The stairwell and the area around it in a home tend to be forgotten when a home is undergoing a refit or renovation project. Often it’s a case of the hall getting a makeover and the landing above it, while the stairs are just covered with a carpet, and the project moves on.
However, by including your stairway area in your makeover, you can not only make your renovation or remodel look complete, but if your stairway is a part of your entrance hall, you can also introduce the “wow factor” early on to your guests as soon as you open your front door.
1. Flooring choices can make or break the look
You should most certainly choose your flooring and stair coverings carefully. Your stairs can be completely different from the floor beneath them, but certain looks can date your home or be less than inviting. Wooden and stone flooring work well with wooden stair treads, and for the most part, they also go well with some (although not all) carpets.
Using carpet rods on carpeted stair treads can add a touch of elegance and charm, but you do have to make sure that your stair treads are deep enough to cope with their presence. This is because narrow stair treads with carpet rods can be dangerous and can cause the less wary to slip or fall down the stairs.
2. Seek alternatives from boring spindles
Choosing to move away from the regular boring spindles under your banisters can also be a wise choice when trying to create a major “wow factor” in this area. If you’re looking for a more classical appearance to your stairwell, then you could decide to have a metal scrolled infill in place of your spindles.
However, for a modern and contemporary look, there’s nothing better than glass panels for stairs, as they’ll help the light penetrate your stairwell area and make it look far larger while still providing a safety barrier along and up your stairwell.
3. Remember that handrails should be tacitly pleasing
Of course, to finish the look off, you do have to choose the perfect accompanying handrail. In this, you need to remember that a handrail should be tacitly pleasing to the touch as well as attractive to the eye.
Having a handrail that’s rough or uncomfortable under your hand will stop it from doing its job, which supporting people using the stairs either in their climb or descent.
For homes where accessibility is paramount, integrating a stair lift with a handrail that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing can significantly enhance the safety and accessibility of your staircase. It’s an investment in comfort and independence, ensuring that the stairwell is welcoming and accessible to all members of the household.
So, you’re looking for a smooth, almost silky finish. This can be achieved by using finely sanded and shaped wood or polished stone, but you can also achieve this in metal — although it may be rather cold to the touch.
Final thoughts
When deciding to change your stairwell area, you need to think about what’s practical for you and the other members of your household.
Choosing the right flooring and complimentary stair tread coverings is a must; however, this doesn’t mean to say that you can’t have your old staircase removed and replaced with a beautiful oak one should you wish to.
Balustrades are a must as they’re there for safety reasons, but this doesn’t mean that you have to stick to wooden slats or spindles, and you should, when looking at this area, also think about your handrail too.
