Top Tips on Choosing Your Staircase Balustrades

When you're choosing which type of balustrade will work best in your home, it's a good idea to focus on the materials you're using, as this can be a big factor in the final look.

There is a range of different options you can incorporate, including glass, stainless steel and timber, and a number of considerations will come into play when you're making the decision, such as the cost, durability and any building regulations.

If you want some inspiration on how best to design your staircase balustrades, here we look at the main options and the benefits they provide.

Glass

Glass balustrades will work in many different homes - not just contemporary ones - and you can even incorporate this material into period properties.

Glass is an ideal choice if you want to open up the space and create a bright and airy feel. It doesn't block out any of the light and gives the home more of a free-flowing atmosphere between the different levels.

Some of the downsides of using glass balustrades are that they easily show up marks and need more maintaining than other options such as metal and timber.

It's important to look at the overall costs before you settle on using glass, as a good-quality balustrade will be an expensive choice, and you'll need to factor in the amount you'll require for turnings and landings as well.

Metal

When you're looking at a metal balustrade stainless steel can work well in both contemporary and traditional homes, alongside more industrial settings. It provides a hard-wearing alternative to timber that gives your home a lighter finish.

A benefit of metal is that it can be worked into almost any shape and design, so this is an ideal material for creating decorative elements on your staircase to add a unique feature.

You have a range of options available when you choose a metal balustrade, and it can be combined with many other materials. For instance, with a balustrade stainless steel complements timber handrails to give the property a modern finish.

Timber

Wood has remained popular across the years, mainly for its versatility, strength, timeless character and ease of use.

It's also a great choice if you're working to a tight budget, as softwoods like pine are cheaper than hardwoods. Paint gives you a way of differentiating your design, and this is an ideal approach if you want to give the staircase a revamp without having to install a whole new one.