Stairway to heaven

Everyone understands its importance to the functioning of a home, but the humble staircase can often be overlooked during a makeover. Here at Strive for Design, however, we recognise how your staircase can elevate your hallway area and create a genuine wow factor. Rather than being viewed as a functional item that enables you to access the floor above, we believe that your staircase has the potential to become a real focal point. But where do you start?

The likelihood is that whether you’re purchasing a new build, renovating a ‘project’ or simply sprucing up your family home, it will most likely already have a staircase in situ. That being the case, you face your first decision. Do you work with what we have, or do you rip it out and try something different? Obviously, if you choose the latter then you have something of a blank canvas in terms of style and materials. Potentially you have the option of wood, metal and/or glass, and you can go contemporary or traditional, depending on the look you’re trying to establish.

If, however, you decide to liven up your existing staircase, the likelihood is that you’re slightly more restricted, although that need not necessarily be a bad thing. Whether it’s using paint or wallpaper, you have the option to get creative with colours and textures to highlight the staircase’s features, or you can go neutral and select a vibrant carpet to make an impression. And if you’re not blessed with lots of space, it can be helpful to create hidden cupboard space or open shelving beneath the staircase itself.

For Leigh Hall, owner of Strive for Design, the optimum is to change the staircase if at all possible. ‘When we’re advising clients on a complete renovation, we will tend to lean towards replacing the existing staircase if at all possible as it’s an immediate way to dazzle your visitors when they arrive,’ says Leigh. ‘There are so many options – from conventional wood to contemporary glass or metal – that it’s a feature that needs a lot of thinking about. Colours can have a huge impact, especially if they’re used cleverly to pick out the spindles or other details, and you can even think outside the box by opting for a spiral staircase.

‘From a practical point of view, it’s worth remembering that, aside from your hallway, your staircase will probably have the most foot traffic in your home, so it can be beneficial to think about colour schemes that will last without looking tired. The last thing you want, in my view, is to create a beautiful space with a stunning staircase, only to find that the light colour you’ve chosen starts to show the dust and dirt really quickly. And there’s nothing worse than something that takes your breath away but is really high maintenance, so when we approach hallways and staircases we always encourage our clients to combine practicality with aesthetics. This also extends to thinking about lighting. Adding single spotlights to highlight each step can not only elevate the design of your staircase, but also help to prevent night-time accidents. Above all, whichever route you choose, the final result needs to stand the test of time both in terms of design and durability.’

Leigh Hall of Strive for Design is an interior designer in Cambridge and Newmarket and she specialises in creating beautiful homes for her clients. So if you’re looking to freshen up your home and would like some inspiration, please call us on 01223 622 688, send us an email or complete our enquiry form.