15 Beautiful Staircase Ideas for an Inviting Entryway
Give yourself a stylish welcome home.
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There's a lot to consider when you're designing and decorating your home. When Ree and Ladd Drummond built a new house on their ranch, they paid careful attention to combining all of the elements they wanted. The result? "I love that our house already feels like home," Ree said. Sometimes it's the big design details like building a farmhouse kitchen, but sometimes it's the smaller details that make a huge difference.
Staircase design is one element that often gets overlooked but can make a meaningful impact to your space, particularly if you have one near your entryway. They're a warm way to welcome everyone into your home and can act like a gateway to the rest of your home and aesthetic.
Many of the ideas here are DIY projects to update existing stairs like painting railings and spindles or adding color to the risers. Others are bigger design ideas if you're completely replacing your stairs or perhaps building a new house from scratch. You can then determine your budget and go from there! Either way, you'll be taking a step in the right direction to a newly updated home.
Now go ahead, update the other spaces:
Contrast Wainscotting
If you love the idea of dark walls but don't want them to be overpowering, paint your staircase and wainscotting white. The lines will look so clean, regardless of what kind of décor you prefer.
See more at Inspired by Charm.
Contrast Railing
Another way to make your staircase pop is to paint the railing. With a coordinating door and photo frames, it ties the whole look together and keeps it from looking stark.
See more at Snazzy Little Things.
Oak Details
If you like the idea of contrast but don't want to go too bold, try oak. It's warm and inviting. Coordinate the stair treads and the handrail to bring the look together.
See more at Lemon Thistle.
Gallery Wall
A welcoming way to invite someone into your home is with a big gallery wall as you ascend the staircase. Choose a theme: family pictures, artwork you love, or a mixture of both.
See more at Room for Tuesday.
Under-the-Stairs Gallery Wall
You can also do a gallery wall under the stairs depending on your setup. It makes an often ignored space more welcoming.
See more at Home Made by Carmona.
Open and Modern
When Ree and Ladd designed their new house, they wanted a mix of modern and Spanish ranch styles. To complement the large windows, they chose a modern metal staircase to keep the space feeling open and bright.
Iron Spindles
Iron spindles are a great way to update a staircase. They can add a modern, classic, or vintage look depending on the kind you decide to use and how the rest of your staircase is set up.
See more at Bless'er House.
Custom Stair Runner
Stair runners serve two purposes: to add some safety and comfort to slippery, hard stairs and to also add a decorative element. You can also add decorative rods for more character.
See more at Randi Garrett Design.
Pastel Painted Risers
The coastal cottage trend isn't just for clothes! And incorporating a bit of that vibe is easier than you think, even if you live in a landlocked state. Pick a light blue or green paint and you're all set.
See more at The Lettered Cottage.
Mosaic Pattern Risers
Don't forget that you can also decorate the stair rises for a pop of personality. This mosaic looks complicated but it's actually made on a Cricut machine. They're also easily removable if you don't want the look for long.
See more at ToolBox Divas.
Rainbow Risers
Another bold choice is to make rainbow-colored risers! You don't have to do a full rainbow in the correct order, either. Contrasting it with solid white keeps it light and fresh.
See more at Sugar & Cloth.
Shiplap Nook
Honestly, it's hard to decide what's prettier: the shiplap or the nook. Combined, they make an utterly cozy pair. Plus, there's extra storage under the bench if you need there to be.
See more at Brook Wagner Design.
Seasonal Nook
Speaking of nooks, if you create one, make sure to decorate it, too. If you change it with the seasons, you'll be more likely to enjoy it and make it more inviting for guests, too.
See more at Liz Marie Blog.
Rounded Corners
Consider rounded corners on the stairs for a bit of subtle detail. They also happen to be safer if there are kids, pets, or accident prone adults that might benefit from avoiding shaper edges.
Potted Plants
If you don't want or don't need to have a handrail but still want something on the stairs, go with potted plants! You can switch them out seasonally and as often as you like.
AnnMarie Mattila is the Senior Editor for The Pioneer Woman, covering a wide range of topics from food and cooking to home, beauty, style, and more.
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