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Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

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100 of the most beautiful rooms we've ever seen

100 of the most beautiful rooms we've ever seen

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Five things interior designers want you to know

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Five interior design trends for 2020

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8 outdated decor trends that interiors experts say must go

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Top 8 home design trends for 2020

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Interior designer Kelly Wearstler's ultimate gallery hang

Interior designer Kelly Wearstler's ultimate gallery hang

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Stunning interiors from Australia's best designers

Stunning interiors from Australia's best designers

How this year's styling trends are breaking all the rules

How this year's styling trends are breaking all the rules

5 tips to add colour to your home

5 tips to add colour to your home

This is why your house doesn’t look like the pages of a magazine

This is why your house doesn’t look like the pages of a magazine

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Six steps to a more mindful home

10 essential elements to Hamptons style interiors

10 essential elements to Hamptons style interiors

Hottest trends for 2019 Part 2: Homeward Bound

Hottest trends for 2019 Part 2: Homeward Bound

  1. Home
  2. Renovate

10 steps to a stunning staircase

Take your home to the next level with our expert ideas - by Kylie Jackes
  • 28 Sep 2017
10 steps to a stunning staircase
Armelle Habib

Far from being simply a functional addition to your home, a beautifully designed staircase can create a dramatic focal point. So if you're going up, do it in style.

staircase
James Geer

Step 1: follow the rules

There are substantial building rules around staircase design – for example, whether your flight of stairs is sufficiently long that you’ll need a landing; the dimensions for the riser (the vertical distance between each tread) and the 'going' (the distance horizontally from the front of each tread to the riser); and the height of your balustrade above the pitch of the stairs, on landings and above voids. Be aware that these measurements apply after you’ve fitted any floorcoverings, such as carpet. Do check the design carefully with your builder.

Staircase
Brigid Arnott

Step 2: measure up

How much space you have to play with will impact your style choice. A straight flight is ideal in areas where width is limited, such as a hallway or entry. An L-shaped design fits well in the corner of a larger room like a living area, while U-shaped designs are often a little more space hungry, but with a generous landing at the change of the direction, these can be the safest type of stair, especially for families. Spiral staircases can be used in compact areas like a loft, but are not particularly child friendly or suitable for the elderly.

Staircase
Brigid Arnott

Step 3: consider design cues

Your home’s style can provide the starting point to the look of your staircase. Stairs with a timber handrail, wrought iron balustrades and mouldings suit a period setting, whereas clean lines paired with steel, glass and timber can look at home in a modern, minimalist scheme. Do keep liveability in mind: it should work in with your scheme rather than dominate it, and also needs to be functional.

Staircase
John Downs

Step 4: safety first

If you think your children will take to the stairs like a jungle gym, opt for maximum safety. Avoid horizontal elements in favour of vertical balusters. Closed treads tend to be safer as there is no risk of slipping or dropping objects through the gaps, and a sturdy handrail which offers good grip is a must. Also ensure there’s a top-rated non-slip coating on the treads.

Staircase
Armelle Habib

Step 5: choose your balustrade

Timber provides warmth, visual texture and an extensive range of tones. Glass tends to be pricier, yet opens up the staircase to draw in light and views. Stainless steel is robust and versatile, and pairs well with different materials like wire for a barely-there, minimalist look, while mild steel suits a spectrum of styles, from wrought-iron lacework to strong, architectural lines.

Staircase
Simon Whitbread

Step 6: tread wisely

Different tread styles and finishes offer further creative control. Closed treads enable concealed storage underneath and are great in households with small children, particularly when carpeted, as it deadens noise and offers excellent slip resistance. Carpeted treads can also be more cost effective as economical structural timbers can be used. Open treads, however, can enhance the flow of natural light and help spaces feel larger.

Staircase
Elouise Van Riet-Grey

Step 7: make decorative decisions

As the stairwell is a high-traffic area, pair durable finishes with decorative touches, such as a hard-wearing, washable paint in a low-sheen finish on the walls to help conceal marks. Pale walls allow light to bounce down from the upper levels, making the space below feel larger, while darker tones tend to draw the eye in to create an intimate feel. A collection of art and framed photos can form a lovely gallery and help break up expansive walls.

Staircase
Brigid Arnott

Step 8: Look below

If your stair is near the front door consider using the area under the stairs as a place to store coats, school bags and shoes. Custom joinery can make the most of tricky angles and awkward corners. Push-open cabinetry is a great choice as it offers a streamlined, seamless finish.

Staircase
Shania Shegedyn

Step 9: Get creative with lighting

Make the stair itself a hidden light source by using concealed LED strips under the hand rails and stair treads. For maximum luminosity, use a glass balustrade staircase, with the option of pairing a skylight with overhead lighting. A glowing suspended pendant is also a lovely touch, as it draws the eyes upward and fills the natural void created by a stair. 

staircase
Derek Swalwell

Step 10: Revisit your look

If your existing stairs are a step back in time, don't despair. While in some instances it's best to redo the entire staircase, simply renovating the balustrade can make a big impact. Replacing dated railings with glass or tensioned wire, paired with a modern square profile handrail and posts in a lighter timber, will create a more contemporary feel. Dreary stairwells can also benefit from fresh colour to brighten walls, while replacing worn carpet with a new wool runner is an easy update that will also feel great underfoot.

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