30 Staircase Ideas That’ll Make Every Trip Downstairs a Grand Entrance
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Your house doesn't need to have a grand staircase to make a statement in your entryway—it just needs thoughtful decoration and the same attention to detail as other areas. Often overlooked, the stairway can be a standout feature beyond just being adorned with holiday garlands. Embracing these beautiful staircase ideas can make this element the most memorable part of your home, so it truly belongs rather than merely exists. There are so many specific details you can try on your staircase to make it a thoughtfully considered design moment.
From structural elements like risers, railings, and balusters to stylistic choices involving paint, finishes, and accessories, the possibilities for revitalizing your stairs are vast. Whether you're seeking simple staircase ideas to harmonize with your home's decor or contemplating a comprehensive remodel, we've curated 30 inspiring staircase ideas to guide your transformation.
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Choose Simple Balusters
Sometimes, a staircase can be a showstopping statement in your home, much like this elegant spiral one by Cathy Chapman. For staircases like this, it's better to choose simple details so the design of the feature can really stand out. We love the simple, black balusters along this one, especially with the decorative green garland for the holidays.
Add Seasonal Flair
There's abundant inspiration in this staircase idea by Ryan and Jessica Turf, though it's easy to overlook at first glance. The seasonal garland not only sets a cheerful tone but also uses buffalo-checked bows to subtly suggest the home’s color palette. The archway leading into the staircase adds an elegant touch, while the simple seagrass runner offers traction and cushioning for children's feet, contributing a timeless quality to the area.
Paint It a Fun Color
This house by Atelier ND Interior is already an explosion of color, so they couldn't leave the hand railing plain. Even if your home is on the neutral side, choose to paint your railing a more fun hue for an exciting pop.
Bring the Outside In
Add character and a touch of the outdoors to your staircase by using materials, like terracotta tiles and wrought iron railings that you can also typically find in the backyard. This specific staircase by Ellen Kavanaugh is definitely playful and enhances the other historic qualities of the home that are present in the foyer.
Use a Lot of Wood
From the walls to the steps, there's a lot of rich wood around this staircase, creating a gorgeous and classic feature in the foyer. The team at Kobel + Co used white oak paneling in a walnut finish for this staircase, and the result looks like it belongs in a luxury hotel.
Put in Statement Flooring
While the balusters on this rather simple staircase idea are very unique, the aspect that stands out the most is the flooring at the bottom of the steps. Designer Marie Flanigan says that her clients asked specifically for a black-and-white marble floor, taking the design of this foyer to the next level.
Use Glass Siding
Create a floating effect by using glass siding along your staircase. Jean Liu designed these cantilevered stairs to allow for more natural light to seep through, and in turn, helped give this home a more modern and sleek feel.
Add an Arty Accent
The team at Mel Bean Interiors enhanced this home with a vibrant green runner featuring a climbing leopard motif on the stairs. This unique rug, designed by Diane von Furstenberg, doubles as art and adds a striking splash of color.
Mix the Materials
The teams at Nala Design and Orbis Constructions used three main materials in this staircase idea: timber, brick, and metal. These elements add more texture to the space, and the neutral palette is made more interesting with the different materials.
Fill in Your Banister
If your staircase has a beautiful curve to it, emphasize the look by replacing your current banister with a solid wall and handrail on top. The designer of this space, Lindye Galloway, also added a curved, custom banquette that follows the same line to use up the empty space.
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Create a Breakfast Nook Under It
This newly renovated staircase is fairly plain, but the breakfast banquette below it stands out to all who enter. The team at Joy Street Design created this colorful nook, which takes up what would've been empty space and adds a cozy gathering spot.
Add Contrast With Trim
Designer Corey Damen Jenkins enhanced the already intriguing runner in this staircase idea by incorporating a five-inch band of trim along the baseboards and stairway. This subtle addition adds a striking layer of contrast while promoting cohesion throughout the space, seamlessly connecting the lower level to the upper floors.
Keep It Timeless
Designer Mark D. Sikes chose a timeless color scheme for this staircase, using warm tones, blue hues, and geometric patterns. It all flows together so well, but the best part is that it'll age beautifully.
Make It Curve
Add softness to your home by smoothing out the sharp corners, like designer Suzanne Kasler did with this curved staircase. It was actually built in one piece in Charleston, and the homeowner says, "They wove it like a snake through the front door."
Roll Out the Red Carpet
Er, maybe paint on the red carpet, in this case. Rather than laying down a rug along the steps, Annie Sloan painted on this red "carpet", which certainly makes them easier to clean.
Anchor With Bold Furnishings
When designer Philip Mitchell found this blue glass console table, he knew that it—along with the runner—would set the tone for the space. He used the statement piece to influence the other hues present in this staircase idea.
Add a Seat
In townhomes that have multiple short landings between floors, it's a nice touch to add seating where that empty space would be. Designer Benjamin Vandiver went with a brick-red chair for this area, breaking up the blue-gray color palette throughout.
Spread Out a Colorful Runner
Get playful with your choice of runner to add some whimsy to your staircase idea. This Missoni one that designer Jeffrey Bilhuber put on this staircase is a necessary pop of warmth in this otherwise cool-toned room.
Opt for a Two-Tone Palette
For a staircase with a lot of unique architectural details, use a two-tone color palette to really highlight them. That's what Kari McCabe did for this stairway—she used a coral red as the lively base for the millwork then painted an earthy gray-green on the handrail and stair treads to point them out.
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Choose Black and White Tile
Include more visual interest in your home by bringing fun floor tiles up the stairs with you, like this black-and-white floor design. Designer Thomas Callaway wanted this entrance to feel romantic and warm, using the tiles and textured paint to do so—we'd say he achieved that mood in this staircase idea.
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Install a Wall of Glass
When you have a floating staircase, why not follow in Cathy Kincaid's footsteps and add a two-story glass wall behind it? The amount of natural sunlight in this space is dramatic in the best way, and the designer says it's one of the most amazing features of the house.
Utilize Empty Space
Utilize the space beneath your stairs as a storage closet. Designer Frank de Biasi used picture frame molding to decorate the doors to this clever storage area but kept it all white, highlighting the gorgeous original balustrade designed by Rosario Candela.
Wallpaper the Risers
We're all about finding ways to lessen our consumer waste, and one bright idea is using your wallpaper scraps to decorate your staircase idea. You can do it with the same pattern for a bit more cohesion or get a bit wild and use multiple wallpapers, like in the photo here.
Keep Storage Throughout
Designer Grace Mitchell didn't have a proper mudroom in her Texas house, so she built this row of lockers on the staircase landing for her kids to stash their belongings. It's such a clever way to take up wall space, and it looks so much more unique than simple drawers.
Light Up the Steps
While designer Vern Yip did add LEDs alongside this staircase to lead the way at night, he included light in a more unique way as well through little turquoise glass windows in a few stairbacks. Because the staircase is cantilevered over the side of the house, these glowing rectangles add a fun touch of light to the steps and reflect against the painted black runner.
Say 'Goodbye' to Risers
Take out the risers and treads to create a floating staircase idea that lets more natural light in. McAlpine's Ray Booth and Elizabeth Kennedy used stone "floaters" to replace the carpeted steps, creating a nice contrast to the steel railing.
Add Decorations Along the Side
If there's enough room on your staircase, add little statues or other decorations along the side of your steps. Designer Anik Pearson displayed these unique statues on the right side of the staircase leading out of the breezeway, giving the steps some dimension.
Hang a Statement Chandelier
In the foyer of our 2019 Whole Home, designer Vern Yip installed a stunning gold chandelier in the middle of the curved staircase. The gold metal brings out the gold tones in the dragon print wallpaper, and it nicely contrasts with the green seats.
Take Historic Inspiration
The Brownstone Boys are known for their skill in restoring historic brownstones, and they decided to go back to the house's roots for this staircase idea. They had to strip layer upon layer of paint from the steps and railing, then paint it a contrasting matte black that makes the historic details stand out.
Follow a Theme
In this lake house designed for entertaining, Thom Filicia kept a subtle nautical theme going throughout with color and details, like with the stout rope hand railing along the staircase. This staircase idea adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness to the coastal aesthetic.
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