8 Creative Banister Designs to Enhance Your Staircase
Check out these stylish banisters to see how you could make a feature of your own
Amanda Pollard
27 July 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Planning to change your banisters? Look beyond the usual ideas and check out these stairways that have benefited from a more creative approach. Whether you prefer traditional wooden spindles, a modern glass panel or something in between, take a look to get inspiration for your own home.
Warm up glass
For a minimalist look, opt for a glass balustrade that offers a clear view of the stairs. If you want to add interest to the transparent panels, try a striking design like this one.
The glazing is held at either side by steel posts, but what really makes this banister are the wooden handrails. They add a warm-toned edge and are complemented by the zigzag pattern of the timber treads and risers.
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For a minimalist look, opt for a glass balustrade that offers a clear view of the stairs. If you want to add interest to the transparent panels, try a striking design like this one.
The glazing is held at either side by steel posts, but what really makes this banister are the wooden handrails. They add a warm-toned edge and are complemented by the zigzag pattern of the timber treads and risers.
Browse through a huge selection of pendant lights in the Houzz Shop
Mirror the walls
The beauty of this sleek wooden balustrade has been emphasised by the timber cladding on the wall opposite.
The long wooden slats that cover the whole length of the wall replicate the spindles to make a stunning statement in the space. The curved handrail, meanwhile, is painted in the same shade as the staircase wall for pleasing balance.
If you’re going to make a feature of your banisters as the owners have here, pay attention to lighting, as it can help to showcase the design. Here, the stairs and floor are lit up to give a warm glow and pick out the lines of wood.
The beauty of this sleek wooden balustrade has been emphasised by the timber cladding on the wall opposite.
The long wooden slats that cover the whole length of the wall replicate the spindles to make a stunning statement in the space. The curved handrail, meanwhile, is painted in the same shade as the staircase wall for pleasing balance.
If you’re going to make a feature of your banisters as the owners have here, pay attention to lighting, as it can help to showcase the design. Here, the stairs and floor are lit up to give a warm glow and pick out the lines of wood.
Create cohesion
The material you choose for your banisters usually complements or contrasts with the understairs area below. A striking difference can be stunning, but the opposite can also work.
Here, the cupboards, stairs and banister are blended together thanks to Scandi-style pale wood. The visible woodgrain helps to highlight the design, as it chimes with the lines of the spindles.
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The material you choose for your banisters usually complements or contrasts with the understairs area below. A striking difference can be stunning, but the opposite can also work.
Here, the cupboards, stairs and banister are blended together thanks to Scandi-style pale wood. The visible woodgrain helps to highlight the design, as it chimes with the lines of the spindles.
Find a quality joiner or carpenter near you in the Houzz Directory
Go floor to ceiling
A glass balustrade can also work without the handrail, particularly when the sides are taken all the way up to the ceiling.
Here, the glass panels are a practical solution to form a barrier along the staircase. However, they also allow the wood staircase, which contrasts crisply with the white surface below, to be the main focus. By keeping the rest of the design minimal, this striking element can take centre stage.
A glass balustrade can also work without the handrail, particularly when the sides are taken all the way up to the ceiling.
Here, the glass panels are a practical solution to form a barrier along the staircase. However, they also allow the wood staircase, which contrasts crisply with the white surface below, to be the main focus. By keeping the rest of the design minimal, this striking element can take centre stage.
Play with shapes
The designers of this hallway have had fun with the banisters. Flat posts have been given the look of traditional turned-wood spindles for a modern take on a period style.
The quirky design works in harmony with the classic panelling and all-over pale grey colour.
The designers of this hallway have had fun with the banisters. Flat posts have been given the look of traditional turned-wood spindles for a modern take on a period style.
The quirky design works in harmony with the classic panelling and all-over pale grey colour.
Try traditional with a twist
The banister in this hallway has all the markings of a traditional design, giving a clue as to the period of the house.
However, to give it a contemporary look, the designers have contrasted the white spindles with a jet black handrail. The monochrome scheme looks sharp and modern, giving a slight twist to the classic design.
The banister in this hallway has all the markings of a traditional design, giving a clue as to the period of the house.
However, to give it a contemporary look, the designers have contrasted the white spindles with a jet black handrail. The monochrome scheme looks sharp and modern, giving a slight twist to the classic design.
Keep it sleek
There’s nothing fussy or overdone about this banister. The slim black metal balustrades and handrail look elegant and understated, and create a lovely feature in the room.
The sharp monochrome form created by the banister is replicated in the square shapes in the kitchen below, but the soft shades in the cookspace contrast with the black and white above to zone the area.
There’s nothing fussy or overdone about this banister. The slim black metal balustrades and handrail look elegant and understated, and create a lovely feature in the room.
The sharp monochrome form created by the banister is replicated in the square shapes in the kitchen below, but the soft shades in the cookspace contrast with the black and white above to zone the area.
Sculpt a curved wall
The light, airy look of this house is created by contrasting warm surfaces with bright white walls, so it makes sense that the banister helps with this design.
A curved staircase makes its way up from the kitchen, but the shape is used to frame other elements in the room, rather than simply to form a feature in itself.
To create the banister, the designers built a timber frame, then clad it with plasterboard and a durable plaster coating. This allowed them to paint the surface white to form a smooth continuation of the walls.
Tell us…
Which of these different banister ideas would you opt for in your own home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
The light, airy look of this house is created by contrasting warm surfaces with bright white walls, so it makes sense that the banister helps with this design.
A curved staircase makes its way up from the kitchen, but the shape is used to frame other elements in the room, rather than simply to form a feature in itself.
To create the banister, the designers built a timber frame, then clad it with plasterboard and a durable plaster coating. This allowed them to paint the surface white to form a smooth continuation of the walls.
Tell us…
Which of these different banister ideas would you opt for in your own home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Personally I quite liked them all, however to be user friendly and safe, one should have a handrail to use going up and down. And though the solid glass looks great, the cleaning would be a nightmare as Leigh has mentioned. The white strip in these stairs looks to me like a painted strip . . .