30 Staircase Ideas That’ll Make Every Trip Downstairs a Grand Entrance

This house by Atelier ND Interior is already an explosion of color, so they couldn't leave the hand railing plain. Even if your home is on the neutral side, choose to paint your railing a more fun hue for an exciting pop.

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Add character and a touch of the outdoors to your staircase by using materials, like terracotta tiles and wrought iron railings that you can also typically find in the backyard. This specific staircase by Ellen Kavanaugh is definitely playful and enhances the other historic qualities of the home that are present in the foyer.

From the walls to the steps, there's a lot of rich wood around this staircase, creating a gorgeous and classic feature in the foyer. The team at Kobel + Co used white oak paneling in a walnut finish for this staircase, and the result looks like it belongs in a luxury hotel.

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While the balusters on this rather simple staircase idea are very unique, the aspect that stands out the most is the flooring at the bottom of the steps. Designer Marie Flanigan says that her clients asked specifically for a black-and-white marble floor, taking the design of this foyer to the next level.

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Create a floating effect by using glass siding along your staircase. Jean Liu designed these cantilevered stairs to allow for more natural light to seep through, and in turn, helped give this home a more modern and sleek feel.

The team at Mel Bean Interiors enhanced this home with a vibrant green runner featuring a climbing leopard motif on the stairs. This unique rug, designed by Diane von Furstenberg, doubles as art and adds a striking splash of color.

The teams at Nala Design and Orbis Constructions used three main materials in this staircase idea: timber, brick, and metal. These elements add more texture to the space, and the neutral palette is made more interesting with the different materials.

If your staircase has a beautiful curve to it, emphasize the look by replacing your current banister with a solid wall and handrail on top. The designer of this space, Lindye Galloway, also added a curved, custom banquette that follows the same line to use up the empty space.

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This newly renovated staircase is fairly plain, but the breakfast banquette below it stands out to all who enter. The team at Joy Street Design created this colorful nook, which takes up what would've been empty space and adds a cozy gathering spot.

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Designer Corey Damen Jenkins enhanced the already intriguing runner in this staircase idea by incorporating a five-inch band of trim along the baseboards and stairway. This subtle addition adds a striking layer of contrast while promoting cohesion throughout the space, seamlessly connecting the lower level to the upper floors.

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Designer Mark D. Sikes chose a timeless color scheme for this staircase, using warm tones, blue hues, and geometric patterns. It all flows together so well, but the best part is that it'll age beautifully.

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Add softness to your home by smoothing out the sharp corners, like designer Suzanne Kasler did with this curved staircase. It was actually built in one piece in Charleston, and the homeowner says, "They wove it like a snake through the front door."

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Er, maybe paint on the red carpet, in this case. Rather than laying down a rug along the steps, Annie Sloan painted on this red "carpet", which certainly makes them easier to clean.

When designer Philip Mitchell found this blue glass console table, he knew that it—along with the runner—would set the tone for the space. He used the statement piece to influence the other hues present in this staircase idea.

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In townhomes that have multiple short landings between floors, it's a nice touch to add seating where that empty space would be. Designer Benjamin Vandiver went with a brick-red chair for this area, breaking up the blue-gray color palette throughout.

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Get playful with your choice of runner to add some whimsy to your staircase idea. This Missoni one that designer Jeffrey Bilhuber put on this staircase is a necessary pop of warmth in this otherwise cool-toned room.

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For a staircase with a lot of unique architectural details, use a two-tone color palette to really highlight them. That's what Kari McCabe did for this stairway—she used a coral red as the lively base for the millwork then painted an earthy gray-green on the handrail and stair treads to point them out.

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Include more visual interest in your home by bringing fun floor tiles up the stairs with you, like this black-and-white floor design. Designer Thomas Callaway wanted this entrance to feel romantic and warm, using the tiles and textured paint to do so—we'd say he achieved that mood in this staircase idea.

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