Give Your Staircase That Special Feature

Stairs don't just have to be a simple feature of your property, and with a bit of a redesign they can be a striking focal point that makes a real statement when people come in.

Remove the Walls

Staircases can often feel blocked in, especially if they are enclosed or have dark timber railings. Instead, you could use a more contemporary feature, such as fitting a glass balustrade or having wires rather than traditional railings to open up the space and create a modern design.

Use Wallpaper Differently

Wallpaper doesn't just have to be for the walls, and there are lots of inspiring ways that you can add this to your interior decor. In a small staircase area, patterned wallpaper across one whole wall might be too much, so instead paste paper on to the staircase risers. This can coordinate with the painted treads to give your stairs a completely different look.

More Storage Space

Homeowners who are looking to add storage space around their stairs often focus on the underneath area, but there are lots of creative ways you can incorporate more storage features. For example, why not have handy drawers built into the risers to give you easy access to shoes and bags without having them cluttering up the hallway?

Add Tiling

Often stairs are simply carpeted or left bare, but this is missing out on an opportunity to brighten up your hall. Traditional ceramic tiles are a fantastic way of bringing more colour to the staircase, and they can easily be fitted on to the risers. If you want to create a feature, then use a different pattern for each step.

The Use of Lighting

The way in which you use lighting for your staircase can add a new element to the space. LED lighting strips down each side, for instance, will provide a modern finish, as well as enhancing the safety features. You could combine this with a glass balustrade to really open up the staircase and make it appear a lot brighter.

A Painted Runner

To make the most of your home's original features, a simple staircase won't offer any distractions. Victorian properties look best with a painted runner down the centre of the staircase, which contrasts with the rest of the treads and gives your hallway a formal finish. This also gives you a durable and long-lasting design that is easy to maintain.