When you have two stories or more, stairs are simply a necessary feature. But staircases can also serve as a stylistic feature and a centerpiece for your home. Unique and creative storage and design ideas can help homeowners find a concept that works for their home’s style and needs. With these five inspiring staircase ideas, you can find a brilliant way to turn average ordinary stairs into a showcase.
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1. Under the Stairs Storage
The triangular gap between stairs and floor provides the potential for a number of creative designs. Some homeowners have enough headroom to build an entire bathroom or desk space beneath the stairs. But for others whose primary concern is storage space, this gap makes the perfect sport for a series of pull-out shelves. Like a hall closet, this shelving, drawer or cabinet space can house linens, toys, cleaning products and more.
2. Spiral to Space
In exchange for hidden storage, a spiral staircase minimizes space by moving the steps in a column that opens additional space. The result is an open-air look that can increase the feel and depth of a room. Spiral stairs also serve as an elegant design feature. In wood, aluminum or wrought iron, a spiral staircase can become the classic focal point of the space between floors.
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3. Shelf Steps
Another great way to conserve space while maximizing storage is to convert a traditional staircase into a tiered bookshelf. With simple renovation, homeowners can transform their steps into bookshelves. This removes the panel beneath each step to transform it in to a box shelf to slide books inside. Or, shelves can be inserted into the otherwise unused space beneath the stairwell. This look turns the awkward triangular wall space into a clever bookcase.
4. Stair Slides
Why walk down stairs when you can slide? Slide and stair combinations put the fun back in functional. This unique pairing comes in a variety of combinations. Inventor and entrepreneur Scott Jones had a carved mahogany slide incorporated into his wooden spiral staircase.
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Child-sized variants have also cropped up. British architect Alex Michaelis built a side-by-side slide for kids to enjoy and constructed it from a synthetic material to eliminate pain or friction on the way down. Even corporate offices have gotten in on the fun. A bride orange slide fills the “otherwise austere” corporate lobby of one Toronto building. And slide stair combinations can also move outdoors.
5. Floating Steps
A final fun concept to experiment with is the modern style of a floating staircase. In this design, steps hover above one another jutting out from the wall on one side. The result is an open concept and sleek look. Railing can run down or be left off. A floating staircase sets your house apart as unique and serves as a minimalist feature to draw attention.
Whether you want to create a wow with amazing storage techniques or provide bring the playground inside with an indoor slide, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
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If replacing your stairs with a built-in shelves or installing a spiral staircase proves outside budget, there are still many DIY projects to turn normal into eye-catching. Try painting a chevron stripe or a bright solid on the upright step panel. This will really make your stairs pop.
No matter how large or small your renovation, focusing on the stairs is a fun way to turn something common into an extraordinary design feature.
1. Under the Stairs Storage
The triangular gap between stairs and floor provides the potential for a number of creative designs. Some homeowners have enough headroom to build an entire bathroom or desk space beneath the stairs. But for others whose primary concern is storage space, this gap makes the perfect sport for a series of pull-out shelves. Like a hall closet, this shelving, drawer or cabinet space can house linens, toys, cleaning products and more.
2. Spiral to Space
In exchange for hidden storage, a spiral staircase minimizes space by moving the steps in a column that opens additional space. The result is an open-air look that can increase the feel and depth of a room. Spiral stairs also serve as an elegant design feature. In wood, aluminum or wrought iron, a spiral staircase can become the classic focal point of the space between floors.
3. Shelf Steps
Another great way to conserve space while maximizing storage is to convert a traditional staircase into a tiered bookshelf. With simple renovation, homeowners can transform their steps into bookshelves. This removes the panel beneath each step to transform it in to a box shelf to slide books inside. Or, shelves can be inserted into the otherwise unused space beneath the stairwell. This look turns the awkward triangular wall space into a clever bookcase.
4. Stair Slides
Why walk down stairs when you can slide? Slide and stair combinations put the fun back in functional. This unique pairing comes in a variety of combinations. Inventor and entrepreneur Scott Jones had a carved mahogany slide incorporated into his wooden spiral staircase.
Child-sized variants have also cropped up. British architect Alex Michaelis built a side-by-side slide for kids to enjoy and constructed it from a synthetic material to eliminate pain or friction on the way down. Even corporate offices have gotten in on the fun. A bride orange slide fills the “otherwise austere” corporate lobby of one Toronto building. And slide stair combinations can also move outdoors.
5. Floating Steps
A final fun concept to experiment with is the modern style of a floating staircase. In this design, steps hover above one another jutting out from the wall on one side. The result is an open concept and sleek look. Railing can run down or be left off. A floating staircase sets your house apart as unique and serves as a minimalist feature to draw attention.
Whether you want to create a wow with amazing storage techniques or provide bring the playground inside with an indoor slide, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
If replacing your stairs with a built-in shelves or installing a spiral staircase proves outside budget, there are still many DIY projects to turn normal into eye-catching. Try painting a chevron stripe or a bright solid on the upright step panel. This will really make your stairs pop.
No matter how large or small your renovation, focusing on the stairs is a fun way to turn something common into an extraordinary design feature.