26 October 2018
If you’re looking at purchasing bespoke wooden stairs for your home, you have probably looked at all sorts of different styles. Everything from the latest trends to timeless classics created in various materials, the sky’s the limit when designing staircases. With that in mind, now more than ever people are looking at complex and unique shapes for their stairs.
Spiral staircases are very much in fashion for modern home designers, for a multitude of reasons. The main reason, of course, is its excellent space-saving ability, but spiral staircases are also used to create a sense of character in a home. Other curved stair variations, such as helical stairs and multi-directional curved stairs, are also popular as people look for a sense of adventure in their decor.
In all the excitement and imagination of choosing a new set of stairs, people often neglect where it all began – there are still many advantages to modern homes in having a straight staircase.
When looking at buying a new set of stairs it is important to consider how the new stairs will look in your home. It is also important to ensure that your new staircase is fit for the task, that it is optimised for the available space, and that it adds sense of style and character to your home. This is not just about the design of the stairs, though. It is important to consider that a multitude of people and objects will be ascending and descending through your stairs, and when it comes to this simple fact, there’s no style better than straight and comfortable stairs.
The main reason why straight stairs are easier to traverse is the uniform size of each step in every point of the staircase. A problem with spiral stairs is that the size changes depending on whether you’re walking on the inside or outside of the step, with the centre curve being significantly reduced. This is a problem that becomes increasingly prevalent on busy stairs where people are likely to cross over.
Another problem which can often occur with spiral staircases is carrying the furniture up or down. In new build properties in particular, the issue may be even more noticeable, as all trades and equipment have to negotiate their way up and down the staircase frequently during the day. With a clear, open view of the start and end of the staircase, and with a comfortable walking space on all steps, straight stairs are perfect for moving bulky furniture that might not fit up the tight curves of a spiral.
Straight stairs are not just the easiest to climb. When designed and installed correctly, a simple straight staircase can have just as much style as any of its extravagant competitors. Firstly, this classic design will always hold a sense of traditional elegance. A straight wooden staircase with a grand bullnose step – an enlarged entrance step that stretches past the balustrade – will look fashionable in any home, an elegant centrepiece in a lobby or hallway that can be built upon with good interior design and expert advice.
Straight stairs can be traditional, eclectic, freestanding, or constructed on a supporting wall – it is simply a matter of designing the stairs to compliment the décor. Straight stairs can also suit a modern, minimalist style. An example of this would be a ‘floating’ stair style in a shape of a zigzag, with a dark finish hardwood in contrast with a wall, giving the illusion of the staircase floating in the air. This style is also popular with a white stair finish for a clean and minimalist appearance. Modern, floating staircases create the open look that many designers look for, particularly when stainless steel or glass components are planned to be incorporated into the stair balusters.
A common reason people opt for a spiral staircase as opposed to a straight staircase is the belief that a straight staircase will take up excess space. While it is technically true, a straight staircase offers significant space-saving benefits which cannot be achieved with spirals.
A key to this is intelligent use of the space under the flight of stairs or on the side of the stairs. By making the most of your under-stair storage, you can create an incredibly useful space that wouldn’t otherwise be available. The under stair storage can be made to your specification to further aid the wise utilisation of space – drawers, shelves and dedicated storage compartments are the most common considerations. Equally, building a custom designed furniture into your bespoke wooden staircase – for example by creating racking and shelving in place of the stair balustrade - will not only incorporate your straight stairs into the interior design of the home, but will eliminate the idea of ‘unused space’ by utilising your stair components also as furniture. Think of tall shelving units, TV cabinets, tables and storage units built into the side of the stairs, not only creating a stair baluster but also achieving a smart and space saving solution with enhanced style.
With the common desire to build homes as efficient, clean and spacious as possible, there is certainly a space for the original straight staircase. Offering simple elegance, comfort and versatility in interior decoration, remember to consider this style when looking at upgrading your stairs!
