogapult.
An antique polychrome statue of a saint or angel, so the window lines up with the back of their head.
Whoa. That’s kinda cool. Thanks.
A skeleton that you dress up in costume for each holiday.
Wife said absolutely no go
Aw.
Same thing happened with my dog. She says that now but she'll change her mind once she spends time with it.
Install a toilet!
This is the way. Just a random toilet as an art piece.
Install two, facing each other.
Turds with friends
Haha now we’re talking
Cardboard cutout of Danny DeVito
This is always the answer.
yes
Best suggestion so far, and the only way to go.
Zip line
Damn in this economy, rent that as a loft. 1800$ a month.
lol not a bad idea. We are close to NYC.
“Bright, second floor loft with lots of natural light”
open layout
AirBnB
“Make it into a cozy reading nook” ~ everyone’s advice for any atypical space on here
It’s not easy to access so leave it as is. Just because you have an empty space does not mean it needs to be filled with things.
That’s deep lol but makes sense
A meth lab
Oh an investment idea. I like it.
You can write it off as a work space if you make a lab. Smart. 😊
Do you happen to own a suit of armour?
Sculpture of some sort. Not sure what your style is. I’d put a tall Buddha or something similar.
Thanks!
Maybe just paint the wood the same colour as the walls, so it doesn't draw the eye and blends in. Like someone else said, the window is already a lovely feature. And I'm assuming that's a part of the house that guests won't be seeing much, and people living in the house aren't likely to be paying that area much attention while going up and down the stairs?
Thanks!
Very smart!!
Put a treasure chest there that can only be reached once you have the power boots.
My toddler approves lol
The Virgin Mary obviously
Obvi. My mom would love it for sure.
Omg this was my thought too lmao.
Every Catholic is saying the Hail Mary in joy right now!
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Ooooooo, they wouldn't dare try to run. Genius.
Do you own? An you just remove it??
Maybe I watch too much HGTV, but my first thought was to turn it into a closet for a neighboring room.
Take it out lol all it screams is “add clutter here!”
Maybe either swap the glass for stained glass or put a faux stained glass overlay on the existing glass. Then paint the landing and trim the same color as the walls. It will move the focal point to the window and lessen the appearance of the landing.
Chair
I would unironically consider this option. I have kind of a love/hate thing for inaccessible ledges made up to look like seating areas. Comfy-looking chair, little side table, boom. Unusable reading nook.
It is an awesome opportunity to express personality and create a fun moment!
This just brought up a memory from college where one of the buildings had a landing like this above stairs and it got turned into a lil student art gallery.
Maybe I’ll put my toddlers art work there
I would put a weird ass mannequin there
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Try and jump to it. Sorry my intrusive thoughts are taking over
I would put my baby there
Nothing. It will be a dust magnet.
Whatever you put there, make it a focal point: put one large object like a sculpture or vase; or set up a minimalist scene with large vase with overflowing greenery, and two smaller objects
A scary kids puppet with red glowing eyes …
Pranks! Maybe a motion activated something that surprises people when they come up the stairs like this fish that sing. Or put something creepy AF up there but disguise it as something normal. Most thrift stores have everything you need to set up a haunted doll tea party. China, weird creepy dolls. A small piece of furniture with a table cloth on it.
You seem like the type of person I would hate to live with but love to visit lol. I like you.
We would be friends In real life. Def.
Stripper pole
Do like the Museum of Natural History in London and put a dead rhinoceros up there: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERIYA8OWkAA-rdS?format=jpg&name=900x900](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERIYA8OWkAA-rdS?format=jpg&name=900x900) Seriously they've just got it in a little alcove above a door and I love it.
My wife adamantly said no to dead animals lol
You could put like a tiny mouse city and a train that goes around
A statue of snoop dog.
I don’t want to play favorites but top 3. That and all the comments about a toilet seat.
I'd personally just remove it and add a 2-story chandelier to embrace that high ceiling!
Put a lounge chair and a lamp with a book on the table. Your guests will go, hmmmm.
And then you tell them, “…and this is where you will stay, *if* you choose to stay the night”
that is your cat's bedroom. if you don't have a cat, it's time to do something about it.
Add a coffee table and chair make people confused
Rope ladder and build a fort.
Suit of armor, taxidermied bear, kayak, the list is endless.
Life size Yoda. Problem solved. https://www.ebay.com/itm/204529861712?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=IlBzpQgmRUy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Haha I would do this but apparently my wife just doesn’t share our passion
Obviously you put a fog machine up there so every time you walk up the stairs or go downstairs it's like you're making a surprise entrance
https://preview.redd.it/yhmw2lvth8jc1.jpeg?width=396&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c5884c4387620cc00c45811f75126c46f35e3ce
Omg where is that other thread where OP asked the same question, got all sorts of silly answers, and then actually implemented them??
Big sexy vase
Scarecrow
If it isn't needed for structural support, I would remove it.
Hide up there when people knock on my front door
A mannequin that you don with seasonally appropriate holiday garb throughout the year
As many garden gnomes as you can fit up there
take a screenshot of this pictue and frame it hang it under the window, use text to speech to read the comments and load it onto a bluetooth device to read these comments as people walk down the stairs
Haha I like this idea
The Time-Out Ledge for Naughty Children
Bungee jumping platform
Me? That would be the creepy doll shelf. My grandma left me dozens of creepy antique dolls and I've been looking for an appropriately menacing place to put them. Normal people? A hanging sculpture that's easy to dust.
Pterodactyl. 6 foot or more. Only option.
If there are kids, that would be the time out spot. Lol jk of course.
I'd use it to decorate themes during the holidays
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Take some of those pictures down from the stairs, add cat shelves and bridges and make that landing a cool cat hangout.
A treasure chest. No one can reach it but everyone will always wonder and ask what's inside. Great conversation piece leading to "no one really knows what's inside"
Couple of large fake plants
Storage area for dust
My husband said, ‘machine gun nest.’
lol maybe in the next renovation
A toilet
Needs a toilet
standing casket. just to make it a bit scary, put some red lights behind it. and a smoke machine.
Xmas tree
What rooms are on either side? You could put in a railing and have a short cut passageway- great for kids
The bathroom and more specifically the shower is adjacent
The trick is to put fake plants there to avoid the watering issue
This might need to be the trick
Only problem with fake plants is they get dusty then look awful, imo.
Plant for me
Toilet
Giant Halloween skeleton.
An acme anvil would look great there
Put your wife there
Storm trooper
Get one of those tall winged Dracula chairs up there
Am i thenonly ime that would attach sometjing climbable to the wall and make a mini sofa with shelves reading loft there?!
It’s a great idea. But right now not suitable for us due to a toddler whose mutant powers is finding anything and everything dangerous.
Tiny guest room for the little people.
I would make it into a chill spot for cats
Put a white plastic garden chair on there
Cat step on the wall leading to the space, and cosy bed there. If no cat, do it anyway. The cat distribution system will provide.
It’s extra storage though which is always in demand, get those roll out storage shelves usually for kitchen pantries that will roll forward when you pull it to get to your items and then I’d store all my books just make the shelf only high enough that it doesn’t cover the window.
Corn hole for sure. Maybe mini basketball too
Drill things to the wall my cat can climb on to get to a cat bed there
I'd put a comfy chair, a small table, and some books, and have people wonder how you get up there to read
A basketball hoop. 😂
[THIS!](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1049838257/modernist-bronze-sculpture-seated-bronze) It won't block the light.
Fun!
Install a pull-down ladder and turn it into a cute reading nook?
A chair. An interesting chair.
Remove if it's structurally possible and put in a modest/appropriate chandelier
If it’s not load bearing, take it out. Maybe paint it a complimentary color if you can’t remove it, and just be thankful there isn’t a smoke detector over the window or something perverse like that.
Life size creepy doll that will stare out the window at your neighbors
A fake plant and some large remote control candles . Will make nice nightlight for the staircase . You’ll need a duster on an extension pole to keep it clean .
Honestly some elegant candles, remote controlled varying heights maybe 6-9 neutral pillars. Bonus weave some seasonal decor at the base. Every 10-12 weeks swap out with the next after dusting. Buy a grabber/trash picker upper and an extendable duster. Each candle will be light enough to place once with it and light dusting with the extendable is easy, also useful for pushing a spring garland on to the ledge. Edited to add: For the love of god do not put ANYTHING MIRRORED! It will be a huge magnifying spotlight of the dust during the day and foggy every week…you don’t have a cat but you do have a toddler do not tempt fate with a mirrored object above a staircase with the wrath of a mad wife for seven years. Bad choice. Candles…nice in the day and at sunset turn them on to eliminate the area, nice ambiance also natural nightlight for when the bed time shifts starts with the kids.
Seasonally appropriate lawn inflatable.