Staircases
A staircase leads to the bedrooms upstairs. Small cutouts in the wall connect it with the living room next door (the cutouts are visible over the mirror in the living room photos above). “I borrowed this idea from Moroccan interiors,” Mikolajczak says. “This naturally illuminates the stairs while showcasing sculptures.”
Maximise the view Open treads allow the view through the floor-to-ceiling glazing in this new build to remain visible through the staircase. Although open, the industrial-style support visually signals the staircase’s strength as well, again, as partially blocking the gap between the risers for safety. Matching staircase timber to other wood finishes in the interior, including elements such as wooden beams, can create an aesthetically pleasing continuity of materials throughout.
Make a fresh start An extended hallway is complemented by a contemporary staircase in this revamped bungalow. Glass balustrades maintain the flow of light, while the handrail is tactile in timber to match the steps. To emphasise the depth of a space like this one, paint the rear wall in a darker shade.
Read all about it A staircase-cum-bookshelf is at the centre of this home. Enclosing the steps focuses attention on the sinuous exterior of the design, and its bright white finish contrasts with the dark wood of the floor and units beyond. Get the look by revamping existing stairs with paint and fitting shelves alongside or below to show off a multi-coloured selection of books.
See through Placed in the centre of the hallway, the straight staircase of this new-build home helps to draw attention to the full height of the building and exposed roof structure, while its materials echo the palette used throughout the house. A glass balustrade, especially a frameless one like this, teamed with open tread steps has the potential to maximise daylight in any hallway, but must follow Building Regulations when it comes to the gap between the steps for safety’s sake.
Look upwards In white oiled pine with painted treads, the soffit (that’s the part underneath) of this staircase as it turns has an attractive faceted form that adds graphic contrast to the sleek hallway. The lesson? Consider the appearance of the staircase from below as well as the view straight on if it’s in an open area. If you’re planning a new staircase, it’s worth bearing in mind that those with a 180-degree turn can provide a welcome pause when you’re climbing.
Take a bite The rich chocolatey tones of American black walnut are enhanced by the inset lights on this staircase. Used for steps, posts and handrail, as well as flooring, the timber creates an impression of luxury. Stairs can be lit with strip lights beneath the overhang of each tread or with a series of lights, as here.
Save space The neat dimensions of a spiral staircase allow a clear view through the window in this refurbished barn conversion, and emphasise the height of the hallway. If you’ve fallen for a spiral staircase, bear in mind that while they’re winners when it comes to saving space and are enduringly stylish, they do make getting furniture upstairs more difficult.
Climb the tree This staircase links four storeys at the centre of a listed home, and gives the impression of growing organically through the building. Half landings add to the notion of tree branches. It’s always worth considering lighting for a staircase, whether in the form of the long pendants shown here or for handrails, where adding an LED strip within the design may be an option. (For another idea on lighting a staircase, see the last photo.)
Introduce wall panelling Panelling is another great way to add interest to your walls without taking up too much space. It’s also a smart addition. Usually finished in either varnish or an eggshell or satin paint, this is a more hard-wearing surface than standard emulsion paint so it’s great for preventing scuff marks in narrow, high-traffic areas like hallways. Opt for full height or go for half height like in this beautiful home. It’s also a good way to introduce another colour. And just because you have a slim hall, it doesn’t mean you can’t fit anything in it – just look at this slim antique chest in the corner. The final smart idea in this hall? The convex mirrors that help to reflect light throughout and create a feeling of space.
Go bold The instinct with compact spaces is often to go for lighter colours and smaller pieces in an effort to make the space feel bigger. In fact, the opposite can be a much better way to go. Narrow hallways are often long, with large expanses of wall, so any art or groups of artwork need to be of an appropriate size. As you can see from this vibrant entrance hall, the bright patterned wallpaper and large artworks don’t appear overpowering and, if anything, make the space feel bigger. A hook tucked around the corner keeps coats out of sight and the narrow part of the hall clear for the wallpaper and art to be admired.
Create a focal point The opposite end of a hallway is often the first thing you see. By adding a point of interest and creating a feature area there, you’ll draw the eye toward it and bring the wall ‘closer’ visually, counteracting the feeling of narrowness. Try a striking piece of art, a gallery wall or just an arrangement of plants or flowers.
Add interest high and low Sometimes it’s all about the art of distraction. This stunning entrance hall boasts a striking tiled floor that immediately grabs your attention as you walk through the door, making you forget about the narrowness of the space. And the beautiful ceiling lights and mirror draw the eye up, so that you’re looking up rather than side to side.
Add an internal window Who’s going to notice that this entrance hall is actually on the slim side, when all you can look at is the stunning living room through the glorious internal window? The size and style of this window could make it quite expensive, but you can create a similar effect with a series of smaller windows or a long, narrow window at eye height. This works best on non-supporting walls, but if you don’t have that option your builder will add a support beam.
Don’t waste space Think about the underused areas in your home that could be utilised as storage. Below the stairs is a great example, but it is usually just a general storage cupboard filled to capacity and difficult to access. However, there are great solutions that will allow you to subdivide the space into drawers and cupboards to totally maximise this part of the house.
“The recessed lighting on the staircase goes all the way through the house,” says Snaith, “and is ample for finding your way up and down the house without switching on all the main lights. It’s a plastered-in fitting, which we find doesn’t visually stand out as much as a metal fitting with a large aperture.”
Attention away from the narrow space with accented lines of the staircase + great positioning for the chandelier. As soon as you step through the front door, a bold hallway scheme sets the tempo for the rest of the house. “It is a typical Chelsea house so when you open the front door, the first thing you see is a corridor and a staircase,” explains Bakhtiar-Bakhtiari. “So we started with this in order to make it amazing. “I found the entrance and staircase the most challenging as it is a tall building with many floors. I didn’t want this space to feel like a tunnel so we treated it as a real room with a red handrail to keep people’s eyes away from the wall.”
Channel your inner bibliophile The blank walls and returns of a staircase are the perfect place to inject some interest with shelving. You may not have room in your house for a dedicated library, but slimline recessed shelving alongside stairs adds interest to the walls and is a perfect solution for storing reading matter. Obviously, a design on this scale (complete with glowing lights within each shelf) needs careful planning at build stage, but it’s worth considering whether there’s a spot on your staircase where you can apply the same idea. Often, the half-landing on a turn has extra space that seems unusable – could it be waiting for a colourful array of novels?
Move on up Use LED strip lighting to illuminate the treads on a staircase. These ones have been fitted into recesses on the risers, but a similar effect could be achieved by slotting a strip under the lip of each tread. White walls, a glass banister and a chrome handrail all work to increase light levels in the stairwell, creating a cool and calming contrast to the rich, warm woodwork.
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