Modern staircase designs are much more diverse than ever – and there is an increasingly wide range of staircase types and styles to choose from according to your requirements. Selecting the right type and style of stairs might be confusing but it is actually great! This is because now, design teams can easily install a staircase in almost any room or location. Plus, all these design options give homeowners much more flexibility and functionality since they can save space as well as create eye-catching staircases.
From straight staircases to spiral to curve designs, there are a lot of options to opt for. If you are looking for some tips for installing a new staircase or maybe you want to learn the best staircase ideas from the experts, keep on reading!
Straight Stairs
The simplest kinds of stairs are the straight stairs. These are the stairs that just go straight up along the wall to the upper floor. No turns, no landings, these are as simple as it gets. Most of the time these don’t even require supports, and the straight railing is extremely easy to install on their sides. In fact, given its simplicity, it’s surprising it only really has one major drawback. And that would be the amount of space it takes up. Understandably, because of not looping in on itself or taking a turn, a straight staircase takes up a huge chunk of your room. This can be made to work to your advantage however, and used to achieve some stunning minimalistic designs. You can also check out steel staircases sydney for more great options.
Straight Stairs With Landings
Due to building codes, if a staircase’s height is exceeding 12 feet, it will need a landing in between. This makes for a stylish, albeit even more space consuming staircase, where the stairs lead up and then come to a flat landing before leading up again. These kinds of staircases are often found in large public buildings, commercial areas, and the backyards of big houses. If you have to sacrifice a significant portion of a room or outdoor area for a staircase like this, it’s better to go for another style.
L-Shaped Stairs
If you’re determined to have a landing between your staircase, an L-Shaped one might be the one for you. Stylish and much more compact than straight staircases, L-Shaped stairs are the ones which turn around 90° after a landing while going up. These staircases can usually be worked into a corner of the room, reducing their presence in the room by a significant amount. This allows for better and more streamlined integration with the walls, and less jutting out and being in the way. And as they don’t go on for so long in one direction, they allow for some modicum of privacy between the two floors they connect.
U-Shaped Stairs
Most commonly seen in houses linking two floors together, U-Shaped staircases are popular and for good reason. They can be incredibly compact depending on the height of the floors, and they allow for a much better privacy barrier between the two connected floors. What are U-Shaped staircases though? Basically L-Shaped staircases but with a 180° turn from the landing. Essentially you could say a U-Shaped staircase is two straight staircases slapped together at opposing angles. This is a type of staircase always worth considering during planning a house. One major potential downside to U-Shaped staircases however, is the fact that moving large pieces of furniture between the floors becomes really difficult.
Spiral Stairs
Spirals staircases look beautiful and exotic, even if they aren’t the most practical of staircases. Spirals staircases are incredibly compact, and their design allows them to be tucked away neatly in a corner of the room. Unfortunately, that compactness also comes at a price. Spirals staircases are horrible for moving furniture through, and only allow one person at a time to use the stairs. Furthermore, the can also be rather dangerous to climb down from, what with the steps that keep narrowing as they reach the central pole. In the end the decision falls on you of course. Situationally, spiral stairs can be used most effectively. Though how you want to implement them, if you want to implement them, is up to you.
Curved Stairs
Unlike spiral stairs, curved stairs do not generally form a full circle. They simply curve upward instead of using landings. Done right, they can be striking architectural masterpieces that will catch the eye of anyone visiting your house. Practically, they are no different in use than L-Shaped or U-Shaped staircases, and are mostly used as a beautiful addition to a room.
Split Staircase
Split staircases are one of the grander types of stairs you could get for yourself. Starting from one flight of stairs that splits into two, going each side, from a landing is as good as it gets. You won’t find much practicality in this type of staircase. It takes up a large portion of both floors and doesn’t provide much privacy between them. But then again, that’s not what it’s for. A split staircase is a design statement through and through. And it does its job at being one very well indeed.
Winder Stairs
Winder stairs are kind of like L-Shaped stairs. But instead of there being a landing, the steps just resize as the staircase turns. It’s definitely a unique look, and probably one many people look fondly at. As for their construction, they do require more effort in the installation of the hand rails. Their seamless turn appeals to some people over the more direct turns in L-Shaped and U-Shaped staircases.
Ladder Stairs
Ladder stairs live up to their name, and resemble ladders. They are narrow and quite steep, but do come with hand railings at least. These are more popular in smaller residences, though usually not allowed by local building codes to be the main staircase of the house. Though some different styles are available, the overall idea remains the same; a space saving narrow and steep staircase that can be neatly installed in a corner of the room and can only allow one person to use it at a time.
Floating Staircase
Floating staircases are incredibly cool to look at and just as scary to climb. With no supports or hand railings in sight, these separate individual steps connected to the wall itself will make more than one person hunch down in fear when climbing them. But if this is your thing, then floating stairs will give your room a whole new look. And if you think you do need some safety, clear glass railings are always an option. With those you could still keep the mysterious floaty look of the staircase.
Conclusion
And that wraps up our post on some of the most well-known designs of stairs. You’ve probably got a lot of new ideas buzzing around your head now that you know of all of these, so we won’t keep you. But if you ever want some more information of house renovation, we’re always open.