HGTV's Bargain Block Shows Us How To Take Full Advantage Of Under-Stairs Space

Anyone with extra space under their stairs who doesn't know what to do with that space should consider turning it into a powder room. Those shower-free spins on traditional bathrooms are ideal for such a small space, as a powder room will never require a lot of room. HGTV's "Bargain Block" even explained how this transformation is a good idea.

In a Season 3 episode, when Keith Bynum asked about turning an under-staircase space into a powder room, real estate agent Shea Hicks-Whitfield said: "That would be sweet, especially for resale value ... I love the idea of the guys adding a half-bath on the first floor. It makes the home much easier to sell" (via Realtor). Just think of how convenient it would be to have a powder room right under the stairs — you could easily go to use the toilet, wash your hands, or touch up your makeup on your way up or down the stairs.

Before you follow "Bargain Block's" footsteps and commit to the idea of putting a powder room under your stairs, remember that there will always be costs to add a bathroom to your home, even when it's just a tiny powder room. If you don't have plumbing skills or experience working with tools, it's typically a better — and safer — bet to leave the installation to a professional than to try to DIY the renovation. With that said, you can expect to spend between $3,000 and $7,500 on getting the petite bathroom installed in your under-stairs space. Are you comfortable spending that much, and are those numbers realistic for your budget?

Moreover, of course, you'll need a toilet for your new powder room. For an under-staircase powder room, you may want to look for a relatively small throne to avoid having a toilet take up too much room in the small space. One small toilet to consider is the DeerValley DV-1F52812 Liberty Compact Dual-Flush Toilet Round Comfort Height Floor Mounted One-Piece Toilet, available for $189.05 at Wayfair with 4.4 out of 5 stars and thousands of reviews. And don't forget about finding a sink faucet that you like, too.

While sinks and toilets are necessary for powder rooms, there are some other items you should consider adding to dress the tiny bathroom up and make it more visually pleasing. To start, look at sleek lighting options such as the Orren Ellis Shoji 1 -Light Dimmable LED Vanity Light, selling for $89.99 at Wayfair with 4.5 stars and over 700 reviews.

Remember to add an attractive mirror, too, letting you check your hair, outfit, and makeup as needed. One option is the Flash Furniture Jennifer Metal Framed Wall Mirror – Large Accent Mirror for Bathroom, Vanity, Entryway, Dining Room, & Living Room, available at Target for different prices for the various size options, with a perfect 5-star rating.

You may also want to add chic wall art to spruce up your powder room, such as the Floral Metal Plants & Flowers Wall Decor by Dakota Fields, available for $44.99 at Wayfair with 4.7 stars and over 200 reviews. If you prefer old-school-looking signs over art, an option is the MRC Wood Powder Room Rustic Wood Wall Sign, selling for $52.99 from Walmart. Even though your new powder room will be in a small space under your stairs, you should still see it as an opportunity to add character and flaunt your aesthetic.