Historical Staircase Styles

Straight

• Straight staircases are the most basic. They can ascend in a straight line or branch off into an ''L'' shape or a ''T'' shape with a landing at the half-way point. The straight staircase can be found in many types of architecture. The L- and T-shape staircases are often Victorian in style.

Circular

• A circular staircase curves as it ascends. Vivien Leigh famously descended one as Scarlett O'Hara in the movie version of ''Gone With the Wind.'' This style is stately, formal and often considered Colonial. A variation is the elliptical staircase, a narrower version of the circular.

Spiral

• Often considered contemporary in style, elaborate spiral staircases are also found in historic spaces. The oldest one still in use was built by the Romans inside Trajan's Column in the year 113 A.D. Spiral staircases can also be found in Medieval stone castles, Middle Eastern minarets and ancient temples. Sleek versions of spiral staircases are often found in contemporary homes.

Winder

• The winder staircase is L-shaped without a landing at the mid-way point. Instead, this staircase has pie-shaped steps at the turn. This style is often found in narrow spaces lacking room for a larger staircase. Many Colonial-style townhouses from the 1700s have original winder staircases.