Built-in storage designed for the awkward corners of London homes, handmade in our own workshop, installed by one dedicated team.
Every London home has dead space: the triangle under the stairs, the eaves of a loft conversion, the bay window nobody sits in, the hallway that swallows shoes and coats. Our bespoke built in storage turns that dead space into drawers, cupboards, shelving and seating, designed to the millimetre and finished to furniture standard.
Noba & Stod designs and builds bespoke built-in storage for London homes: under stairs cupboards and pull-out drawers, eaves and loft storage, built-in bookcases and shelving walls, window seats and hallway benches. We use premium carcass materials, such as birch plywood, with high-quality soft-close hardware and workshop-sprayed finishes. Units typically start from £800 excluding VAT, with free design consultations and lead times of 3-8 weeks.
What Built-In Storage Do We Build?
Freestanding furniture is made for average rooms, and London does not have average rooms. Staircases, sloped ceilings, bay windows and narrow hallways all create volumes that only bespoke joinery can use properly. These are the built-in storage solutions we build most often.
Under Stairs Storage & Cupboards
The triangle beneath a staircase is the most under-used volume in most London terraces. We build under stairs storage as deep pull-out drawers on full-extension runners, hinged-door cupboards with fitted shelving, coat and shoe pull-outs, wine storage, and even compact desk nooks. Every unit follows the exact rake of your staircase, so no centimetre is wasted. For layouts, design ideas and detailed costs, read our under stairs storage guide.
Eaves & Loft Storage
Loft conversions gain a bedroom but lose easy storage, because sloping ceilings defeat freestanding furniture. We build built in eaves storage that follows the roofline precisely: low drawer banks in the knee walls, push-to-open cupboards, and under eaves wardrobes with pull-out rails for the lowest sections. If you need a full sloped-ceiling wardrobe with hanging and shelving, see our fitted wardrobes service.
Built-In Bookcases & Shelving Walls
A built in bookcase turns a blank wall into the centrepiece of a room. We build fitted bookcases and bespoke shelving from floor to ceiling: home libraries, shelving walls with concealed cupboards below, and display shelving with integrated LED lighting. For a more premium look we add brass inlays or metal-framed glass doors. Many clients combine shelving with a desk; see our bespoke home office service.
Window Seats & Hallway Storage Benches
A window seat with storage adds a reading spot while hiding toys, blankets and clutter in deep drawers or lift-up compartments. In hallways, we build storage benches with shoe drawers, coat panelling and hooks above, so the daily pile by the front door disappears into one considered piece of joinery. Both are built as single units, shaped to follow the contours of your walls and window reveals.
Two related projects have their own dedicated pages. Storage fitted into the alcoves either side of a chimney breast is covered by our alcove units service, and bedroom storage by our fitted wardrobes page. For living room TV and storage walls, see media walls, and for smaller carpentry projects across the capital, our London carpentry team can help.
Why Does Built-In Storage Beat Freestanding Furniture?
Freestanding furniture is cheaper upfront, so why do London homeowners keep choosing bespoke storage solutions? Because in a city where space costs more per square metre than almost anywhere in Europe, wasted volume is wasted money.
| Factor | Built-In Storage | Freestanding Furniture |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Designed to the millimetre, floor to ceiling, wall to wall | Standard sizes leave gaps at the top, sides and back |
| Usable capacity | Uses awkward volumes: stairs, eaves, bays, corners | Only works in regular, full-height spaces |
| Look | Architectural, appears original to the house | Sits in front of the wall rather than becoming part of it |
| Property value | Adds value; estate agents highlight built-in storage in listings | Leaves with you when you move |
| Longevity | Premium carcass materials and fixings, built to last decades | Often flat-pack construction with a short lifespan |
A typical under stairs conversion recovers around 2-3 square metres of usable storage. In a London terrace, that is space you have already paid a premium for, sitting empty behind a plasterboard wall.
Materials & Finishes
Built-in storage works hard: drawers open daily, benches get sat on, shelves carry real weight. We build accordingly, and you can read more on our materials page.
Carcass Materials
We build carcasses from premium carcass materials, such as birch plywood, specified to suit your project and budget. Cabinets are constructed to carry the loads storage actually takes: full bookshelves, seated adults on window seats, and drawers packed with shoes and tools.
Doors, Drawers & Finishes
Spray-painted MDF in any colour, solid oak, walnut, or veneered panels. Painted units are finished in our spray booth, not on site, giving a harder and smoother surface than hand-painting. We match existing skirting and panelling profiles so new joinery looks original to the room.
Soft-Close Hardware
Every hinge, runner and lift-up mechanism uses high-quality soft-close hardware chosen for smooth, quiet operation under daily use. Heavy pull-out drawers under stairs run on full-extension runners rated for the load, so they glide even when fully packed.
Premium Metalwork
For a more elevated specification we integrate metalwork into the joinery: brass inlays and trims, metal-framed glass doors on bookcases and display cabinets, and bespoke handles. These details lift a storage wall from practical to genuinely luxurious.
How Does the Process Work?
Free Home Consultation
We visit your home, measure the space, and talk through what you need to store and what frustrates you now. You get a clear picture of what is possible, with no obligation.
Design & Quote
Detailed drawings showing the storage exterior, internal layout and material specification, with an itemised quote. We revise the design until it is exactly right for how you live.
Workshop Build
Your storage is cut, assembled and spray-finished in our own London workshop. Building off site keeps quality high and keeps the mess and disruption out of your home.
Installation
Pre-finished units are installed by one dedicated team, with every panel shaped to follow the contours of your walls. Most storage installations complete in one to two days.
How Much Does Built-In Storage Cost in London?
Cost depends on size, internal complexity and finish. These are typical ranges for bespoke built in storage designed, built and installed by our team in London.
| Storage Type | Typical Price Range | Typical Lead Time |
|---|---|---|
| Under stairs cupboards (hinged doors) | £800-£2,000 | 3-6 weeks |
| Under stairs pull-out drawer system | £1,800-£3,500 | 3-6 weeks |
| Eaves and loft storage (per run) | From £1,500 | 4-6 weeks |
| Built-in bookcase or shelving wall | From £1,500 | 5-8 weeks |
| Window seat with storage | From £1,500 | 4-6 weeks |
| Hallway storage bench with panelling | From £1,500 | 4-6 weeks |
Prices include design, manufacture, spray finishing, installation and all hardware. Prices are a guide and exclude VAT.
For a detailed cost breakdown of the most popular project, read our under stairs storage ideas and cost guide. For bedroom storage pricing, see how much fitted wardrobes cost.
Storage Guides & Related Services
Why Choose Noba & Stod for Built-In Storage?
Own London Workshop
Every project is built in our own London workshop, where we control cutting, assembly and spray finishing. You are welcome to visit and see your storage in production.
One Dedicated Team
A single point of contact from first measure to final fix. The team that designs and builds your storage also installs it, so nothing gets lost in translation.
Premium Materials as Standard
Premium carcass materials, such as birch plywood, high-quality soft-close hardware, and spray-booth finishes on every project, specified to suit your design and budget.
Period Property Specialists
Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian: we know London’s period homes, and we build storage that matches original skirting, panelling and proportions so it looks like it was always there.
Built-In Storage Across London
We design and install built-in storage throughout London, including: Islington, Hackney, Camden, Hampstead, Highgate, Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Stoke Newington, Greenwich, Dulwich, Clapham, Battersea, Fulham, Chiswick, Richmond, Wimbledon, Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea. We also take on projects in the wider Home Counties.
Because everything is built in our own London workshop, site visits, deliveries and installations are straightforward wherever you are in the capital. Read more about how we work on our about us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does built in storage cost in London?
Bespoke built-in storage in London typically starts from £800 per unit. Hinged-door under stairs cupboards start around £800, pull-out drawer systems run £1,800 to £3,500, and a full-height fitted bookcase starts from around £1,500 depending on width and finish. Prices are a guide and exclude VAT. Every project is quoted itemised after a free consultation.
What is the best way to use the space under the stairs?
For most London terraces, a bank of deep pull-out drawers uses the triangle most efficiently, because you can reach the lowest point without crawling inside. Hinged-door cupboards cost less and suit coats, buggies and vacuum cleaners. Wine storage and compact desks are also popular. Our under stairs storage guide compares every option with costs.
Can you build storage into eaves and sloped ceilings?
Yes, eaves are one of our most requested projects. We build drawer banks, push-to-open cupboards and under eaves wardrobes that follow the roofline precisely, with every panel shaped to follow the contours of your walls. Internal layouts are planned around the slope, placing drawers in the lowest sections and hanging or shelving where height allows.
Do built-in bookcases and storage add value to a property?
Yes. Estate agents consistently highlight built-in storage in London listings because buyers pay a premium for homes where space works hard. Well-designed joinery can add around 1-2% to a property’s value, helps rooms present larger in photographs, and removes the clutter that puts viewers off. It is one of the few improvements that is both practical and visible.
How long does bespoke built-in storage take?
From design approval, expect 3-8 weeks in total. Design and drawings take one to two weeks, the workshop build takes two to five weeks depending on complexity, and installation completes in one to two days for most units. Larger projects, such as a full shelving wall with cabinetry, sit at the longer end of that range.
Do you match existing skirting, panelling and period details?
Yes. Most of our work is in Victorian and Edwardian homes, where new joinery has to sit comfortably against original features. We match skirting profiles, replicate panelling details, and shape every panel to follow the contours of your walls, so the finished storage reads as part of the house rather than an addition to it.
Ready to Reclaim Your Wasted Space?
Tell us about the space that frustrates you, whether it is the cupboard under the stairs, an empty bay window or a loft full of awkward angles. Call us on 0207 118 9889 or book a free design consultation and we will show you what that space could hold. You can also browse recent projects in our portfolio.
