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From adding colour to maximising storage, there's so much you can do with a staircase.
Staircases aren't just about getting from A to B – they’re one of the first things people see when they walk through the door and set the tone for the rest of your home.
Thanks to social media, there’s been a shift towards giving these unsung heroes the attention they deserve, whether that’s bold colour, a statement runner or a Royal Academy-worthy gallery wall. Check out our experts’ top tips for transforming these transitional spaces into real showstoppers.
Checkerboard flooring has always had timeless appeal, so it’s no surprise it’s made a comeback as one of this year’s hottest flooring trends. Switch the ubiquitous black and white colour combo for on-trend terracotta and off-white for a nostalgic nod with a twist. Continuing the tiles up the stairs is a cost-effective way to achieve a statement look, plus it’s a great decor alternative for your stair treads if they’re not in good enough nick for painting. “Staircases are the perfect spaces to experiment with colour,” says Colour and Paint Expert Annie Sloan. “I recommend choosing a limited colour scheme so that you can go bolder with design and pattern choices without overcrowding the senses. It’s important to leave plenty of time between coats as tiles are non-porous, and protect them with lacquer for a lasting finish.”
Before choosing to tile your staircase, make sure you consider this carefully and consult an expert, as it's a big commitment to make. "Tiles are easier to fit on concrete stairs but can be installed on wooden staircases with a bit of surface prep," says flooring expert, Christian Roberts. "For the best finish, choose a hardwearing porcelain tile with a bullnose edge and seal the grout to protect it from dirt. Given the potential for slipping, tiles may not be a suitable choice for a busy family home with younger children, and it's always best to choose a tile with an anti-slip surface. If you’re in any doubt, ask a professional for help or simply tile the stair risers instead."
Make an entrance with an all-out maximalist scheme that will wow guests. “Pattern on pattern works on a staircase if you use different scales – something large, medium, and small and to try to have a common colour thread – even if it’s just a small note of the same colour carried throughout,” advises Lorna Haigh, creative director Alternative Flooring. “A statement design like Quirky Deco Blush brings that Art Deco opulence and makes the stairs the star of the show. For 2022 we’ve seen a demand for brighter pastels with a modern twist, such as pale pinks and teal blues paired with crisp whites.”
The staircase and landing are often missed opportunities when it comes to decorating – they get a lot of traffic, so why not give people something to look at? “Gallery walls have become super popular, but people worry about how to ‘get it right’,” says award-winning writer and author Lisa Dawson. “There are no set rules, as it should be based purely on what you love, but there are a few pointers that can help. Mix up big and small-sized frames and ensure different frame styles and textures are evenly spaced apart.
The same goes for the artwork; juxtapose designs, such as placing photography next to an art print, so that the eye is drawn to several different areas at the same time to add interest. Also, try a run of picture ledges on the landing; it gives you the freedom to move your prints around as and when you feel like it.”
Runners are all the rage right now – the bolder, the better. “Our brightest designs are proving incredibly popular this year, especially vibrant multicolour stripes; our clients are more adventurous and often mix our runners and rugs with other strong colours, bold wallpapers and patterned tiles,” says Andy Guard, Creative Director at Roger Oates Design. “It’s easier to match your paint colour to your chosen runner and always consider other items in the hallway, such as upholstered furniture, cabinetry, artwork or stained-glass windows. Finally, think about the rooms that lead off the hall and stairs, the transition of colour palettes between these areas and how they will help tell the colour story of your home.”
While often requiring a bit more hard graft, painting a staircase is a cheap and easy way to introduce colour into your hallway. “For instant impact, add a colour highlight to your stair risers,” advises Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene. “Here, the cool grey Shallows and graphic Lamp Black on the skirting boards work beautifully with the pop of sunshine-yellow, Trumpet.” However, before you slap on the paint, Mottershead warns it’s important to choose the correct finish for such a high-traffic area. “Make sure you select a durable product, such as our Intelligent Paint range – these are quick drying, extremely hard-wearing and washable, plus the range includes an Intelligent Floor Paint, too – perfect for stair treads.”
Since the pandemic, home offices have almost become obligatory, and yet it can be hard to squeeze one into an already chocablock household, so why not carve out your very own mini study space under the stairs? “This often-neglected area beneath the staircase should be seen as an opportunity and, if it’s well designed, it always delivers more than the sum of its parts,” says Linda Levene, Co-founder and Design Director of LLI Design. “The key to making a compact space like this work is investing in bespoke joinery to fit exactly for maximum functionality. If the space is to be left open, as we did for this study area, ensure that it’s adequately lit so it’s inviting. We also added a bespoke lacquer unit to the side of the desk, in the same colour, to hide a printer and provide ample space for filing and papers.”
Adding both wow factor and practical storage space, a floor-to-ceiling library wall can transform any dead space above and below a staircase. “Staircases are great for integrating storage, and a library can be particularly successful,” says Joanna Simpson, Director at Simpson Studio.
“Rather than hiding everything away behind doors, a library makes the space a real feature and adds interest to often-forgotten spaces. A bold colour, like Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue used here, creates a sense of drama, while good lighting is key to finishing off the scheme – we added recessed LED lighting track to each shelf to highlight the space.”
“Colour can be used as a tool to draw your eye and guide you up the staircase, as well as allowing you to really celebrate the staircase as a focal point in your home,” says Catrina Stewart, Partner at architecture firm Office S&M. “We often use different colours to highlight architectural features, such as the spindles or stringers, and we find it useful to create a contrast in colours between the walls and the stairs. We always recommend getting sample pots to test the paints in the space, since these can appear totally different depending on the lighting conditions you have. Lighter, pastel colours are proving especially popular at the moment, giving a fresh feel to the space. We also recommend carefully considering the materials used for handrails, since this is something you touch every day. Do you want a warmer soothing timber feel, or colder marbles or metals to wake you up in the morning?"
Okay, so it’s an extravagant idea, and definitely for those with space to spare, but if you’ve got it, flaunt it, right? Adding wine storage or even a home bar under the stairs is the perfect solution for those with a basement level or multiple staircases, especially if it’s off an entertaining space on a different floor to the kitchen.
"Consider integrating a compact chiller cabinet and maybe even plumbing in a small sink to keep drinks on ice for guests. The angled wall following the stair treads is a challenge, so you need to create a stepped design to really utilise the space,” says Barbara Genda, who designed this solution.
If you’ve inherited a gloomy entrance hall, which is often the case in smaller period properties, use it to your advantage and go dark from top-to-toe to create a dramatic entrance. “It can seem counterintuitive to use dark carpet in a hallway, but when placed alongside colour-matched walls, it can actually create the illusion of a bigger space as any boundaries such as ceilings and doors recede,” says Jemma Dayman, Buyer of Carpets and Rugs at Carpetright. “The bonus is dark carpet is also a great choice for a high-traffic area where dirt is likely to build up. As for trends, we’re seeing a lot of earthy tones coming through for A/W22, with terracotta tones, muted pinks and ochres becoming popular.”
Done right, lighting alone can create a visual feast and add depth and interest to a staircase. “The first thing to consider when lighting a staircase should be adding wall recessed stair lights,” says Luke Thomas, Design Director of John Cullen Lighting. “This can create a real wow factor by casting light over the treads, as well as drawing your eye up the staircase, elongating the space.”
Layer your lighting elsewhere in the hallway, such as washing the floor with spotlights, using downlights at mid-level to create more shadow play, and add an oversized statement pendant to heighten the drama.
If you’re working with a more modern property that doesn’t mean your staircase has to be bland – inject character by adding your own architectural detail, such as this on-trend slatted staircase design. “We created a linear slatted oak feature wall in this kitchen/diner with floor-to-ceiling balustrades to create a visual divide while also letting in light,” says Ashley McCullough, Senior Designer at Day True. “Storage was key, so all the pantry items are concealed within secret cupboards with push-to-open mechanisms for a sleek, uninterrupted look. The oak brings warmth to the scheme and recessed lighting between the slats gives a subtle upwards glow.”
The under-stair cupboard often becomes a dumping ground for outdoor gear and miscellaneous objects, but it can be a valuable asset if used correctly. “What you can do with this space depends on the angle of the staircase and how much headroom there is – where there’s space, utility rooms or linen cupboards work really well,” explains Max de Rosee, Director at De Rosee Sa. “In this project there was sufficient height to insert a utility room with a sink, countertop and washing machine and dryer. In the lower part of the stair, we inserted a storage cupboard; super useful for outdoor cushions, etc. Here we tried to be as discreet as possible and hide the cupboard doors within an overall tongue and groove panelled wall.”