Staircases are often overlooked spaces in homes. While we don’t spend as much time on our stairs as in other rooms, we do use them every day. And they can often be one of the first things guests see when they enter our home.
Various improvements can help to make your stairs look more stylish. Other improvements meanwhile may have practical benefits such as improving safety and utilizing unused space. Below are just a few ideas for leveling up your home’s stairs.
Convert space under the stairs
Let’s start by considering what’s under your stairs. While many modern homes put this space to use, the space under the stairs in older homes can often be neglected. There are many practical ways to use this space. You could turn it into a cloakroom for storing coats and shoes. You could turn it into shelves or drawers for storing all kinds of miscellaneous items. Alternatively, if it is large enough, you could consider turning it into a first floor bathroom. This could be very useful if you only have one bathroom and are forever dealing with queues, or if you have someone with mobility issues living in your home. A remodelling company will be able to help you design and carry out your conversion.
Paint your steps
If you have wooden stairs in your home, consider whether you can brighten them up by painting them. White paint is a great neutral option as it can help reflect light and it can match any colour scheme you use on the walls. Blue could be a bolder option for drawing attention to your stairs. You can also paint steps and risers in different tones for a dramatic effect – some homeowners paint each step black, but paint the risers white. You can paint these yourself, or hire a professional to paint them.
Consider a stair runner
Some people don’t like a hard surface on their stairs, but also don’t want them to be completely carpeted. A stair runner can be a happy medium – it is a long rug that runs lengthwise down the centre three-fifths of your stairs. Stair runners have several benefits including muffling noise, providing grip, protecting your stairs from wear, improving comfort and making your stairs look more stylish. You can buy bespoke stair runners in a variety of different colors, patterns and pile styles.
Replace the railings
Adding new railings to your stairs could make them safer and more aesthetically impressive. It’s possible to choose from many different railing styles including basic wooden railings, ornate wrought iron railings and modern steel railings. Think about what type of railing matches the style of your home. There are companies that can design and install residential and commercial railing systems to your specs.
Decorate the staircase wall
The wall beside your staircase is important to consider when renovating your stairs. This could be the perfect place for a gallery wall of photos. Alternatively, you could hang framed certificates here. Staircase walls can also be used to hang paintings and ornaments on. There is also the option of decorating it with some snazzy wallpaper.
