Decorating & Design
10+ Beautiful Staircases That Make An Entrance
Updated on August 13, 2024

Beyond its practicality in a home, a staircase can make for a major design moment. Whether you’re refinishing an original staircase or designing a new one, take inspiration from these stunning homes. Some of our favorite looks include the marble treads on a restored staircase designed by Gillian Segal, a magenta-hued bannister by Ben Leavitt or the showstopping curved corian staircase in Landscape Designer George Coito’s modern Oakville home.
Keep scrolling for the best staircase design ideas from the House & Home archives!

In this colorful Vancouver house, the original staircase was refinished and the banister rail was sprayed in a fun magenta hue.

“We focused on the wall panelling in the main hallway, and the design of the staircase — the spindles, newel post and handrail went through many iterations,” says Travis Hageman.

A curving Corian staircase that looks like one continuous piece of stone is a standout element in this contemporary house.

The stairs to this rooftop patio have floating white oak treads with wood caps to cleverly hide the hardware and fasteners. A vibrant painting punctuates the neutral palette.

In designer Jaime Polan Zimmerman’s Victorian home, applied mouldings mimic Victorian details and a white oak handrail and treads are a modern update in the main stairway.

In this Dutch Revival–style house, designer Gillian Segal upgraded the central staircase with Silverstone marble treads for a cool and contemporary look.

Pink walls and a patterned stair runner set the tone in the foyer of Natatlie Tredgett’s london home. “I would define my style as artistic-led and colorful, but it’s also purposeful,” says the designer.

“We took this staircase from dated to timeless,” says designer Delia Mamann. The grand staircase off the foyer was wrapped in poorly designed wainscotting and an awkward niche cut into the wall leading to the basement. Delia flattened the walls below and above the stairs to create a mirror effect with box panelling. Simple upgrades include a black and white floor runner, new metal spindles, a sleek wood hand rail and a custom matte floor stain.

In this Vancouver penthouse, a glass staircase in the entry leads to the rooftop terrace, allowing light to filter in.

In this Modern Farmhouse, Les Ensembliers turned the space under the stairs into a design moment, with a vintage wooden bench, patterned pillows and intriguing wall art.

A clean-lined stairway with elegant metal detailing leads to the bright lower level by designer Jean Stéphane Beauchamp.

In designer Jo Levitan’s house, the monumental staircase, with its grand archway, became a hero of the home’s design.