Staircase handrail ideas and stair rail bannister designs

Handrails play a key role in helping you achieve your preferred design and aesthetic for your staircase. With a huge range of designs available, from modern, sleek handrail designs to more traditional options, there is something for everyone! There is also a large selection of materials available for handrails, from warmer colours such as oak to paler options such as pine. In this article, Jackson Woodtuners outline the different handrail designs available and a guide to handrail height regulations. So, what factors do you need to consider when selecting a staircase handrail design? 

The first thing you want to consider when selecting a staircase handrail design is whether you are wanting to create a modern or more traditional space. Once you have made this decision, it will help you determine which styles and colours to choose. Finally, you should always take into consideration the height regulations surrounding staircase handrails. 

Keep reading to find out more about these factors and where to find any further information you may require. 

Click on one of the links below to jump to that section:

• Find out the best handrail designs for traditional & modern staircases.
• Find out the most popular styles and colours for handrail designs
• Handrail height regulations
• Examples of stair handrail designs
• FAQs

Find out more about handrail height regulations, and what you need to consider.

Traditional & modern stair handrail design ideas

At Jackson Woodturners, we believe that a stunning stair railing can take your home to new heights, literally and figuratively. Not only does the stair railing keep you safe but it also establishes the character of your space. It makes a big visual impact whether it’s in your hallway or deep within your home. Selecting a staircase design is not a task to be rushed. Instead, we encourage you to think carefully about what kind of look you are trying to create. The right design depends entirely on your style preference, the architecture and angles in your space and the materials you’d like to use. 

So, let’s take a closer look at some design ideas for traditional and modern staircases:

Modern staircase handrail designs

Most modern staircases benefit from a simple handrail design. More often than not, lighter colours work well to create a contemporary feel. Clean lines with subtle curves are also a popular design choice for a modern stair handrail design. You can achieve this by pairing simple handrails with square newel posts and square spindles. 

Let’s take a look at the different designs for contemporary staircases. 

Handrails for glass panels 

Incorporating glass into a balustrade is very common in contemporary homes and can open up the staircase, introducing light and space to the area. Glass stair panels are ideal if you want to showcase your staircase steps—for example, if you have natural wood flooring. At Jackson Woodturners, we offer a range of handrails that have an 8mm groove cut into them for the glass. The glass is then secured into the handrail with silicone.

How to secure a glass panel with a glass grooved wooden handrail

1. To secure a glass panel with a glass grooved wooden handrail, you’ll need to have a base rail with a groove in it.
2. Slide the glass panel into position, making sure that the panel sits flush with the newel post or wooden central posts if you choose to have these between panels.
3. Remember, the thickness of the glass will dictate the size of the groove in your handrails. Glass panels are normally between 8mm to 10mm thick. You’ll need to ensure the groove measurement matches the glass thickness that you are using.
4. At Jackson Woodturners, our grooved handrails come with infill, however you still need to buy silicone separately to secure both the glass and infill in place. (Clear Fix hybrid polymer grab adhesive can bond most things in interior and exterior applications.)

Alternatively, if you choose an ungrooved handrail, you’ll need to use glass clamps to secure the glass panels in place. Typically, glass clamps are made of stainless steel or steel with a coating, such as chrome or nickel. 

How to secure glass panels with glass clamps

1. Clamps are attached to central posts between glass panels with screws and grip panels securely, usually using a rubber lining to provide a cushion between the metal and the glass.
2. Clamps are usually fitted near to the top and bottom of the pane, with four for every square metre of glass. It’s absolutely essential that clamps ‘mirror’ each other, and are fitted evenly to avoid creating pressure points which may cause faults in the glass, leading to breakages.
3. If fitted properly, glass clamps should apply constant and even pressure to glass panels. This will avoid damaging and weakening glass and ensuring your glass panels remain a safe and unobtrusive option.

Shop our full range of glass panels and glass clamps to create an elegant, stylish staircase. 

Metal handrail caps 

Metal handrail end caps are an easy way to bring a modern look to a mopstick handrail and add a unique design element. They’re easy to fit, as they simply slot onto the end of the handrail. You can view a range of end cap designs here.

If you like ultra-modern stairway handrail styles, metal handrails are as contemporary as it gets. The reflective surface of our sleek chrome handrails work perfectly with the cleanliness of glass panels.

At Jackson Woodturners, we stock chrome plated handrails in 1800mm, 2400m and 3600m lengths.

Most popular styles and colours for handrail designs

In this section, we will explore the most popular styles and colours for handrail designs, which will hopefully give you some inspiration for your next staircase project. 

Handrail styles

In our opinion, mopstick and pigs ear handrails are two of the most popular handrail designs, either of which work well on a modern or traditional staircase. 

Mopstick handrails

Mopstick handrails are a classic circular handrail with a flat underside that, although very simple in design, can incorporate stylish detailing with brackets, end caps, wall patrices or end scrolls.

Oak mopstick handrails suit contemporary and traditional properties well and can be easily mounted to the wall with brackets. Mopstick handrails usually fix to the wall but can be used with glass panels, such as with the Fusion range of stair parts by Richard Burbidge.

Generally, mopstick handrails are not used with wooden spindles as the flat underside is too narrow to accommodate most spindle styles. However, they can be used with metal spindles, such as with the Richard Burbidge Fusion Range.

Pigs ear handrails

Pigs ear handrails are always wall-mounted, and the unique curve of the wood provides the perfect shape for gripping the rail when going up or down stairs. As this type of handrail connects directly to the wall, it doesn’t require brackets or patrices, which makes it a cost-effective choice.

When you fit a pigs ear handrail, you’ll inevitably be left with screw holes that you’ll need to fill in. Cross grain pellets are circular pieces of wood that are used to ‘plug’ these holes to create a seamless finish.

Browse our huge collection of pig’s ear handrails and cross grain pellets to plug drill holes or if you’re looking for more information, read our guide to fitting pigs ear handrails. 

Handrail colours

Grey and white are among the most popular colours for handrails. Their range of subtle shades means they work well with any colour scheme.

White handrails for stairs

If you have white walls on your stairway, then installing a white wall-mounted handrail could make your stairway look bigger. For a quick style update, you can simply replace your existing handrail with a white primed handrail.

White primed handrails are already painted white which means all you have to do is install them. Do bear in mind though, the colour of white primed handrails can vary between products, so you might find you need to re-paint the handrail to achieve the colour you want.

Pairing a white handrail with black spindles, a white base rail and a white newel post is an elegant way to update your stairway. You could even add black metal spindles, rather than black painted spindles, as a quick way to modernise the look without having to paint all the spindles individually.

Take a look at our range of black metal spindles here.

Grey stair handrails

Grey has been the go-to colour for home interiors for many seasons now. Grey is chic and can help instil a feeling of calm in your home, especially when used with other neutral colours. A grey stairway is a great way to create a sense of drama when people first enter your home.

You can simply paint your existing handrail grey in situ, or you can remove it first (this may be easier). Alternatively, if you want to update your handrail with a new one, white primed handrails have a smooth, sealed surface that’s ready to paint. Choose a heavy-duty, durable grey paint with a satin or high-gloss sheen, depending on your preference. If you’re repainting white primed spindles, we recommend using a solvent-based top coat.

As grey is such a neutral colour, it works well with both white and bolder colours such as yellow, pale pink and pistachio green. This gives you the option of keeping things muted or adding a splash of colour.

Painted handrails

There are no limits to the colours you can paint your handrail, whether you want to make a bold statement or are looking for a classic colour for a traditional hallway.

As white primed handrails come pre-primed, they have the ideal surface for painting and so need only a solvent-based topcoat to achieve the best results. 

View our full range of white primed handrails to kickstart your staircase project. 

Alternatively, if you’d rather not cover up the beauty of natural wood, you can enhance it by giving your handrail a coat of varnish instead, or try one of the products in our Treatex Hardwax Oil range.

Handrail height regulations

No matter what handrail design you choose, you’ll need to make sure it’s fitted at the correct height to comply with building regulations. A handrail should be fitted between 900mm and 1000mm from the floor of the pitch line of the stairs. The pitch line is the diagonal imaginary line that runs across the top of the stair treads.

Regulations also state that a staircase must have a handrail wherever there’s a drop of more than 600mm. 600mm is equal to two steps on most staircases, so you would still comply with regulations if you installed a handrail that didn’t cover the bottom two steps of a staircase.

You can find out more about height regulations for handrails with our guide, What height should a staircase handrail be?

Choosing a handrail size 

To determine the correct handrail length, you can hook a tape measure onto the bottom stair nose and measure up to the top of the staircase. A staircase handrail should run the entire length of the stairs to make sure it is safe and code complaint. Handrails are often sold in set lengths of 1800m, 2400m, 3600m and 4200m. Choose the best length that fits your staircase measurements.

The spindle sits within the groove of the handrail - a 32mm spindle would sit in a 32mm grooved handrail. For example, you can use this dark hardwood HR handrail alongside this dark hardwood Teesdale spindle. When choosing glass panels and glass grooved handrails – ensure the groove is large enough to fit the thickness and length of the glass panel.

To find out more about staircase handrails, visit our article, Your Guide to Handrails.

Examples of stair handrail designs

Here are some interesting examples of different ways people have transformed their staircase with unique stair handrail designs:  

At Jackson Woodturners, we know how important it is to create a staircase that reflects your style and complements your home. With our team of stair specialists on hand, we can advise and help you plan and design your dream staircase. We encourage creative thinking and innovation when it comes to designing your staircase, which is why we offer such a range of unique traditional and modern stair parts. 

With trade prices available to all, we can help you build your staircase project efficiently and affordably. Our price promise guarantees that we’ll beat any like-for-like quote. 

Get in touch with us today for more information about your up-and-coming stair project. 

Staircase Handrail FAQs

What's the difference between a handrail and stair railing?

As you may have guessed, the handrail is the part of the staircase that people hold onto while climbing the stairs or navigating walkways. Alternatively, stair rails are the part of the stairway structure that keep people from falling over the side of a stairway. Stairways with walls on both sides usually have a handrail and no stair rails however, stair rails always include a handrail. 

What's the difference between a bannister and stair railing?

A bannister is a handrail supported by balusters, so it’s freestanding and not attached to a wall or structure. A bannister, like a handrail, is for people to hold onto while climbing stairs, while a stair railing is a barrier that keeps people from falling over the side of a stairway.

How to choose handrails for your stairs

Here is a brief step-by-step guide about how to choose handrails for your staircase: 

1. Safety & location - The first things to consider when choosing handrails for stairs are safety and location. For example, if you have children you’ll want to ensure there’s a reliable handrail on both sides of the staircase that’s within easy reach – this may mean investing in a wall-mounted handrail if your staircase is enclosed against a wall.
2. Style - Next up you’ll need to consider the style of handrail you require. Do you want your handrail to blend in with its surroundings or make a statement? If you’re looking for something subtle that will fit in well with its surroundings, timber is often the way to go. It easily blends in with other materials and if you want to create a more contemporary look you can easily combine it with chrome spindles or glass panels for a fresher feel.
3. Measurements - Once you’ve got a rough idea on the location and style of your handrail, you need to start considering the practical elements. By measuring your stairs you will be able to identify the length of handrail you’ll require. If you’re considering wall-mounted handrails for stairs, you’ll also need to check the wall for any metal pipes or electrical wiring, making sure to mark any problem spots with a pencil.