In many homes, the staircase is one of the first things you see when you enter the front door. Staircases are practical, but your choice of staircase also has a dramatic impact on the look and feel of your home. Yet staircases are often overlooked when it comes to renovations. So, how can you easily and affordably update your staircase?
According to expert interior designers, one of the simplest DIY staircase ideas is to paint your stair treads. This will instantly transform your space, no matter the size of your budget. Try painting the treads contrasting colours or adding non-permanent decals to give your stairs a real wow factor!
Read on for 21 top tips on how to transform your existing staircase from two interior designers, Taline Findlater, managing partner of Olivinelife, and Judie Hart director/owner at JJ Hart Interiors…
Treads and risers
Updating your stair treads and risers is one of the most budget-friendly ways to transform your hallway. Here are four tips for modernising your treads and risers:
1. Experiment with paint colours
“If you are up to the preparation and work involved then painting can make a real transformation and you can also create space and light using lighter colours or shades.” Judie Hart
Paint is the perfect cost-effective solution if you’re renovating your stairs. Plus, you can choose colours that align with the rest of your home’s colour scheme to bring the space to life! Just make sure you avoid paints with a high-shine finish (such as gloss) as it can be slippery underfoot. If possible use non-slip paint — it has a slightly grainy texture to create more grip.
TOP TIP: If you are painting the treads and risers in different colours, wait for one colour to dry before starting on the second. Also, paint the risers first so that you can still access the stairs to apply the second colour to the tread.
Here are three of our favourite staircase paint ideas to help transform your treads and risers on a budget:
Paint the treads in contrasting shades. Use the darker colour on the tread (the top, flat part of the step that you stand on) and a lighter one on the risers (the vertical part of the step) to help prevent dirt from showing up. This is a great solution for busy family homes!
Reverse the colours to mimic the look of floating stairs. According to Taline, this gives the illusion that each step is floating - perfect for a dramatic entryway to your home!
Use paint to create the illusion of a stair runner. “If you have a smaller budget but you want to add interest to the stairs themselves, use paint to create the illusion of a stair runner. Simply paint a contrasting colour running up the stairs, leaving a strip of the wood or base colour on either side.” Taline
TOP TIP: Check the condition of the stairs beneath the existing carpet before removing it to check that the wood is in good enough condition to be exposed.
2. Get an instant finish with cladding
If you like the look of a wooden finish but your staircase isn’t in the best condition, wooden stair cladding is a quick and effective solution. Simply fix pre-cut and treated treads and risers over your existing stairs for an almost instant transformation.
3. Find a non-permanent solution with decals
Stair stickers can provide a great focal point on stairs and the best thing is they are non-permanent so you can change the design as often as you wish.
“If you want to add script or decoration to the stairs but don't want to paint them, use wall stickers. Marble or wood effect self-adhesive papers are now available, which can be cut to size — I would use these on the front of the tread for best effect.” Judie
4. Update your space with decorative storage
If you don’t have the time or money for the above solutions, try adding non-permanent accessories on the stair treads, such as jars or LED tea lights. This allows you to swap and change them to suit the seasons or even just your mood!
“If your tread is wide enough, you could add small plant pots with their own saucer each painted or decorated with differing colours or patterns. Different plants or grasses would be very attractive.” Judie
TOP TIP: “Look into the new ‘stair baskets’ designed to sit and hold clothing, household or personal items — brill for bags, gloves and electronics.” Judie
Spindles and balustrades
Painting or replacing your spindles can instantly change the look of your entire staircase for a fraction of the cost of replacing the whole unit. Read on for four simple changes you can make to transform your staircase:
1. Smarten up your spindles with a fresh coat of paint
The quickest way to smarten up spindles is to give them a fresh coat of paint. As per our stair tread tip, consider using contrasting colours for the handrail and spindles.
2. Repair or replace any broken spindles
If any of the spindles are cracked or damaged it is essential to repair (or ideally replace) them immediately. Sometimes it’s possible to replace individual spindles in the same style, rather than replacing them all.
TOP TIP: It may be easier and more cost-effective to replace the balustrade entirely with fresh new wooden stair parts — or even with a completely new finish, such as glass stair panels or metal spindles.
At Jackson Woodturners, we have the largest range of contemporary and traditional stair parts in the UK. View our full range of spindles to find the perfect fit for your space.
Rely on the professionals
Stripping a balustrade back to the bare wood can be a fiddly and extremely time-consuming job — one that is really best left to the professionals unless you are an experienced DIYer. There is also no guarantee that the wood underneath will be in good condition and may end up being a costly, yet wasted exercise.
WARNING: If the newel post at the top or bottom of the stairs is at all broken or unstable, seek professional advice as it may be compromising the overall safety of your staircase.
3. Highlight the handrail with new end caps or brackets
If your staircase has a wall-mounted handrail rather than a full balustrade you can still apply extra detail.
‘Pigs ear’ handrails (that sit flat against the wall) can look effective when painted in a contrasting colour to the wall and mopstick handrails (attached to the wall with brackets) can be smartened up with decorative handrail end caps or new wall brackets.
4. Focus on the balustrade with seasonal decorations
The balustrade is the ideal place to hang seasonal decorations; however, it can also be used all year round for draping fairy lights and bunting.
“Add strings of lights twined around the handrail for a subtle effect.” Judie
TOP TIP: Try hanging small terrariums filled with succulents between the spindles.
Lighting
If your staircase feels dark and gloomy, adding extra lighting can make the space feel warm and welcoming no matter the weather outside. Here are some of the best ways to make your staircase feel like a positive place in your home:
1. Install spotlights to illuminate your stairs
Install spotlights into the skirting boards that run up alongside the stairs — not only will they provide useful lighting, but they can also create a stunning effect.
“Lighting the treads of the staircase is also an effective and stylish way to add illumination.” Taline
2. Avoid wall lights and opt for lanterns instead
“Avoid wall lights going up the stairs — they are not practical and tend to visually unbalance the space. When lighting stairways/hallways and landings we suggest using lanterns or similar and there is a huge range out on the market for every budget.” Taline
3. Turn your staircase into a feature with a statement pendant light
Create a feature above the staircase with a statement pendant light — the double height created over a staircase allows you to experiment with more dramatic, lower hanging lighting options.
TOP TIP: Drawing the eye upwards is a foolproof way of distracting from a less-than-perfect staircase.
4. Light up your space with plug-in strip lighting
“Create a full-on light feature around the balustrade with a strip LED that plugs into a socket in the hall or on the landing. If going down this route, my motto is to always use items that are fit for purpose.” Judie
Walls
Transforming your staircase doesn’t just mean updating the treads, spindles and balustrade, refreshing the wall can have just as much an effect! Here are four changes you can make to modernise the space around your staircase.
1. Create space for your photos or artwork with a gallery wall
“Staircases are an ideal place to have a gallery wall — group together frames but try to keep the theme or frame style similar to avoid the space becoming too busy.” Taline
“Stairs and landing walls are the perfect spot for all those family photos or art you could never hang. A gallery works perfectly here, but aims to keep a relationship between frames or sizes for best effect.” Judie
2. Make a statement with a dramatic painting or wall covering
“Staircases provide the perfect space for experimental painting or wall coverings and although they are relatively small spaces they can still take quite a lot of drama! Be adventurous — there are some wonderful murals and full picture wall papers around.” Judie
3. Add patterned wallpaper for a vibrant space
“Wallpaper is a beautiful way to decorate, but because of the foot traffic up and down the staircase, we suggest putting in a dado rail so that any marks below can be touched up with paint as time passes.” Taline
4. Maximise light and open up the space with a mirror
Mirrors are a great way of opening up dark, narrow staircases as they give the impression of more space and also maximise all available light.
TOP TIP: “Beware of adding items on walls — height and depth are important if people are walking by or underneath.” Judie
Hallways and landings
Sprucing up the areas around your staircase, like your hallway and landing, can also be key in creating a harmonious and welcoming space. Check out these solutions from expert interior designers, Taline and Judie:
1. Choose compact furniture for a bijou space
“Landings are small spaces and therefore need quite compact furniture but resist making everything 'mini'. A thin console table with a lamp will fit well, and adding a mirror above can add depth to the space.” Taline
2. Add texture and detail with a statement rug
“A rug is a quick and easy way to add colour, texture and interest if you don't have a stair runner — make sure your rug is big enough and goes underneath any pieces of furniture (i.e a console table). If the rug is not large enough it can make the space feel smaller than it actually is.” Taline
3. Maximise space with under the stair storage
“Build in cupboards, drawers and shelves to house family clutter, coats, boots or toys. Alternatively, use the space to house a lovely desk or console table with a chair and lamp.” Judie
4. Make your half-landing a statement space
If you have a half landing then make a feature out of it! Use it to showcase a funky houseplant or a piece of statement furniture.
TOP TIP: If there isn’t much floor space on the half landing you can create a stunning effect by hanging a trailing houseplant from the ceiling.
5. Get rid of the clutter
And finally, our last tip is the most obvious, yet possibly most effective one — keep your balustrade clutter-free! Stop using the newel post as a makeshift coat and bag hanger and see how much neater your staircase looks.
Transform your staircase with Jackson Woodturners
At Jackson Woodturners, we offer the biggest range of high-quality stair parts in the UK, including stair cladding, stair treads, spindles and handrails. You can rely on our experts to help you transform your staircase, whatever your budget.
View our full range of staircase parts on our website.
Staircase parts by Jackson Woodturners
Jackson Woodturners are a family-based business based in Sheffield. We have been operating for four generations, so you can trust our years of experience to help you choose the right staircase to bring your space to life. Why not visit our purpose-built showroom in Sheffield to see our full range of products in person?
Or if there is anything you need to know, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest staircase trend?
According to interior designers, here are the four most popular staircase trends this year:
- Floating staircases - these gravity-defying stairs are still incredibly popular and give the impression that the stair treads are floating in mid-air! However, if you’re looking to update your current stairs on a budget, it’s easy to mimic this effect by painting the treads a light colour and the risers a darker colour
- Mixed materials - combining contrasting materials in your staircase design is especially on-trend. Try updating your current wooden stairs by adding metal spindles for a stunning combination! Or check out our contemporary Forge range which combines traditional timber with a modern set of solid metal fittings.
- Glass stair panels - high-quality glass stair panels make the perfect on-trend addition to any home. They work beautifully combined with traditional wooden handrails and they’re easy to maintain, making them ideal for busy homes.
What can I use instead of spindles on stairs?
Glass panels are a great alternative to spindles, especially if you’re aiming for a modern design scheme. Plus, they maximise the amount of light in the space, so they’re perfect for dark hallways! Glass stair panels are made from tempered glass, making them an incredibly safe choice for your balustrade.
