80 Stairways to Design Heaven
Step on up and peruse this collection of spectacularly stylish staircases
Bryan Anthony
February 2, 2016
The staircase is both enticing and mysterious (who knows what lies upstairs?). It’s also a space with endless possibilities for creating stunning design moments. Here’s a collection of some of our favorite staircases with plenty of decorating inspiration. Click the first image to enlarge the photo, then use the right arrow to see the photos in slideshow format. Flip through and tell us which staircase you’d like to make your grand entrance on most.
1. For this Seattle stairwell, DeForest Architects used 12-gauge perforated stainless steel for the steps. The handrail along the side walls was custom-made by Five Star Metals.
2. A fossilized tree and a painting of a matching tree grace this modern stairwell in Australia designed by Webb & Brown-Neaves.
3. The team at TylerMandic added arches to the stairwell to keep with the period of the home and to create a beautiful entrance hallway.
4. This swooping stairwell in Key Largo, Florida, includes wood-paneled walls, marble steps and a sisal runner to create an elegant tropical vibe.
5. A plaid stair runner, black and white photography and an antique grandfather clock at the base of the stairs create an enticing vignette.
6. The old iron railings pair well with the modern black and white striped runner rug, making for a distinguished stairwell in Paris.
7. A collection of gold Sahara sconces from Arteriors Home adds a visual treat to this staircase in San Francisco designed by John K. Anderson.
8. A green and gold stair runner featuring a trellis pattern complements the similarly patterned wallpaper in this Palm Beach, Florida, home.
9. A stylish geometric stair runner warms the cement steps, iron railing and brick walls of this stairwell in London.
10. A single abstract painting adds just enough warmth to this sleek stairwell designed by Sutro Architects, featuring floating stairs and a glass railing.
11. This traditional staircase in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, ups the wild factor with a leopard-print stair runner.
12. The white clapboard siding, antique door and sisal rug featured in this Austin, Texas, stairwell make for a great mix of modern and rustic design.
13. This beach-inspired staircase in Miami whisks one off to paradise with its assortment of ocean blue hues and tropical wallpaper.
14. The thinly striped black and white stair runner combined with the bold pops of neon green in the wallpaper makes for a chic scene.
15. London designer Oliver Burns says that “around a cascade of contemporary lanterns, a [custom] staircase, fashioned from a single piece of wood, sits at the center of the house.”
16. The bright greens and blues of the Spanish-tile-inlaid steps make for a festive stairwell in Tampa Bay, Florida.
17. This stairwell in Australia designed by Bijl Architecture features cantilevered timber stairs and a custom-routed Corian wall.
18. This stairwell with its vertical wooden slats is a mix of both Arts & Crafts and Japanese-influenced design.
19. A solid walnut curved staircase includes open-rise treads coupled with curved glass railings. The craftspeople at Specialized Stair and Rail designed this stairwell for a home in Canada.
20. The bright red painted iron railing adds a dramatic pop of color to the cement stairs and gray walls of this staircase in Italy designed by Gio Pagani.
21. Shades of gray star in this London staircase designed by Michelle Chaplin Interiors. Gray is featured on the runner, rug, beam, column and pendant light.
22. Both over-the-top and fabulous, this San Francisco stairwell features boldly striped walls, a cheetah-print runner rug and collection a faux animal heads.
23. A chevron-patterned wool stair runner and elegant blue walls make for a sophisticated staircase in England.
24. This minimalist staircase in London was designed by Amos Goldreich Architecture and features floating wood stairs and a blackened-steel railing.
25. Bright orange painted steps and a cactus combine to give this modern stairwell in London an eclectic vibe.
26. Notice the dress form decked out in period clothing at the top of the first flight of stairs. It adds a whole other level of interest to this stairwell.
27. The curved wood banister forming a double helix adds all the visual interest needed and then some for this minimalist stairwell.
28. The bold stair runner in shades of blue, black and gray is a dose of color in this all-white entryway in London.
29. Multicolored inlaid tile running up the stairs creates a unique and festive stairwell in this Tampa Bay, Florida, home.
30. It’s best to take this artistic stairwell in London designed by architect Gregory Phillips one step at a time.
31. The designer of this traditional stairwell in Salt Lake City kept it simple, letting the glossy white wall panels running up the stairs and hallway steal the scene.
32. This beach home in southern Connecticut features a white staircase with blue stripes and a repurposed pipe for a railing.
33. This staircase in a midcentury home in San Francisco was designed by Melanie Stewart. The graphic black and white stair runner provides a lively welcome home.
34. LED lights running up the sides of the stairs create a stunning glow on this stairwell in England.
35. Some green paint on the stairs and green-framed family photos add a breath of fresh air to this black and white stairwell in Atlanta.
36. Woodsy wallpaper was added to the stairs of this eclectic Portland, Oregon, stairwell.
37. Designer Barbara Purdy added a geometric-patterned runner and a zigzag banister to create a fun and stylish stairwell in Toronto.
38. The royal-purple stair runner adds color to this black and white stairwell in London. The wallpaper is also a knockout.
39. Each reclaimed-wood step in this staircase has its own distinct character and shape, making for a one-of-a-kind showpiece.
40. The floating set of steps over a more standard staircase makes for an interesting visual in this space created by Germany’s in_design architektur.
41. The yellow and white stair runner complements the striped chair at the base of the stairwell in this stylish Victorian home in Toronto.
42. Simplicity reigns supreme with this staircase in a modernized country home in Oxford, England.
43. The same patterned wallpaper with opposite foreground and background colors creates a stunning dynamic for this New York staircase.
44. This swooping staircase in Australia designed by Archology provides options for walking and sliding down to the first floor.
45. Uptic Studios mixed slate tile, steel cables, iron and wood for this industrial-meets-rustic stairwell.
46. This staircase in Varese, Italy, incorporates floating stone steps to make a bold design statement.
47. Mattingly Thaler Architecture used intricate metalwork for the railing of this elegant staircase in San Francisco.
49. This intricate Victorian-inspired staircase designed by John Malick & Associates graces a pool house in Atherton, California.
50. Arcways in Wisconsin created the intricate metal railing that graces the staircase of this Dallas home.
Click “Next Page” below to see more
Click “Next Page” below to see more
51. A built-in bookcase on the staircase wall creates a practical and stylish visual for this English countryside cottage.
Our unparalleled customer service and expert craftsmanship cannot be beaten. Contact us today to schedule a free... Read More
Related Products
Related Stories
Windows
20 Kitchen Windows That Take In the View
See how windows and doors enhance indoor-outdoor connection by framing exterior views and welcoming natural light
Full Story
Kitchen Pantries
25 Beautiful Butler’s Pantries
Get design ideas and inspiration from kitchen storage, prep and cleanup spaces that are as practical as they are pretty
Full Story
Fireplaces
25 Living Rooms With Roaring Fireplaces
Pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa and cozy up to these heartwarming scenes of hearths ablaze
Full Story
Powder Rooms
30 Powder Rooms With Wonderful Wallpaper
Wall coverings fill these rooms with color, pattern and pizzazz
Full Story
Landscape Design
25 Inspiring Outdoor Showers
From seaside villas and lakefront camps to suburban pools and city gardens, outdoor showers offer function and fun
Full Story
Windows
25 Inviting Pass-Through Kitchen Windows
A window between the kitchen and an outdoor dining area makes easy work of entertaining alfresco
Full Story
Pets
31 Pups in Their Tricked-Out Pet-Washing Stations
Get a peek at these tubs and showers designed with dogs in mind
Full Story
Holidays
25 Wonderful Wintry Views
Cozy cabins, mountain lodges and soaring modern retreats open up to beautiful snowy landscapes
Full Story
Houzz TV Favorites
Houzz TV: Flickering Virtual Fireplaces to Warm Your Heart
Sit back and enjoy a crackling fire set to seasonal music and surrounded by ideas for your own dream living room
Full Story
Powder Rooms
20 Powder Rooms That Pack a Punch
Get fresh ideas from these jewel box powder rooms to showcase your style and impress your guests
Full Story
Wow, some great staircases here !
Before and after stairway pictures of our 1990s built home:
Make it safe for people with depth perception problems, bifocals, etc. Make it easy for moving furniture.