Different Stair Designs & Styles

Spiral

• Spiral staircases in lighthouses or backstage in large theaters have found applications in modern homes. They're compact and useful for quick advances to upper lofts, or they can lead to lower-level basements. These stairs typically have railings, but you can find them without rails and even without obvious supports. Wood and metal are fairly common materials for these winding stairs.

To Banister or Not to Banister

• Stairs in larger homes can be built of wood, marble and stone. These may rise to several levels with sharp or smooth angled changes on each floor. Homeowners must decide whether the stairs will have banisters. Parents with small children may opt for banisters, and the elderly might need such support. Modern chrome stairs in fashionable high-end apartments might have no banisters to add to the clean lines of the overall designs. Banisters are made from wood or wrought iron.

Double Curves

• A pair of stairs rising from the large, elegant lower floor of a home are often widely curved with a joining platform at the top. Imagine scenes from classic films where the heroine sweeps down the stairs to join her leading man. These stairs come in sets that mirror each other perfectly. Build them when you have a major expanse and a budget to match.

Other Styles

• The Euro influence is often adapted in large cities for the French farmhouse style and the classic Greek column look. Other stair styles include retractable, funky, chic, shiny metal and worn stone. Some may opt for cantilevered stairs where the stairs appear to be hanging in space. You can also find designs that place stairs over built-in book cases and wine cabinets. You can build a cubby for reading or lounging beneath them. Use your imagination combined with styles that you find in architectural books and magazines to come up with the perfect design.