Staircase Ideas and Designs
How do I choose a new staircase design?
In terms of renovation, replacing staircases is a big decision and must be considered as carefully as replacing a structural wall. If your current staircase is badly positioned then it may be worth the investment in a new flight. A standard straight staircase can be bought virtually out of the box, but for real excitement you may want to look into bespoke staircase design, including ideas custom handrails. This could certainly be the case when it comes to loft stairs as you’ll need something that fits with your area and space below. Storage staircases can be a great option for a small room – drawers or doors can pull out from the side of the staircase, utilising the space under it, or the stairs themselves can serve as drawers and cubbies. Spiral staircases are clever and can make a stunning feature in every room – choose a winding spiral staircase for smaller rooms or a sweeping one if you have the room for dramatic appeal. Glass railings are ideal if you have a preference for light and spacious interiors. If you have a more traditional wooden flight of stairs already in place, then you can add a more modern feel by opting for a sheet glass balustrade. Open stairs, an alternating tread or a floating staircase are great additions to any home but may be out of the question if you have small children.
How should I decorate my staircase?
Despite the fact that the stairs can be one of the most frequently used areas of your home, they are often overlooked when it comes to a home redesign. Your staircase, much like your hallway, can be an opportunity to inject some colour or personality into your overall design scheme and an update can be as simple as putting a lick of paint on the spindles or stripping off the worn carpet to reveal the beautiful hardwood treads beneath. If you want to keep some cushioning, then stair runners are a popular design choice, as they draw the eyes upward and add a flash of colour or pattern whilst offering plenty of grip. That said, ensure stair runners are properly fitted to avoid any missteps! A nice touch to connect staircases to the hallway they lead to is choosing a complementary rug or floor runner that echoes the colour scheme of the stair runner. If your staircase is alongside a wall, make the most of that space with attractive wallpaper, framed pictures and artwork. Stair spindles are a decorative element in their own right but you can jazz them up by painting them in a multi-tonal palette of complementary colours or graduating between dark and light. Putting a nice chandelier over a staircase can add a final, dramatic touch; if you prefer a more subtle way, consider recessed floor-level lighting for an atmospheric glow.
How should I install loft stairs?
Luckily, there is no minimum width for staircases. If you have a loft conversion stair that are less than one metre wide then you should have a handrail on at least one side. If you’re wondering about how steep your steps can be, then the maximum rise according to Building Regulations Part K is 220mm and all steps should be the same size and level. If you’re worried about crowding your foyer below your loft, there are options that are light and ladder-like so not much space is used, but they will still be more sturdy and safe than normal ladders. You must have two metres headroom at the top of your loft stairs, too, to ensure entering the lost space is not dangerous. A spiral staircase may be the best option for a small room, but remember that the staircase will be narrower and could be more dangerous for young children or older users.The building regulations for spiral staircases are slightly different – if you’re going to use a spiral staircase as loft conversion stairs and it’s only a secondary staircase leading to one room, then the stair treads themselves must be 60mm wide and no more than 145mm in length.
Whether you want inspiration for planning a staircase renovation or are building a designer staircase from scratch, Houzz has 273,154 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Juliet Murphy Photography and Waxed Floors. Look through staircase photos in different colours and styles and when you find a staircase design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful staircase ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
Photos by Sam Sissen
Photo of a medium sized traditional concrete straight wood railing staircase in London.
Photo of a farmhouse wood curved wood railing staircase in Other with open risers.
Beautiful staircase and lighting - arundathy_shan
Large traditional curved glass railing staircase in Other with limestone treads and limestone risers.
Brilliant - ismatmerchant14
Inspiration for a contemporary staircase in London.
The kind of thing I was looking for to make more of an interactive "feature" of the staircase - webuser_684897760
Medium sized traditional carpeted l-shaped wood railing staircase in Oxfordshire with carpeted risers.
Love the paint gradations and the contrasting rail on banister - julia_roberts57
Bespoke staircase in wood and metal
Design ideas for a modern wood straight staircase in London with open risers.
Metal plate built in wall to take stairs & plywood Stained - brianjames1664
Popular Filters to Try:
Opera limestone floor tiles in a honed finish from Artisans of Devizes.
Design ideas for a large modern staircase in Wiltshire.
The flow of the house and staircase - dkissiedu
Juliet Murphy
Inspiration for a contemporary metal floating metal railing staircase in London with metal risers.
Nice staircase - oliverlloyd
Design ideas for a contemporary wood straight metal railing staircase in London with open risers.
Design ideas for a contemporary staircase in London.
minimalist staircase - edzhoy
Traditional painted wood curved wood railing staircase in London with painted wood risers.
Stair carpet and light walls - webuser_685470754
Andrew Beesley
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary wood u-shaped staircase in London with wood risers.
Like the window going across several floors - webuser_843957149
Seymour's of Horsell
Design ideas for a mixed scandinavian wood l-shaped staircase in Surrey with open risers.
Main staircase:
Back in 1970’s, the house was divided into flats, the original staircase removed and a kitchen was installed in this space instead. When we deal with period properties, it is very important to be true to the building therefore, we brought back the original layout of the house and (with some research into Victorian floor plans) we designed and built the staircase the way it would have been made 136 years ago. We installed a dado rail to match the period with Oak flooring to bring back the old charm.
Is there anywhere I can have under stair storage? - slwrighty
Star White Polished Marble tile flooring and bespoke staircase (30mm thick treads with full bullnose edges) with a bespoke Nero Marquina Marble border on the flooring.
Materials supplied by Natural Angle including Marble, Limestone, Granite, Sandstone, Wood Flooring and Block Paving.
PLEASE NOTE: FLOORING AND TREADS SUPPLIED BY HERITAGE BUT THESE WERE MADE UP BY THE CUSTOMER - WE NO LONGER MANUFACTURE THESE.
Modern floating staircase supplied by Heritage. Solid American White Oak was used to handcraft these beautiful stairs. Call us today on 0114 247 4917
The wires would deflect nerf dics, but bullets? DBR - webuser_42681146
Architectural Photography by Simon Kennedy http://www.simonkennedy.net/
Design ideas for a contemporary wood spiral staircase in London with open risers.
Consider what lies beneath
A mezzanine normally works best above a living area that doesn’t require a high ceiling or much daylight, such as a kitchen or bathroom, according to Stephen Fletcher. “Then the upper area should be something like an occasional bedroom, study or library,” he says.
“Mezzanines also work best when they only occupy one part of a grand space, so a double-height element remains and dominates,” he adds.
“When designing the structural calculations for the mezzanine level, it’ - walkerz
Alex Maguire
Design ideas for a contemporary wood l-shaped staircase in London with wood risers.
Lights in side and glass railing - nazmin_makda