Beautiful Banisters that Boost Staircase Style
A staircase is more than just the treads you step on. Great-looking designs come with bold, beautiful or coolly contemporary banisters
Jo Simmons
23 December 2014
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
From carved and decorative wooden spindles to a sleek pane of glass, banisters come in all shapes and sizes. Also referred to as the balustrade, this vital bit of domestic architecture is simply the railing and supporting posts on a staircase.
Banisters perform a crucial safety role – they keep us from falling off the stairs when running up and down and provide a handrail to guide us – but they bring other benefits, too. Banisters can inject a shot of style and design into a staircase. They can be colourful, decorative, wrought from sinewy iron or carved from wood. Contemporary banisters often do away with the notion of individual posts, too, and are manufactured from sheets of glass or panels of wood.
To celebrate this variety, here’s a visual guide to the best and most beautiful banisters around…
Banisters perform a crucial safety role – they keep us from falling off the stairs when running up and down and provide a handrail to guide us – but they bring other benefits, too. Banisters can inject a shot of style and design into a staircase. They can be colourful, decorative, wrought from sinewy iron or carved from wood. Contemporary banisters often do away with the notion of individual posts, too, and are manufactured from sheets of glass or panels of wood.
To celebrate this variety, here’s a visual guide to the best and most beautiful banisters around…
Update the traditional
Shapely spindles are a feature of traditional staircases from the Victorian era, but they can still be given a contemporary feel with a coat of paint in an on-trend shade, such as this dark grey. Teamed with velvety purple carpet, this staircase looks beautifully up to date.
Shapely spindles are a feature of traditional staircases from the Victorian era, but they can still be given a contemporary feel with a coat of paint in an on-trend shade, such as this dark grey. Teamed with velvety purple carpet, this staircase looks beautifully up to date.
Layer materials
By combining a handful of materials, banisters can integrate beautifully into a home. The wood and glass on this contemporary staircase picks up and continues the use of materials found throughout the house, so it fits in seamlessly.
By combining a handful of materials, banisters can integrate beautifully into a home. The wood and glass on this contemporary staircase picks up and continues the use of materials found throughout the house, so it fits in seamlessly.
Gain clarity with glass
Banisters made of individual posts are not the only design available for today’s staircases. Contemporary options use a range of materials, which both perform the essential safety role and look amazing. Glass brings a sleek, airy feel to a staircase, allowing light to move through a home and drawing attention to the treads themselves.
Banisters made of individual posts are not the only design available for today’s staircases. Contemporary options use a range of materials, which both perform the essential safety role and look amazing. Glass brings a sleek, airy feel to a staircase, allowing light to move through a home and drawing attention to the treads themselves.
Tune to black and white
Obviously, few of us have sweeping staircases like this one in our homes. Very Gone With The Wind! But this beautiful example illustrates how much impact a simple monochrome scheme can have. Here, a combination of white painted stairs and balusters teamed with an inky black handrail on both sides brings simple, bold drama. For a further shot of glamour, just add glossy chequerboard flooring.
Obviously, few of us have sweeping staircases like this one in our homes. Very Gone With The Wind! But this beautiful example illustrates how much impact a simple monochrome scheme can have. Here, a combination of white painted stairs and balusters teamed with an inky black handrail on both sides brings simple, bold drama. For a further shot of glamour, just add glossy chequerboard flooring.
Stay solid
Solid expanses of wood, which match the flooring and stair treads, bring a blocky, bold look to the staircase in this home and a distinctly bespoke, luxury feel. White painted walls show off the crisp, graphic angles to great effect.
Browse 10 steps to a smarter stairway
Solid expanses of wood, which match the flooring and stair treads, bring a blocky, bold look to the staircase in this home and a distinctly bespoke, luxury feel. White painted walls show off the crisp, graphic angles to great effect.
Browse 10 steps to a smarter stairway
Wire it up
A simple metal framework provides the structure of this staircase, while thick metal wire strung horizontally between the vertical posts adds the essential safety element. It looks both minimalist and slightly nautical.
A simple metal framework provides the structure of this staircase, while thick metal wire strung horizontally between the vertical posts adds the essential safety element. It looks both minimalist and slightly nautical.
Seek out some slats
This slatted banister lets light pour down through the centre of this house and looks like a piece of beautiful sculpture. The staircase links the floors both physically and aesthetically. The white oak it’s made from has been used throughout the house for a sense of continuity.
This slatted banister lets light pour down through the centre of this house and looks like a piece of beautiful sculpture. The staircase links the floors both physically and aesthetically. The white oak it’s made from has been used throughout the house for a sense of continuity.
Opt for simplicity
By designing a simple, panelled surround to this staircase, without fussy spindles or posts, attention shifts instead to the colourful stairs, which shine out against the neutral background surfaces and stair runner.
By designing a simple, panelled surround to this staircase, without fussy spindles or posts, attention shifts instead to the colourful stairs, which shine out against the neutral background surfaces and stair runner.
Choose ornate metalwork
The twisting shape of a spiral staircase allows its treads, risers and banister to be seen from numerous angles – a great excuse for choosing an ornate design. Here, the metal risers have a flowing pattern of wrought metal for a nicely decorative effect, but the banister is beautifully simple and elegant to avoid style overkill.
See more spectacular spiral staircases
The twisting shape of a spiral staircase allows its treads, risers and banister to be seen from numerous angles – a great excuse for choosing an ornate design. Here, the metal risers have a flowing pattern of wrought metal for a nicely decorative effect, but the banister is beautifully simple and elegant to avoid style overkill.
See more spectacular spiral staircases
Keep it simple
A neat staircase of black metal with a slim wooden handrail brings a softly industrial feel to a stairwell. It allows light to flow, too, and looks nicely minimal without being aggressively contemporary in style.
TELL US…
What’s your banister like? What would you choose if you could? Share your thoughts and any photos in the Comments below.
A neat staircase of black metal with a slim wooden handrail brings a softly industrial feel to a stairwell. It allows light to flow, too, and looks nicely minimal without being aggressively contemporary in style.
TELL US…
What’s your banister like? What would you choose if you could? Share your thoughts and any photos in the Comments below.
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