8 STEPS TO A BEAUTIFUL STAIRCASE
Update your current stair space by revamping the banisters, treads or risers and add storage with clever space-saving tricks…
When we move into a house, we usually focus our attention on refreshing the main rooms. We don’t really think about the staircase, but it is one of the focal points as you enter your home, so you want it to make a good first impression, and to be a welcoming sight for you and your family. The easiest way to update it is to change the carpet or runner for a new design. You can transform the spindles and banister by painting or replacing, as well as giving the treads and risers a fresh look with a new paint colour or stencilled print.
Paint the spindles and banister
The most affordable way to give your staircase a whole new look is to paint the spindles and banister. This works best on a timber design and you need to use eggshell, satin or gloss paint for wood, as it sticks well and gives a smooth, durable finish.
Consider whether your stairwell gets any natural light, as this will have an effect on the end result. Dark spaces work better with a light-reflective gloss paint or a pale or neutral shade. Furniture paint can also be used for a modern, flat matt effect.
Before you start any of the work, protect everything else with a dust sheet stuck down with decorator’s tape, clean the spindles and banister, sand them down, prime (if needed) and paint in your chosen shade. Take your time and use a fine brush, applying two coats.
Decorate the risers
Stair risers are the vertical space between each step and you can give them a fresh new look with a coat of paint or stencilling. To paint, clean them and sand (if needed) then do the edges first using a small, angled brush. Fill in from the edges, leave to dry, then add a second coat. Again, use wood or furniture paint for best results.
The tread is the horizontal part and you could also paint these in a contrasting or similar shade for a two-tone effect.
Stencilling a pattern or print is another way to make a statement or you could tile them. Work from the bottom up using tile adhesive, lay the tiles using a spirit level to make sure they are straight and work from the centre outwards, inserting a tile spacer between each tile. Finish with grouting, leave for 24 hours, then wipe.
Boost light with glass
In a dark hallway, a great way to make it feel light and spacious is to replace the spindles with a toughened glass balustrade. There are plenty of companies who can do this with made-to-measure designs that can either be measured up yourself online or by having an expert come around to quote. The latest trends include glass and oak with charcoal painted newels and handrails as well as contemporary glass spindles for a modern twist on the classic look.
There are DIY kits available, but this is one project that will have better results if you use the professionals. Keep in mind that glass panels will be prone to messy fingermarks and smudges so you may not fancy the constant cleaning if you have young children.
Create understair storage
That dead space under the stairs is the perfect spot for extra storage.
You could turn it into a home office or study area simply by adding a desk, chair and shelving, potentially freeing up a box room that’s currently being used when working from home. It also makes a handy area for coat hooks and shoe racks.
Made-to-measure fitted furniture will make the most of every inch, even that awkward stair slope, and doors fitted to the front of cabinets will keep clutter hidden from view. There are specialist companies who can do this, but a local joiner should also be able to help you out.
You could also think about having pull-out drawers for quick and easy access or consider having storage built under the steps.
‘Moulding trim is typically found in more traditional homes and has been used throughout architectural history to add elegance to walls and ceilings. To DIY your own moulding trim, measure and map out where you intend to install the moulding. If you’re a new DIYer, I advise sketching out a plan to help visualise your desired layout. When cutting the moulding to fit, use a mitre block with a hand saw to make precise angled cuts and cut the moulding at a Ý angle ·
Nick Ee, product and training manager at Black+Decker
Install a stair runner
A new stair runner is a really quick and easy way to transform your staircase and it can have a huge impact with striped or spotty carpet. It’s relatively easy to do this yourself but will be trickier if you’re dealing with winder stairs. A carpet fitter will be an expert in all the cutting, tucking and tacking needed, but you can attempt this yourself if you’re a confident DIYer.
Runners tend to be sold by the linear foot or linear metre and in two widths. You might want to paint the stairs first so that you have some of this painted finish on show on either side of the runner.
Use carpet underlay to protect it from all the footfall it will get, especially over the nose edge on each stair and choose a hardwearing material such as wool, sisal or coir.
Add interest to walls
Your stairwell is a great place for personalisation with art, framed photos, mirrors and more. Think of the walls as a blank canvas and create your own gallery with frames in different shapes and sizes and stick to a theme such as family snaps, black and white or nature.
Hang a large mirror to bounce light around the space, perfect for hallways with no windows, or consider creating a hanging plant wall to bring a sense of the outside, in.
You could also utilise the half landing for a bespoke bookcase, shelving unit or display area for your favourite plants, ceramics, pots or collections. Even just a small console table with a lamp looks stunning and can really make this space come to life.
Hang decorative lighting
Make the most of the double height space with decorative pendants that hang down, creating instant impact when you walk in through the front door.
If you’re just replacing an existing pendant shade then you can absolutely do this yourself but for actual electrical work you need to call in the experts with an NICEIC (National Inspection for Electrical Installation Contracting) registered tradesperson. They will be able to do the work safely in line with current regulations as well as sign it off. Visit
niceic.com to search for accredited local electricians by postcode.
Glass and porcelain pendants look especially stunning, as the light diffuses through the shade to add a warm glow to your staircase and hallway.
‘If you have an existing staircase, handrails may be something that could be changed to help make the stair more accessible. A good solid handrail, on at least one side of the staircase, is essential and if you have half landings or winders, the handrail should be on the outer edge, where the steps are at their widest. Ideally a stair would have handrails on both sides so that people have the choice to hold on with their preferred side, or
hold onto both rails.’
Vaila Morrison, inclusive design
expert at Stannah
Make it a safe space
If you have young children, older family members or those with mobility issues in your household, it’s a good idea to think about safety when replacing or revamping your existing staircase. To make it safe for little ones, consider child-proofing with stair gates or solid balustrades. And, for anyone who is unsteady on their feet, remember to think about possible trip hazards, such as stair rods.
To avoid falls, make sure there is good visibility with decorative task lighting and a plain coloured or neutral carpet that doesn’t confuse where to tread with spots or stripes. Position light switches at the top and bottom so that users can have light before they ascend or descend, and for those who find it increasingly difficult to climb the stairs, look into a stairlift.