Decorating Ideas for Narrow Staircases
Put a bounce in your step with these inspiring ideas for your space-challenged staircase
Vinita Kunnath
26 October 2019
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More
Chances are you are quite unlikely to spend sleepless nights thinking up ideas to decorate your staircase, unlike the way you would, say, for your bedroom. It’s not like you spend a lot of time in the stairwell; it’s purely a passage to get you from point A to point B. But then, you do a good bit of to-ing and fro-ing in that space. So, why not give it the attention it deserves. Whether you want to paint it, carpet it or do as little as possible to jazz it up, these ideas should have you covered.
1. Cactus crush
If you were ever unsure about the worthiness of a cactus as a decorative object, this image will rest your doubts. Standing in splendid solitude in a gift-wrapped container on the landing, the cactus is virtually a minimalist work of art.
Consult with an interior designer to dress up your staircase
If you were ever unsure about the worthiness of a cactus as a decorative object, this image will rest your doubts. Standing in splendid solitude in a gift-wrapped container on the landing, the cactus is virtually a minimalist work of art.
Consult with an interior designer to dress up your staircase
2. Trompe l’oeil
Except that there actually is a barrier at the top half of this narrow staircase, which has been painted in the same white colour to serve as a visual warning and divert traffic. A flower vase doubles as a decorative object and a pretty impediment to redirect unsuspecting passers by.
Here are all kinds of staircases to inspire you
Except that there actually is a barrier at the top half of this narrow staircase, which has been painted in the same white colour to serve as a visual warning and divert traffic. A flower vase doubles as a decorative object and a pretty impediment to redirect unsuspecting passers by.
Here are all kinds of staircases to inspire you
3. Colour blocking
If you didn’t know you were in a house that stands by the ocean, the sea-foam-green staircase enclosed within white walls in a Rhode Island home should give you a big hint. So, bring out those brushes and get a-painting.
Tip: Go ombré in your favourite shade as an alternative to multi-coloured blocking.
If you didn’t know you were in a house that stands by the ocean, the sea-foam-green staircase enclosed within white walls in a Rhode Island home should give you a big hint. So, bring out those brushes and get a-painting.
Tip: Go ombré in your favourite shade as an alternative to multi-coloured blocking.
4. It’s lit!
Make a statement with slim, pencil-like lights suspended over a boxy staircase. Don’t miss the side panels with recessed lights, a chic design feature as well as a practical one, especially helpful when night falls, given the dark, all-wood structure.
Make a statement with slim, pencil-like lights suspended over a boxy staircase. Don’t miss the side panels with recessed lights, a chic design feature as well as a practical one, especially helpful when night falls, given the dark, all-wood structure.
5. Nothing but neutrals
The owner has added just a single handrail in sleek wood on the side of his stairwell for a simplistic look. A stair runner in a complementing neutral hue adds a dash of chic to this otherwise unadorned staircase.
Tip: Fully carpeted stairs can look a bit dated; so, instead, try a narrow runner. This will also reveal the original surface of the stairs as a contrasting border.
The owner has added just a single handrail in sleek wood on the side of his stairwell for a simplistic look. A stair runner in a complementing neutral hue adds a dash of chic to this otherwise unadorned staircase.
Tip: Fully carpeted stairs can look a bit dated; so, instead, try a narrow runner. This will also reveal the original surface of the stairs as a contrasting border.
6. Power of patterns
Go the other way with a vibrantly patterned stair runner, such as this one – it adds colour, texture and interest to an all-white space. An identical piece on the landing brings continuity and holds the space together.
Go the other way with a vibrantly patterned stair runner, such as this one – it adds colour, texture and interest to an all-white space. An identical piece on the landing brings continuity and holds the space together.
7. Paint a runner
If you think fabric runners are difficult to maintain, get the exact same effect by painting on a stair runner. The upside is you can change the colour any time your heart desires.
If you think fabric runners are difficult to maintain, get the exact same effect by painting on a stair runner. The upside is you can change the colour any time your heart desires.
8. Neon explosion
Neon brings instant cheer to a small, dark space. If you’ve been hesitant about trying out the trending fluorescent explosion, the staircase wall would be a good place to experiment with – it’s not too big a real estate space, nor too evident like, say, in a living room.
Neon brings instant cheer to a small, dark space. If you’ve been hesitant about trying out the trending fluorescent explosion, the staircase wall would be a good place to experiment with – it’s not too big a real estate space, nor too evident like, say, in a living room.
9. Mediterranean tile risers
These beautiful tile risers featuring shades of the Mediterranean, combined with polished stone treads, bring colour and pattern to the stairwell without taking up any space.
Look for tiles in Houzz products
These beautiful tile risers featuring shades of the Mediterranean, combined with polished stone treads, bring colour and pattern to the stairwell without taking up any space.
Look for tiles in Houzz products
10. Not just a wallflower
Turn up a simple staircase’s ‘wow’ factor by adorning the walls with a pretty patterned paper. A stair runner in a complementing grey hue holds the look together.
Read up on the pros and cons of wallpaper
Turn up a simple staircase’s ‘wow’ factor by adorning the walls with a pretty patterned paper. A stair runner in a complementing grey hue holds the look together.
Read up on the pros and cons of wallpaper
11. Bookish stairs
Peel-and-stick wallpaper on the risers is an easy way to add some pattern to your stairs if you’re not ready to commit to one pattern. In this picture, wallpaper imitating book spines make the stairs look like giant books stacked together – a novel design indeed.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper on the risers is an easy way to add some pattern to your stairs if you’re not ready to commit to one pattern. In this picture, wallpaper imitating book spines make the stairs look like giant books stacked together – a novel design indeed.
12. Nautically inspired
This staircase is a nod to nautical design, complete with a thick sailor’s rope as handrail, polished wooden steps reminiscent of a sailboat deck and risers painted in shades of blue to look like the sea.
This staircase is a nod to nautical design, complete with a thick sailor’s rope as handrail, polished wooden steps reminiscent of a sailboat deck and risers painted in shades of blue to look like the sea.
13. Stop and read
The large niche built into the wall alongside this staircase is turned into a library, ensuring that books in the higher shelves are within reach, too. Of course, you can use the space for any kind of storage, but books have a particularly warm, decorative effect.
17 Staircases With Clever Seats & Storage
The large niche built into the wall alongside this staircase is turned into a library, ensuring that books in the higher shelves are within reach, too. Of course, you can use the space for any kind of storage, but books have a particularly warm, decorative effect.
17 Staircases With Clever Seats & Storage
14. Go all out
Absolutely obsessed with one colour and dying to use it somewhere, anywhere? Then go all out and paint your whole staircase, top to bottom, in that hue. This works particularly well with spiral staircases, being structural features by themselves. This coral-red staircase adds much-needed colour to a narrow, grey space.
See more colourful staircase designs here
Absolutely obsessed with one colour and dying to use it somewhere, anywhere? Then go all out and paint your whole staircase, top to bottom, in that hue. This works particularly well with spiral staircases, being structural features by themselves. This coral-red staircase adds much-needed colour to a narrow, grey space.
See more colourful staircase designs here
15. Monochrome mania
Never do anything you love in half measures, just like this home owner who has thoroughly indulged his black-and-white obsession, right down to the angular lighting fixture you see in the top foreground.
Never do anything you love in half measures, just like this home owner who has thoroughly indulged his black-and-white obsession, right down to the angular lighting fixture you see in the top foreground.
16. Embossed walls
The timeless appeal of warm wooden steps is enhanced by the accent wall. The embossing gives the space a 3D pattern, while the white keeps the big design in check.
The timeless appeal of warm wooden steps is enhanced by the accent wall. The embossing gives the space a 3D pattern, while the white keeps the big design in check.
17. Light appeal
Sconces with cut-outs add a quirky design touch to this minimalist space, especially at night, as they project circular pools of light on the stairs.
Gorgeous Lights Bring a Shine to These Staircases
Sconces with cut-outs add a quirky design touch to this minimalist space, especially at night, as they project circular pools of light on the stairs.
Gorgeous Lights Bring a Shine to These Staircases
18. Holiday decor
Winter is coming – soon. And with it, Christmas. What better way to bring in the holiday vibe than with fir sprigs tied to the banister and a wreath hung within a frame.
Read more:
Most Popular Staircase Designs on Houzz India
30 Incredible Staircase Designs Guaranteed to Impress
Tell us:
Which of these decor ideas would you consider? Tell us in the Comments section below.
Winter is coming – soon. And with it, Christmas. What better way to bring in the holiday vibe than with fir sprigs tied to the banister and a wreath hung within a frame.
Read more:
Most Popular Staircase Designs on Houzz India
30 Incredible Staircase Designs Guaranteed to Impress
Tell us:
Which of these decor ideas would you consider? Tell us in the Comments section below.
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Some stunning ideas and so inspiring! Thank you for including our patterned Quirky Fair Isle runner from Margo Selby.