29 Staircase Ideas That Will Elevate Your Home's Design (2024)

Room Design

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Farima Ferguson

29 Staircase Ideas That Will Elevate Your Home's Design (1)

Farima Ferguson

Farima Ferguson began her career at HGTV where she worked with designers to write about home design. Her work has appeared in HGTV, Insider Reviews, Travel Channel, and more.

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Updated on 11/14/22

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29 Staircase Ideas That Will Elevate Your Home's Design (2)

The staircase in your home—we know it serves as a functional piece, getting you from one floor to the other, but it can do a whole lot more for your home's design. It's oftentimes the first thing people see when they first walk into your home, so it should not only be functional but should also contribute to your home's overall design style.

Whether you're lucky enough to have a beautiful grand staircase in your home or not, you can easily dress up your staircase to elevate the design in your home. From a few simple touches to ideas on how to use the space underneath your staircase, we share our favorite ideas to help elevate your home's design.

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    Makeshift Bar Area

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    The wall against a staircase can often be forgotten when it comes to designing it, but it's a great opportunity to make the space useful and beautiful. If you don't have a designated area for a bar in your home, you can create a makeshift one by placing a sideboard or buffet table against the staircase wall to store your favorite libations and bar essentials.

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    Displaying a Favorite Art Piece

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    Oftentimes, the staircase is at the entry of a home, and the entryway is where you can set the tone for the rest of the home. If you want your space to feel bright, airy, and welcoming, your entryway should reflect that. Here, Morse Design decorated the wall against the staircase with the homeowner's favorite photo of a beach and placed a bench with textured throw pillows to create a functional and beautiful space.

    22 Stunning Entryway Ideas to Make an Impression

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    Black and White Gallery Wall

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    Black and white decor and furnishings are prevalent in modern style homes, and that includes every room in the house including the staircase area. This staircase has plenty of natural light and features a large gallery wall filled with a variety of framed black and white prints that make the staircase feel large and grand.

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    Built-in Bench

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    The wall adjacent to this entryway staircase was previously an empty space, but now it's completely functional and stylish. The built-in bench is a convenient place to remove shoes, while the hooks and storage drawers provide a place to store coats and shoes.

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    A Colorful Gallery

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    The staircase is a spot in the home you can really let your creativity shine. This staircase design by Mel Bean Interiors features color through a variety of artwork like posters, art prints, and kid's art. The intricate stair railing and leopard print runner complete the eclectic design.

    How to Create a Gallery Wall in Eight Easy Steps

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    Simple Gallery Wall

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    A gallery wall can work even in more minimalistic style homes. This curved staircase is a design element on its own, so LA Designer Affair added a simple gallery wall with framed patterns that follow the curve of the wall which lead you up to the second floor of the home.

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    Glass Details

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    This Arabic design-inspired home is grand, open, and airy and the staircase is no different. To help keep with the home's open layout, the stair railing is made of glass panels in lieu of traditional railing. The style is simple, elegant, and complements the adjacent intricate glass doorways.

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    A Contemporary Upgrade

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    What was once a traditional staircase now has a contemporary spin to it. A coat of olive green paint on the stair railing, and a patterned stair runner are an easy, budget-friendly way to instantly upgrade a staircase. Large artwork and a bench pull the whole space together.

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    Houndstooth Stair Runner

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    A stair runner is a great opportunity to experiment with trending patterns and colors. You can easily swap it out each season or when you want to try a new trending pattern. It's a simple upgrade, plus it keeps you safer from potential slips and falls when walking up and down the stairs.

    The 9 Best Stair Tread Carpets of 2024

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    The Perfect Spot for a Kitchenette

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    If you have a small space to work with or have a loft style home where the bedroom is above the kitchen, the space underneath the staircase, called a spandrel, is the perfect place to extend your kitchen, or create a kitchenette. Burchard Design Co. added a countertop, microwave and pantry area in the spandrel of this home for a spot to make a morning cup of joe or warm up leftovers.

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    Refreshing Lemon Tree

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    This entryway staircase is in a big, open, and airy space that features plenty of natural light. Industrial-style accents fill the neutral space, but a lemon tree is the standout feature in the room. The bright green leaves of the tree and yellow lemons bring a refreshing look to the large space.

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    Mediterranean Style Staircase

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    This home features many Mediterranean-style elements, from the wood ceiling beams to the arched doorways. The staircase is a stunning feature that catches the eye right when you walk in the door, from the tile stair risers to the intricate curved wood stair railing.

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    Mudroom Nook

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    The space underneath this staircase is small and dark and could've easily been kept as a nonfunctional space, but s.u.s.a.p. made the most of it by adding a few functional elements. A coat rack and a few wall hooks provide a place to tuck away coats, hats, and purses while a small cabinet acts as extra storage.

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    A Cheerful Spot

    Everything about this staircase area is happy and welcoming. The colorful gallery wall incorporates the colors of the bubblegum pink cabinet and bright green stair runner, while fresh greenery and flowers brighten up the space even further. The tile flooring is intricate yet neutral in color to help anchor the space.

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    The Coziest Staircase Entryway

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    This staircase entryway has everything you need to relax after a long day and can easily be the favorite spot in the home. The plant wall filled with succulents adds color and life while the area rug adds a cozy factor. Every other step on the staircase features tile stair risers. Adding tile risers to every other step instead of every step is a great way to play with pattern without overwhelming a space.

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    Antique Details

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    Instead of keeping this space bare and nonfunctional, designer Marie Flanigan added an antique school desk to create a quiet place to do homework, write, or read. The antique desk and wrought iron stair balusters add a quaint, vintage look to the home.

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    A Small Washroom

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    This small washroom is neatly tucked away underneath the stairs of this home's entryway. To differentiate the room from the entryway, the washroom is painted in a blush pink color that stands out against the all-white design of the entryway.

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    A Romantic Entryway

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    Historically, balloon chairs, also known as porter's chairs, were used by hall porters to sit in while keeping watch on palaces and estates. Nowadays, these chairs bring a romantic, medieval feel to a room like this balloon chair does in the corner of this staircase in the entryway.

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    A Quiet and Stylish Reading Nook

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    If you think you have zero space to create a reading nook in your home, think again. Amanda transformed the spandrel in her home into a quaint reading nook complete with a comfy chair, her favorite reads, a small lamp, and a storage cube that acts as a small end table. The checkered wall mural adds a beautiful design element while helping make the nook feel like its own area.

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    Stenciled Stair Risers

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    These stair risers may look like they're made from intricate tiles, but Lindsay created the tile look using paint and stenciling. It's an easy, budget-friendly upgrade that goes a long way. She painted the railing to match and added a houseplant jungle corner to transform the space from drab to a happy corner of the home.

    33 Stair Riser Ideas to Elevate Your Space

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    Extra Storage Area

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    At first glance, this staircase entryway is unassuming, but it actually serves multiple purposes. The console table drawers and large storage baskets underneath provide extra storage while the table and mirror add a beautiful design element to the space.

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    Oversized Mirror

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    The top of the stairs is often forgotten when it comes to designing a home, but Martina created a cozy, welcoming feel on the second story of her home. An oversized, full length mirror, a potted houseplant, a small end table, a round rug (and cute dog), and hanging lights is a great use of the second floor hallway.

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    Double the Design

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    This dual grand staircase is an over-the-top design element on its own, but the space between the two staircases is the perfect opportunity to showcase big designs. The large round wall art mirrors the artwork above the fireplace in the adjacent room, while a high back loveseat fits perfectly in the curvature of the staircase wall. Large vases and an orchid plant complete the high end design.

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    Large Tapestry Decor

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    If a gallery wall isn't your design aesthetic, you can still pack a lot of style on a blank staircase wall with large artwork. Here, Calimia Home displayed a large tapestry on the wall. The design of the tapestry mirrors the pattern of the tile stair risers for a cohesive look.

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    Less Is More

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    A small design idea can sometimes go a long way, especially when it comes to decorating a staircase. Marie Flanigan dressed up the landing of this staircase with a simple Lucite stand that's holding a small pot with greenery. It's an easy, simple addition that makes a big design impact.

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    A Place to Display Wine

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    A home wine cellar isn't possible for many people, but you can look at unused areas of the home to create a makeshift one. This area beneath these stairs display bottles of wine that are enclosed by glass panels. It's a great place to store wine while adding an unexpected design element.

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    The Anchor of the Home

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    Every room in this home's design by Tyler Karu is filled with color, pattern, and energy. The staircase and entryway is the anchor of the home. Even though the use of bold colors were kept to a minimum, the design elements are still high in style from the matching chairs to the tall glass vase filled with greenery.

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    Vertical Cable Stair Railing

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    A cable stair railing is a low maintenance option that adds a more modern feel to a space. This vertical cable railing makes this small living area feel more open while still providing safety as a traditional railing does.

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    Wood Railing Design

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    A stair railing typically blends into the design of a staircase and home's entryway, but it can stand as its own design element. This white-painted wood stair railing doesn't just extend from the hand rail to the top of the steps, but goes all the way to the floor of the entryway to create a dramatic design statement.

27 Best Painted Stair Ideas to Revamp Your Space

29 Staircase Ideas That Will Elevate Your Home's Design (2024)

FAQs

What is the trend in stairs in 2024? ›

Floating Staircases: A Gravity-Defying Delight

In 2024, the architectural marvel of floating staircases has gained tremendous popularity. These minimalist structures create a sense of weightlessness, giving the illusion that the steps are suspended in mid-air.

What is the trend for stairs? ›

Organic and Curved Designs

The trend towards organic and curved stair designs is making waves in contemporary interiors. These designs break away from the traditional straight lines, introducing fluidity and movement.

How can I make my stairs attractive? ›

How to update stairs on a budget: 10 ways to makeover and revamp your stairs
  1. Paint the stairs. ...
  2. Add wallpaper to update your stairs. ...
  3. Fit a DIY stair runner. ...
  4. Fit a DIY handrail. ...
  5. Continue the stair runner onto the landing. ...
  6. Style the stairs with plants. ...
  7. Add wallpaper or tiles to the risers. ...
  8. Cause a distraction.
Dec 12, 2023

What is the 27 stair rule? ›

You may not know it, but there is a specific formula for designing a staircase, which is 2R + T = 24” – 27”, where R = rise and T = tread. For example, if the risers are 6”, and the tread is 12” than your formula will yield 24”.

What is the rule of 17 stairs? ›

Tips for Making Stair Stringers

The sum of one rise and one tread should be 17-18 inches. If the sum is greater than 18 3/4 inches, there's a mistake. Correct your measurements.

What are the most popular stairs? ›

Straight Staircase

Straight staircases are the most common in architecture because they are relatively easy to design and construct. However, they use more linear space and may not be functional for every floor plan.

What is most efficient stair layout? ›

Spiral Staircase: A spiral staircase is a compact and space-saving layout that consists of a central pole and steps that wind around it in a spiral. This layout is ideal for homes that have limited space and want to create a unique and visually interesting design.

What is rise and going of stairs? ›

Going – The distance between the nose of the thread of the first step and the landing above. Pitch – The angle between the line of the stairs and the horizontal. Rise – The height of an individual step from thread to thread. Tread – Upper surface of a step.

What is the most commonly used staircase in residential building? ›

Straight stairs are stairs without any changes in direction. They are certainly one of the most common types of stairs found in both residential and commercial properties.

What are the architecture rules for stairs? ›

Height of between 80 and 115 cm is recommended. A minimum gap of 5 cm between the staircase handrail and neighboring components (like a wall) ensures that the handrail can be reached safely around. Staircases with four or more steps must have a fixed handrail on at least one side with an attached grip.

What is the cheapest style of stairs? ›

A straight staircase with a linear design is the most common and straightforward type. Because of the basic design, this is the cheapest staircase style, with installation costs between $2,000 and $5,000.

How do you make stairs look modern? ›

While pairing two opposite styles is not recommended, subtling mixing up the rail and tread styles can make for a showstopping effect; for example, an industrial-style rail can help make wood treads contemporary, or an ornate metal railing can help enhance the mediterranean feel of stone treads.

Which stairs are best for home? ›

Choosing the Best Staircase Design: Factors to Consider
Type of stairsSuitability
Straight type of stairsYoung family with toddlers or aged parents
Straight stairs with a landingCommercial type of building
Curved stairs or a cantileverIndividuals with a flair for elegance
5 more rows

What is going in stair design? ›

Going – the going of a flight of stairs is the horizontal distance between the face of the first and last risers. The individual going of a step is measured from face of riser to face of riser and for domestic use should be a minimum of 220mm.

Are stair runners still in style? ›

Today's modern interior design is all about decorating and paying attention to all spaces in the home, even if they are transitional ones like stairs. In cases of narrow staircases or ones that are in the middle of the home, where walls aren't an option to decorate on, stair runners are the ideal candidates.

Are people with stairs in their house in better shape? ›

Climbing vertically requires you to work against gravity, which challenges your muscles and bones to work harder, which ultimately makes them stronger. Plus, climbing stairs can increase your heart rate as much as jogging or running on flat ground, while placing less impact on your bones and joints.

When should you replace stairs? ›

Cracks in the treads or risers

If you have started seeing visible cracks in your stairs' treads, which are the parts that you step on, or on the risers, which are the vertical parts that sits perpendicular to the treads, this is a sure sign of a need for a repair or replacement.

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