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Great stair railing ideas are what separates an eye-catching staircase from ordinary steps. “Staircases have always been a very important part of house design; after all, it is often the first thing you see when entering a home and it sets the tone for the rest of the design,” says Kirsten Blazek, Los Angeles interior designer and author of A1000xBetter: A Rebel By Design (Rizzoli, out in April). Simply put: If you want to get your staircase to the next level, you can’t ignore the stair railings.
These days, the staircase and rail combination doesn’t have to be so cut-and-dried. “Combining styles and materials is trending in 2023,” says Denver-based interior designer Nadia Watts. “Think modern steel staircases with glass railings or polished metal railings combined with exotic wood stairs.” Essentially, there’s never been a better time to put some serious thought into your staircase design. With that in mind, we’ve tapped designers to share their best stair railing ideas. Here, answers to all your stair railing questions and 17 designs that are a step above the rest.
Stair railing ideas are not as interchangeable as paint, or even wallpaper, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t design trends that are peaking. Interior designers and architects are seeing “a renewed emphasis on the importance of bespoke railings,” Blazek noted.
The distinct staircase railing styles are often a combination of tried-and-true designs and modern interpretations. “Floating staircases are still trending; however, classic spiral staircases are back in a big way,” Watts adds. “Spiral staircases add elegance and tradition and create a beautiful flow. Lighting has also entered the picture in a big way with LED lights highlighting architectural features.”
Alice Arterberry of Austin-based Arterberry Cooke is seeing railings with character and distinct elements such as lacquered wood or unique metal picket profiles, while Ridgewood, New Jersey, interior designer Kristina Phillips is noticing contemporary stairs with acrylic and solid glass railings. “I am also seeing horizontal railings that add visual interest,” Phillips says.
If budget is a concern and you aren’t able to replace an existing railing, then think about other ways to upgrade it. “It could be sanded, restained, or painted a color that compliments the rest of the decor and gives the railing a fresh look,” Blazek says. Phillips recommends painting railings black, especially when they are wood. “It gives a bit of modernity to even the most traditional of homes,” she says.
When you need to replace a stair railing but finances are limited, look at prefabricated options. You can find wrought iron spindles, handrails, and banister railing systems on Amazon and Wayfair. Simple wood pickets are another alternative for an inexpensive design style.
For interiors that accommodate a metal railing, custom fabrication from skilled welders will land beautifully but at a price, as will a specialty hand-carved railing. Both of these options require hours of labor from skilled carpenters and craftspeople. “The precise work comes with additional costs,” Arterberry says.
Blazek points out that glass railings are on the higher end of railing design due to the cost of both materials and labor. If you install these on a floating staircase, which can be “structurally challenging,” know that you’re looking at one pricy stair railing idea.
To eliminate bulkiness, Phillips recommends cable railings. A slim rail profile with individual balusters, whether metal or wood, is the most flexible choice for a narrow staircase. “Place it close to the wall to maximize passing space,” Peterson says. “Something that has a high contrast to the wall color can also help with visibility if the space is dark. If the staircase is open to a major living space, consider a treatment that creates a greater sense of privacy, like floor-to-ceiling wood slats.”
Fitzhugh Karol, cofounder and artist in residence at the Brooklyn Home Company, worked on a sculptural hand-carved railing with a modern zigzag silhouette, which created both an “organic and sinuous” railing.
For a stair railing idea that came from a dream—quite literally—Blair Moore of Moore House Design in Warren, Rhode Island, had the railing formed, turned, and hammered to look like forged iron. “We then encased the banister within the Venetian plaster walls,” Moore says. The design of the iron stair railing “struck me in the middle of the night—as it often does—and I woke up and sketched it so that I wouldn’t forget!”
For a focal point in a modern home, Joelle Kutner, interior designer and cofounder of Ome Dezin in Los Angeles, evoked nature with a wood staircase. The material matched the flooring, resulting in a striking design element that still felt warm and inviting. “It’s a perfect centerpiece which you can see from all angles,” Kutner says.
Take note of your home’s aesthetic when looking for the perfect stair railing that complements the rest of the interior design. J. Banks Design worked with artisans to create a one-of-a-kind iron and wood railing staircase that paired Italian marble and a painted mural inside a traditional Tuscan farmhouse.
For a contemporary stair that boasts an eye-catching design style without too much hoopla, combine classic with cool. Minneapolis interior designer Heather Peterson created this unusual staircase to give the homeowners just enough drama. “The way the treads and risers project over the sheetrock wall was inspired by the RH modern flagship in Los Angeles, and the spindles curve and die below them in a manner inspired by the servants’ stairs in Downton Abbey.”
A wooden staircase doesn’t have to be something out of the Victorian era. Blazek created a floating staircase with vertical wood slats that support the handrail.
Give your staircase a makeover with glass panels. Arterberry and Danny Spears of Captex Construction are all about mixing materials like black metal, bleached wood, and glass for an eclectic viewpoint, especially near the entryway.
Lean into white walls by implementing a contrasting motif. Ridgewood, New Jersey, interior designer Kristina Phillips painted the wood baluster and stair treads black, leaving the spindles white. Sculptural sconces add visual interest along with illuminating the walls, and a wool stair runner adds texture and interest.
Stair design doesn’t have to be extravagant to be eye-catching. For a basement remodel, Heather Peterson Design opened up the wall with wood slats on one side and added a more expected wooden handrail on the wall for support. The combo created a modern stair railing that is approachable but certainly racks up stellar home design points.
A curved staircase is one design style that works equally well in a contemporary home as it does in a traditional one. Interior designer Nadia Watts echoed the curves of the staircase with Spanish Revival–style iron balusters. “The movement of the metal and wood railing draws you in and creates depth and flow,” Watts says “The stairs are traditional and quite grand, I wanted the railing to also make a statement, adding to the sophistication of the space and creating a wow factor.”
Architect Graydon Yearick assisted celebrity stylist Kate Young with remodeling a Bauhaus-inflected house that nimbly pivots from fashion to furniture. The blue minimalist stair railing design balanced the otherwise neutral palette of the living room. For your own twist on the design style, you can inquire about powder coating your metal railing and spindles or DIY’ing it with spray paint like Rust-Oleum UltraCover.
To balance out the arch in the hallway, Cooke opted for straight lines when designing the staircase railing. The black handrail contrasts beautifully with the white walls. To further connect the black-and-white palette, Cooke hung a textile art piece as a focal point that brings it all together.
Risers are often painted white—perhaps to match the surrounding white walls. But Chicago-based Devon Grace Interiors went all in with blond wood on the steps, a lovely contrast that isn’t too stark against the dove-hued surroundings. Adding the geometric detail on the balusters channels a Craftsman aesthetic.
Looking for a modern design that’s timeless yet transitional? To make the stairs impactful, Eddie Maestri, principal architect and owner of Maestri Studio in Dallas, combined the traditional stair landing with floating risers and a steel railing for a touch of modern influence. “The selection of these railings paired with the floating risers also maximizes the natural light flowing into this space from the landing windows,” he says.
You can’t go wrong with solid wood panels enveloping the entire staircase. Seattle-based Hoedemaker Pfeiffer went all in with the natural material but kept it modern by adding a creamy stair runner and a clear molecule light fixture.
For a loft space, Devon Grace Interiors added an industrial black metal staircase with cable railing. In turn, the decor ideas played off the design, which served as a backdrop.
James Thomas Interiors designed this Tudor-inspired bronze railing to reflect the historic nature of this 1920s Beverly Hills home. A plush sapphire stair runner only added to the drama.
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