I’ve Never Paid Attention to Stair Railings — Until I Saw These 11 Incredible Homes
How often do you think about your stair railing? (It’s OK if the answer is never.) You might glance at it while climbing up the stairs or rely on it for support if you’ve injured yourself. However, it’s fair to admit that stair railing ideas aren’t generally the first thing your mind jumps to when thinking about your home.
However, today, I’m seeking to change that. If a stair railing idea is abstract, it can really make a difference in an entryway or trip upstairs. Sometimes, the absence of a stair railing is just as striking. These home details aren’t just functional and helpful but can also be gorgeous. Keep reading to see examples of incredible stair railings.
1. This Stark Black Stair Railing Has a Leopard Print Accent
What makes the stark black stair railing in Gwenn Frederick’s Tudor-style home in Asheville, North Carolina, pop is the leopard print runner on the stairs. Seeing the black-painted wood on either side of the runner helps tie the railing in, too.
See more of this eclectic house in the full home tour.
2. A Modern Stair Railing Makes This Brooklyn Brownstone Feel Beachy
When looking at the modern stair railing, you likely wouldn’t immediately guess that this organic modern home is actually in Brooklyn. Homeowners Benita Hussain and Noah Cohen-Cline renovated the entire brownstone and are avid outdoors folks, so it only fits that their stairwell feels like something you’d find in a beachy home, not in a metropolitan city. Its clean lines and airy cutouts are striking while also not distracting and allowing guests to look at what’s important: the large surfboards.
Explore more of this renovated brownstone in the full home tour.
3. This Whimsical, Curved Stair Railing Makes This 1911 Home Feel Romantic
The stair railing in linen designer Hilde Leiaghat’s European-inspired home in Los Feliz, California, is effortlessly romantic. The white metal is curved and rounded in a whimsical shape that leads up to the second floor. The soft white color is a welcome difference to the rich tile stairs.
Visit the full home tour to see how Leiaghat filled her home with curated pieces.
4. A Beautifully-Carved Face Greets Guests at the End of This Stair Railing
What’s most striking about the stair railing in Delia Kenza and Júlio Leitão’s Brooklyn brownstone isn’t the dramatic black color. It’s the face, a Mulia bust from southern Angola, at the bottom of the stairwell, greeting all lucky enough to enter their home.
Explore the full home tour to see more of this incredible space.
5. A Simple Stair Railing Complements the Colorful Stairwell in This Maximalist Home
While the actual railing that adorns the staircase in Kristin Cedar’s maximalist Oregon home is a simple white wood piece, it’s a perfect touch to the vivacious stairwell with a bright mural and plant wall. “I think I struggled for a couple years figuring out what to do with this two-story stairwell that I couldn’t reach to the top, even with a ladder,” she said at the time of the tour.
See how several colors create a happy space in the full home tour.
6. The Absence of a Stair Railing Makes This Industrial Stairwell Pop
The stairwell in Carles Ruiz Carrión‘s industrial Barcelona apartment is so interesting because it doesn’t have a railing on the bottom half. At the top, there’s a modern metal railing, but the bottom is unobstructed, letting you see into the expansive lower level.
Check out the full home tour to see more of this organic modern space.
7. This Cheerful Pink Stair Railing Is Smile-Worthy
The first thing that greets guests when they walk into Salma Chatto’s colorful U.K. home is the staircase. And because the rest of the house is so happy, it’s no surprise that the railing is just as cheery. Frenchic Paint’s “Al Fresco” pairs perfectly with Dulux’s “Blush Pink.” There’s even a seating area underneath the stairwell.
Visit the full home tour to learn more about all of the DIY projects in this house.
8. This Is the Most Mesmerizing Staircase I’ve Ever Seen (There’s Not Even a Railing!)
If I had to describe the stairwell in Jan Hoek’s eclectic Amsterdam apartment, the first words that immediately spring to mind are mesmerizing, smashing, and unforgettable. There isn’t a railing, but who needs one with the incredibly vibrant mural?
Explore more of this colorful apartment in the full home tour.
9. The Stair Railing in This Buenos Aires Home Doubles as Storage
It turns out that stairwells have more functionality than simply helping you get from one level to another. Martin Bustamante proves that in his airy Buenos Aires apartment by using each step for shoe storage. The railing is a simple metal rod that’s open, so even though there are shoes on every step, it doesn’t feel cluttered (plus, it’s easy to reach them when standing on the ground floor).
Check out the full home tour to see where the stairs lead.
10. This Stair Railing Is the Perfect Display for This Home’s Lush Greenery
It’s fair to assume that one of the main design priorities in Ron Goh’s light-filled Auckland loft was to display his vast collection of plants. And the stair railing, which is slotted wood, helps him achieve just that. Greenery dreamily intertwines between each wood piece
See more of this incredible loft in the full home tour.
11. This Rustic Home’s Stair Railing Is Made From Recycled Welding Tools
Most of Chris and Noel Clayton’s rustic Missouri home was built from secondhand materials — some parts were even found in dumpsters. The second level of their house is made of grain bins, and Chris made the stair railing leading to those spaces using welding tools to create an intricate and interesting design.
Visit the full home tour to see this sustainably-made space.