Stairs are more than just a utilitarian fixture of the home. Why not make a major statement in the entryway with one of the following staircase ideas, which are sure to capture guests’ attention as soon as they set foot inside of your space? There are so many creative routes to take when it comes to staircase design. “Staircases are a beautiful way to work in corresponding materials found elsewhere in the home or to add pattern and texture through runners,” says AD PRO Directory member Benjamin Johnston of Benjamin Johnston Design.
Below you’ll find 23 top-notch staircase design ideas from experts all across the country that will leave you feeling majorly inspired, whether you desire a modern staircase, crave a minimalist look, are working with a small space, and so much more. (Just don’t make these staircase renovation mistakes.)
What are the stairway trends for 2023?
If you’re looking for trendy staircase ideas for 2023, opt for mixed materials, which are having a major moment, Johnston says, referencing timber and steel in particular. “We recently incorporated a custom-designed steel railing in an architecture project for a showstopping staircase,” he says. Johnston also likes the floating spiral staircase trend, noting that “it creates a focal, architectural moment in the home.”
What is the cheapest way to decorate stairs?
Professional interior designers have several suggestions for how to best give stairs a makeover without breaking the bank. Consider laying down a carpet runner or painting an element of the staircase, such as a riser or railing, Shannon Callahan, director of design at Marc-Michaels Interior Design, Inc. suggests. Additionally, consider hanging a gallery wall of favorite art prints on the stairwell. “If your stairs are bland or need something to dress it up, then creating a cool wall of art can instantly make stairs seem like a curated area,” Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs adds.
How much should it cost to build a staircase?
Constructing a staircase from scratch can be an investment. “Depending on what you’re looking to do with your stairs they can be a lot of work to construct, in labor and cost,” Hayslett explains. “Even a simple set of stairs can cost a pretty penny.” She recommends evaluating various staircase ideas and determining the stair design that appeals to you before meeting with a contractor, as structure will greatly affect cost.
How can I make my stairs beautiful?
Designing a beautiful staircase is simpler than one might think, and there are many viable DIY approaches. “If you don’t have the means or funds to replace your staircase, a fresh coat of paint and a runner will work wonders,” Johnston says. “For even more of an impact, swap your current balusters for ones with an architectural design featuring decorative accents of brass or gold.” Hayslett agrees that it’s smart to start small. “Painting the railings, adding a gallery wall, or changing the look of the risers to a fun tile can really make your stairs start to shine,” she says.
This contemporary staircase by Kendall Wilkinson of Kendall Wilkinson Design in San Francisco features a stair runner from The Rug Company and a delicate light fixture by Jeremy Cole. The piece of art in this Silicon Valley, California, home is by Pamela Jordan and titled Lune.
When designing this traditional foyer in her home city of Denver, AD PRO Directory designer Nadia Watts of Nadia Watts Interior Design opted to create a custom, full-length stair runner by cutting and binding together three individual runners that spoke to her.
In a Highlands Ranch, Colorado, home, Watts dressed up a sweeping staircase with a custom-designed color from Scott Group Studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Two Kravet Haddam high back chairs upholstered in a Pierre Frey fabric add a welcoming touch to the foyer.
Lilse McKenna, the founder of Lilse McKenna, Inc., in New Canaan, Connecticut, covered the area surrounding this staircase in Sister Parish’s Desmond wallpaper. Sitting in sleek gold frames, meaningful photos and articles that her client has collected over the years add a pop of personality parallel to the banister. “I love a gallery wall going up the stairs or through a hallway,” McKenna reflects. “In a space like this, which has quite a lot happening architecturally and visually, I recommend keeping the frames and mats consistent to give the eyes a rest.”
In an unexpected yet stylish fashion, this staircase’s wrought-iron balusters are mounted on the stringer rather than directly onto the treads, Benjamin Johnston explains. “No space is wasted here,” the Houston-based designer adds. “A small gate cleverly transforms the lower portion of the staircase into a cozy kennel for our client’s pup. The middle section provides a deep storage closet perfect for seasonal and holiday decorations or long-term storage.”
In a Sea Island, Georgia, home Gray Walker of Gray Walker Interiors from Charlotte, North Carolina, brightened up the staircase with an eye-catching, rainbow-colored Missoni runner. A painting from Travis & Company hanging in the foyer mimics many of the hues present.
“We did everything we could to keep the decorating minimal and simple so as not to detract from the architecture-as-sculpture staircase and how the light comes down beautifully from the windows above,” says Peter Dunham of Peter Dunham & Associates. In this Horace Gifford–designed Fire Island Pines, New York, home, a cedar console by LA artisan Bradley Duncan is a perfect complementary piece, given that the wood staircase—and every other surface in the house—is made from that same material.
Lauren Czarniecki, founder and principal designer of Czar Interiors in Delray Beach, Florida, added geometric-shaped moldings to this stairwell, opting for a flat-stock molding in lieu of a more traditional paneling to achieve a contemporary look that better suited the space. She then installed a sculptural light fixture with glass details that mimic the crystal accents on the stair railing. “The translucent nature of the fixture allows you to see through to the outside, bringing the natural light and Florida foliage into the space,” the designer shares.
Originally, this Los Angeles home’s stairwell featured a chandelier, but Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs felt that such a fixture was impractical for her client’s busy family and opted to hang Fett wall sconces instead. “I wanted a more dramatic, cool, interesting effect when you walked up the stairs,” the Los Angeles–based designer says. “But I also wanted my clients to not have to worry about changing a light bulb down the road either.”
“Smoke glass adds drama to the staircase, which a clear glass can’t accomplish,” says Shannon Callahan, director of design at Marc-Michaels Interior Design, Inc., in Winter Park, Florida. In this Palm Beach, Florida, home, the glass appears differently depending on where one stands. “When standing within the staircase looking through a single pane, it appears like a light smoke-tinted glass, but standing in the living room looking to the kitchen the multiple layers cast tones as dark as deep graphite,” Callahan says. Meanwhile, she adds, slabs of natural walnut as the stair treads help to balance out the look.
Alexandra Kaehler opted to take advantage of this Chicago home’s high ceilings and installed a large yet airy chandelier in the stairwell. “I wanted something with a bit of whimsy to contrast the exposed brick wall,” says the Chicago-based principal of Alexandra Kaehler Design.
Kiley Jackson and Aileen Warren of Houston’s Jackson Warren Interiors hung various framed Hermès scarves in the stairwell of this local home. In the landing, a bench from Dmitry covered in Loro Piana fabric makes a bold statement.
Why opt for just one piece of art when you can create an eye-catching display? AD PRO Directory member Jeff Andrews of Jeff Andrews Design in Los Angeles, chose to hang two large paintings by Cuban artist Danilo Vinardeli via Pegaso Gallery on the second story of a grand foyer in Beverly Hills; the wallpaper is from Maya Romanoff. “We used the large painting upstairs to help draw the eye up into the larger space and also complement the chandelier,” Andrews explains.
Cathy Purple Cherry of Purple Cherry Architects in Annapolis, Maryland, designed this triple staircase to have a classical coastal railing design. In the landing sits a tail wing that the client, a collector of industrial artifacts, sourced from an artist. “We loved the juxtaposition of this large industrial piece against the more traditional staircase,” Purple Cherry says. “Its unexpectedness in this space makes it a total showstopper.”
Kristen Peña of AD PRO Directory firm K Interiors in San Francisco imagines that back when this nearby home was built in the early 1900s, the area of the stairwell that now features wood detailing was home to stained glass. “Filling in the area with this decorative wood detailing allows for light to pass into an otherwise dark staircase and provides a moment of visual interest as you come into the front door of the home,” she shares.
AD PRO Directory designer Courtnay Tartt Elias of Creative Tonic chose to integrate a bar area under this Houston home’s staircase, using artwork from her client’s collection to add extra flair to this colorful nook. “Adding a bright cocktail bar allowed us to give function and fun to the space without making any structural changes,” Elias shares.
Peña of K Interiors kept function top of mind in this San Francisco home belonging to a family of four. “This area is right off of the garage—an entry zone—as the family returns from work and school,” she shares, noting that the cabinets below the contemporary staircase are designed to corral essentials including backpacks, purses, outwear, and more.
In another Houston home, Elias of Creative Tonic gave a Stark Rugs runner a bit of a facelift by adding on a custom antiqued brass nailhead trim. “I love a decorative nailhead detail on canvas rug borders when I can use them,” she says. “It is an unusual bespoke detail that stands out—literally—and a staircase is often the perfect spot for raised/textural details like this one.”
Emilie Munroe of Studio Munroe in San Francisco designed a custom runner that winds through three stories of this Edwardian home in the Golden City, the second property on which she has worked with this set of clients. “The black-and-white color combination is an homage to the two-tone color scheme in their prior house, with the angular geometric pattern serving to balance and complement the traditional architectural detailing found throughout the home,” Munroe explains.
In this Galveston, Texas, home, Elias created her own custom wood railing. “I was inspired by classic Chinese Chippendale millwork fences and their light and breezy—yet elevated—vibe, which fit perfectly in this bay house,” she comments.
In her previous home, Shannon McLaren of California’s Praire needed to redesign her floating stairs to ensure they were up to code and kid-friendly. Because she loved the airy effect of the original setup, she chose to pay homage to that design and worked thick, see-through glass spindles into the mix. McLaren finished off the staircase with a custom walnut railing and green Missoni carpeting.
An airy wood staircase shines in this Palm Beach, Florida, home. Caitlin Kah of Caitlin Kah Interiors worked alongside Valencia Welding to design this staircase, which features a custom glass panel by Seabreeze Building. Kah also incorporated a floating window, designed by Roger Janssen of Daily Janssen Architects, beside the stairwell. “The addition of the floating window allows for ample light to pour throughout the space, providing unobstructed ocean views from the living room, the staircase, and the foyer just out of frame,” she comments.
This stunning staircase by Istanbul-based design studio Sanayi313 features a black-and-white patterned custom carpet, as well as a unique looking handrail, which is made from silk rope.
