Your staircase should last you a lifetime. But your tastes might not.
That green may be grating on you, your carpet might be cringey or those runners might have you running scared.
When you (or the previous owners of your home) installed the features you have on your stairs, they may have been ‘in’ – and they still might be. But every now and again it’s good to give your staircase some love and give it a refreshed feel. After all, it’s one of the most used areas in your home so the area you should probably care most about.
Read through some of our tips to help you on your way to revitalising your stairs:
Contrast is key
Using a mix of materials in your staircase will help to bring it to life. You have woods, metals, glass and even carpet to throw into the mix. The right combination all depends on the size and shape of your staircase, and the area it’s in. Once you’ve planned and find the right blend, you’ll have a staircase to be proud of.
Paint it
A simple lick of paint might do the job, while you might want to consider a whole new colour scheme. Your handrails and spindles might need some attention, but the walls might too. Our mood can change massively based on the colours we see. Going brighter can give your staircase, hallway and landing a totally fresher look and feel. Or going darker, when combined with some lighting features, can make a huge difference. You could even paint the steps a different colour.
Add some green
Green could be one of the colours to consider when choosing your paint, as it’s proven to help people relax and offers a sense of security. But if that’s too bold, think about adding some greenery in a different way – through plants. Windowsills are great for pot plants, while bigger plants could stand tall from your landing or hallway. You might also think about hanging them from your walls. Studies have shown that indoor plants can boost moods, improve mental health, and reduce stress.
Integrate Glass
Replacing wooden spindles with glass can totally transform and modernise your staircase. It’ll let more light in and can help make your staircase appear even bigger than it is. What’s more, there’s so many different designs of glass to choose from – from full panes to thin and sleek panels. Just remember that glass might need a bit of extra cleaning to wipe away any handprints and dust that might appear.
Don’t forget the flooring
It might not be your staircase that needs an update at all. Simply switching from a wooden floor to carpet or vice versa might be just the ticket. With people moving up and down your staircase all the time, the flooring is always going to be the one that needs attention and updating more often. You could even consider different by adding stair runners and using a mix of exposed wood and carpet together.
