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101 Staircase Design Ideas (Photos)

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Winding wooden staircase in luxury home

A photo gallery of 101 amazing staircase design ideas plus our "types of stairs" chart that explains the parts of a staircase and types of staircases.

Thanks for visiting our staircase design ideas photo gallery where you can search lots of staircase design photos.

This is our Staircase design gallery where you can browse lots of photos or filter down your search with the options on the right.  We hope you find your inspiration here.  We add new designs every week.

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Related: Vinyl Stair Riser Decal Ideas

A few of my favorite staircases

Cool white staircase with all-glass railing winding into kitchen in a loft-style home.
Cool white staircase with all-glass railing winding into the kitchen in a loft-style home.
Winding staircase with glass railing from upper landing in 2 story foyer in modern home.
Winding modern staircase with glass railing from upper landing in 2 story foyer in a modern home.
Cool contemporary wood 3/4 turn staircase with chrome and glass railing.
Cool contemporary wood 3/4 turn staircase with chrome and glass railing.
Close-up of wood tread stairs with steel riser and glass railing in modern home.
Close-up of wood tread stairs with steel riser and glass railing in the modern home.
This beautiful entry boasts a luxurious staircase with carpeted steps. The area features gorgeous decorated flooring and a stunning two-storey ceiling.
This beautiful entry boasts a luxurious staircase with carpeted steps. The area features gorgeous decorated flooring and a stunning two-story ceiling.
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This entry offers an elegant staircase with a wrought iron railing, a large fireplace, a stylish tiles flooring and classy beige walls.
This entry offers an elegant staircase with a wrought iron railing, a large fireplace, a stylish tiles flooring, and classy beige walls.
This luxury home's entry features hardwood floors and a staircase with hardwood steps. It features brown walls and a ceiling with exposed beams.
This luxury home’s entry features hardwood floors and a staircase with hardwood steps. It features brown walls and a ceiling with exposed beams.
This home features a modern stylish with wooden steps surrounded by white walls. The staircase looks absolutely stylish.
This home features a modern stylish with wooden steps surrounded by white walls. The staircase looks absolutely stylish.
This villa boasts a modern staircase finished in red, featuring glass railings.
This villa boasts a modern staircase finished in red, featuring glass railings.
A closer look at this modern home's floating staircase on the white mortar wall.
A closer look at this modern home’s floating staircase on the white mortar wall.
An interior of a modern house boasting a very stylish staircase with glass railings.
An interior of a modern house boasting a very stylish staircase with glass railings.
A newly renovated home featuring a modern staircase made out of brown oak wood.
A newly renovated home featuring a modern staircase made out of brown oak wood.
A focused look at this home's elegant dark wood curved staircase with classy wrought iron railings.
A focused look at this home’s elegant dark wood curved staircase with classy wrought iron railings.
Modern house with a stylish staircase with wooden steps. The area has hardwood floors and a two-storey ceiling.
Modern house with a stylish staircase with wooden steps. The area has hardwood floors and a two-storey ceiling.
A stunning grand foyer boasting a curved staircase and mosaic marble tiles floors surrounded by brown walls and a tall ceiling.
A stunning grand foyer boasting a curved staircase and mosaic marble tiles floors surrounded by brown walls and a tall ceiling.
A modern apartment featuring brown walls and tiles flooring, along with a modern straight staircase.
A modern apartment featuring brown walls and tiles flooring, along with a modern straight staircase.
A contemporary house with hardwood floors, white walls and a two-storey ceiling. It also offers a straight staircase with a glass railing.
A contemporary house with hardwood floors, white walls and a two-storey ceiling. It also offers a straight staircase with a glass railing.
A modern home with a straight staircase with wooden steps, set on the home's hallway.
A modern home with a straight staircase with wooden steps, set on the home’s hallway.
A bright entryway with a wood tone straight staircase with a stainless steel handrail.
A bright entryway with a wood tone straight staircase with a stainless steel handrail.
A luxurious foyer with hardwood floors topped by an area rug. The staircase features carpet steps, along with a chandelier lighting hanging from the two-storey ceiling.
A luxurious foyer with hardwood floors topped by an area rug. The staircase features carpet steps, along with a chandelier lighting hanging from the two-storey ceiling.
Metal spiral staircase covered in black paint, situated near the home's plastic table and chairs set.
Metal spiral staircase covered in black paint, situated near the home’s plastic table and chairs set.
A look at this charming spiral staircase set near the home's living space.
A look at this charming spiral staircase set near the home’s living space.
A gorgeously illuminated wooden staircase with glass railings and hardwood steps.
A gorgeously illuminated wooden staircase with glass railings and hardwood steps.
A traditional house with a curved staircase featuring hardwood steps and white railings.
A traditional house with a curved staircase featuring hardwood steps and white railings.
A beautiful home with white walls and hardwood floors. It offers a straight staircase with wooden steps.
A beautiful home with white walls and hardwood floors. It offers a straight staircase with wooden steps.
A focused look at this modern staircase with illuminated steps and has glass railings.
A focused look at this modern staircase with illuminated steps and has glass railings.
A luxurious foyer with class tiles flooring and a curved staircase with elegant railings.
A luxurious foyer with class tiles flooring and a curved staircase with elegant railings.
A spacious apartment with an elegant hallway featuring white walls and hardwood floors, along with a floating staircase with hardwood steps.
A spacious apartment with an elegant hallway featuring white walls and hardwood floors, along with a floating staircase with hardwood steps.
A close-up detail of this brown wooden stairs surrounded by the home's white walls.
A close-up detail of this brown wooden stairs surrounded by the home’s white walls.
A focused look at this spiral staircase made of dark hardwood. The home boasts stylish walls and a tall ceiling.
A focused look at this spiral staircase made of dark hardwood. The home boasts stylish walls and a tall ceiling.

Spanning various styles and materials, we’ll take a look at staircases that may wow, inspire, or excite you. Others may bore you, irk you, or leave you feeling dissatisfied. Whether you’re looking for a modern staircase, minimalist staircase, spiral staircase,  or contemporary staircase ideas Home Stratosphere has you covered.

It’s only when you stop to look at the individual elements of the staircase that you can begin to decipher your responses to it. How is it constructed? What elements are showcased? What parts are minimized? What are the building materials used?

As a short primer, some terminology can be helpful.

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As you know, staircases are made up of steps. Steps, in turn, are usually made up of a tread – where your foot lands – and risers – the vertical portion between the treads.

Supporting the treads and risers are what are called “stringers”, typically one on each side. Stringers hold up the treads and risers.

The balustrade, or railing system, is the system of handrails (banisters) and spindles (balusters) that keeps people from falling over the edge.

Beyond this, there are many other components of a staircase – present in some, and missing in others – that make up its design.

Let’s take a look at a sampling of some staircases. You can decide which ones work for you, and which ones don’t. Keep in mind that the context of a staircase is just as important as the staircase itself.

See 1,000’s of Staircase Designs in our Staircase Photo Galleries

Spiral Staircases

This home boasts a modern spiral staircase with glass railings. It looks absolutely stunning.

This home boasts a modern spiral staircase with glass railings. It looks absolutely stunning.

Click here for all Spiral Staircases

Staircases With Hardwood Floors

The entryway of this Mediterranean home features a staircase with hardwood steps, matching the home's hardwood floors.

The entryway of this Mediterranean home features a staircase with hardwood steps, matching the home’s hardwood floors.

Click here for all Staircases With Hardwood Floors

Curved Staircases

An entryway with gorgeous decorated tiles flooring. It also offers a curved staircase with carpeted steps.

An entryway with gorgeous decorated tiles flooring. It also offers a curved staircase with carpeted steps.

Click here for all Curved Staircases

Straight Staircases

A minimalist home entry with hardwood floors and white walls. It also has a straight staircase with hardwood steps.

A minimalist home entry with hardwood floors and white walls. It also has a straight staircase with hardwood steps.

Click here for all Straight Staircases

Bifurcated Staircases

A stunning bifurcated-style staircase set on the home's great room with spacious living space and a kitchen with a stylish breakfast bar.

A stunning bifurcated-style staircase set on the home’s great room with spacious living space and a kitchen with a stylish breakfast bar.

Click here for all Bifurcated Staircases

Three-Quarter Turn Staircases

Three-quarter turn staircase with carpeted steps and iron railings, lighted by wall lights. The area has hardwood flooring and a two-storey ceiling.

Three-quarter turn staircase with carpeted steps and iron railings, lighted by wall lights. The area has hardwood flooring and a two-storey ceiling.

Click here for all Three-Quarter Turn Staircases

Half-Turn Staircases

This home boasts a stylish half-turn staircase. The home features hardwood floors, gray walls and glass windows and doors.

This home boasts a stylish half-turn staircase. The home features hardwood floors, gray walls and glass windows and doors.

Click here for all Half Turn Staircases

Tiny House Staircases

This tiny house boasts a stylish espresso-finished staircase surrounded by wooden walls and hardwood floors.

This tiny house boasts a stylish espresso-finished staircase surrounded by wooden walls and hardwood floors.

Click here for all Tiny House Staircases

Staircases With Tile Flooring

A luxurious foyer with gorgeous decorated floors and a staircase with an elegant railing and tiles steps.

A luxurious foyer with gorgeous decorated floors and a staircase with an elegant railing and tiles steps.

Click here for all Staircases With Tile Flooring

Staircases With Carpet Floors

A spacious foyer with carpeted steps and iron railings. The home boasts hardwood and carpeted floors, along with a tall shed ceiling.

A spacious foyer with carpeted steps and iron railings. The home boasts hardwood and carpeted floors, along with a tall shed ceiling.

Click here for all Staircases With Carpet Floors

Upper Floor & Staircase Landings

A staircase landing with decorated carpet flooring along with a small library space with built-in shelving and a table setup.

A staircase landing with decorated carpet flooring along with a small library space with built-in shelving and a table setup.

Click here for all Upper Floor & Staircase Landings

Quarter-Turn Staircases

Spacious foyer area with beige tiles floors and white walls. It offers a quarter-turn staircase with glass railings.

Spacious foyer area with beige tiles floors and white walls. It offers a quarter-turn staircase with glass railings.

Click here for all Quarter-Turn Staircases

180 Degree Turn Staircases

A closer look at this home's 180 degree turn staircase with white railings, wooden handrails and carpeted steps.

A closer look at this home’s 180-degree turn staircase with white railings, wooden handrails, and carpeted steps.

Click here for all 180 Degree Turn Staircases

Main parts of a staircase

Parts of a staircase illustrated chart

Click here for our parts of a staircase article.

Types of Stairs

Types of staircases diagram

Click here to read our full types of staircases article.

As you research and look at many staircase photos and designs, you’ll quickly notice that there are not many different types of stairs.

The following are the main types of stairs:

  • Straight stairs;
  • Quarter-turn;
  • Half-turn;
  • Three-quarter turn;
  • 180 degree turn;
  • Circular;
  • Winding;
  • Spiral; and
  • Bifurcated.

Stair Materials

For the home, most stairs are built with wood, but some are glass, steel or even concrete.

As for the step material, wood, carpet, laminate, concrete and glass are the main materials.  I’m partial to carpet on the stairs, not because it looks best, but because it’s soft and offers additional grip.  Hardwood surface stairs, while they look amazing, can be deadly.  Besides, we have young kids and I’m much more comfortable with them on our carpeted stairs than our hardwood stairs.

If you have hardwood stairs and have the same concerns, you can easily install a carpet runner which can look great.  You see the hard wood on the side of the carpet.  It’s a nice effect and very practical.

 

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