Stairs Design Ideas for Small House

Tamsin Johnson

Though obviously serving a very important functional purpose, staircases have the potential to elevate an entire house. So much more than a means to get from point A to point B, stairs really can be the main event. From interlocking treads to dramatic corkscrews, we're spotlighting twenty-five unique stairs that prove it. So whether you're anticipating a remodel in your future and need some beautiful stair design ideas for your house or you simply love to admire architectural stunners, these steps will lead you there.

Hecker Guthrie

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Geometric Juxtapositions

If this striking steel staircase designed by Hecker Guthrie doesn't stop you in your tracks, we don't know what will. The juxtaposition between the spiral and linear motifs is simply mesmerizing. The staircase also helps obscure the minimalist outdoor shower, enhancing privacy without block the view.

Anson Smart

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Contemporary Elegance

"'Moments' rather than looks best encapsulate a home's positive impact, and the ultimate moment experienced in Magnolia House is the slow and elegant descent down its new sculptural staircase, the metaphorical spine of both the home and the project," write designers Arent & Pyke. The jib door is continuous with the baby-blue painted paneling as to not interrupt visual flow while also providing extra storage.

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Abstract and Painterly

Leanne Ford gave this lackluster staircase an artistic makeover. To revamp your outdated or traditional stairs, paint them black and then grab a paintbrush. We love the abstract and bold brush strokes here.

Nicole Franzen

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Angular and Sweet

This angular stairwell designed by GRT Architects is clean, crisp, and minimalist without feeling cold and remote. The lavender painted rails assert a sweet, lighthearted tough that softens up the sharp angles while simultaneously making them pop even more.

Akin Atelier

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Funhouse Maze

Akin Atelier gave this stairwell a funhouse effect with mirror panels. The mirrored wall makes the stairs look like they stretch out into infinity and beyond while the plush, icy gray carpeting adds a more sophisticated warmth.

Felix Forest

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Art Deco-Inspired

Designed by Arent & Pyke, this architectural staircase is both timeless and modern. The double frosted glass doors and burnt orange rug lead the eye right to them, but the wooden enclosure obscures them, creating an element of mystery and intrigue. The organic curve sets the tone of rhythm and flow that continues throughout the home.

Hecker Guthrie

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This dramatic stairwell by Hecker Guthrie looks more like an art installation. The minimalist concrete floating steps allow the natural beauty of the space to shine, quite literally, as the sun peeks through and creates varying shadow patterns throughout the day. It really looks like heaven on the other side.

Tamsin Johnson

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Natural Stone Color-Blocking

Natural stone stairs exude an air of elegance unlike any other. Designer Tamsin Johnson color-blocked earthy hues, grounding the otherwise all-white space. The sculptural light fixture peek out adds a modern touch.

Nicole Franzen

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Industrial Ease

Industrial and gritty, these concrete stairs with a chicken coop wire banister are cool without even trying.

Simon Watson

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Stairs as Bookshelves

Designers Bill Brockschmidt and Richard Dragisic's New York loft apartment is just 640 square feet. "We had to be inventive," Brockschmidt says. The staircase leading to the bedroom loft incorporates bookshelves, and the landing doubles as a sideboard and bar when they entertain. "All the glasses get stacked on the lower steps," Brockschmidt says. "Of course, that means we quite literally can't go to bed till we clean up."

Tamsin Johnson

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Whimsical Neutrals

The whimsical pattern of the upholstered stairs—along with the pink framed artwork and decorative gold baluster ornaments—energize this work space designed by Tamsin Johnson.

Hecker Guthrie

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Nature-Inspired Cocoon

"With references to the dark, ominous cliff and stoic elements that comprise the coast, there is a deliberate departure from the ocean, as inspiration. The result is a palette of dark and textural timbers, stones, textiles and refined metals," says design firm Hecker Guthrie. This nature-inspired, cocoon-like stairwell is warm and mysterious, giving the impression that it leads somewhere magical.

Shannon McGrath

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Smooth Swirls

Never underestimate the power of plain white. Modern, organic, and unique, this spiral staircase designed by Robson Rak is beyond dreamy. The continuous white swirl of a banister looks smooth and soft to the touch.

Tamsin Johnson

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Classic and Ornate

Elaborate and hypnotizing, the classic iron-wrought banister is the heart of this Tasmin Johnson-designed space. The modern wall art also draws the up and contemporizes the traditional elements.

Studio DB

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Modern Meets Traditional

Studio DB knows how to make an entrance. In this open foyer, the classic staircase frames the more modern, experimental statements. The simple wainscoting accentuates the beautiful bones of the home.

Karyn R. Millet

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Family-Friendly and Cozy

Don't forget the space under the stairs. Designer Matt O'Dorisio created this cozy corner for a family getaway. Built-in banquettes have drawers for board games.

Laura Resen

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Stone Floaters

Architect Ray Booth established new openness in the foyer of a 1961 Houston house, replacing carpeted treads and risers with stone "floaters."

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Mediterranean Touches

Terra cotta and blue mosaic tiles as well as the intricate balusters give this Los Angeles home designed by Leanne Ford a Mediterranean flair so every day can feel like a European vacation.

Victoria Pearson

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Arent & Pyke

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Textural Moments

This modern space designed by Arent & Pyke is an experiment in material with layers and layers of textural interest. The single green marble step at the bottom of the staircase is an understated and sophisticated touch.

Eric Piasecki

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Secret Nook Ladder

In a Manhattan maisonette, a ladder that leads to a secret room that designer Christopher Maya found, all sealed up, and turned into a "fantasy room" for the children.

Thomas Loof

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Bold Stripes

The original staircase in this fifth-generation family estate got a colorful update with Benjamin Moore's Brookside Moss and Safety Black.

Nathan Schroder

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Antique Spiral

In the foyer of a 1920s Spanish Revival house in Dallas, designer Dana Oatley Ortego installed a corkscrew staircase, originally from Paris, that was pulled out of a clothing store in Oklahoma.

William Abranowicz

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Contrasting Patterns

The staircase in a California home becomes a graphic installation with patterned tiles by Country Floors. The contrasting mix works thanks to a common color palette.

Christopher Baker

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Contrasting Wood

Light and dark wood make a beautiful pairing on a staircase that links the main floor of a four-story Alabama lake house to the bedrooms. Designer Susan Ferrier used the same finishes throughout the house. Walls are whitewashed, rough-cut pine planks. Steps are in a dark Jacobean stain.

Stairs Design Ideas for Small House

Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/entryway-ideas/tips/g1380/unique-staircases/

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