The Importance of Staircases in Home Design: Advice for Choosing and Working With Them
In the age of digital everything, we can access information on any topic. However, there are countless examples of homes that have been designed with no regard for how people move through them or the structure of the space. We see homes without focal points and rooms without views, and these things have become common because architects and designers don’t consider how a home functions from a user’s point of view. So much so that in most cases now, staircases are an afterthought. Yet they can be among the essential features of a home. If you are thinking about renovating your home or building a new one, keep reading to learn more about why staircases matter…
What is the point of a staircase in home design?
Stairs are the arteries of any home. They are the only way to travel between levels; therefore, they are the only way to get to rooms like the kitchen, laundry, and garage. Since all these rooms are necessary for any home, the staircase must be designed carefully and correctly. A staircase can bring a sense of elegance to any home and make any room feel grander. Staircases can also be used to draw attention to a room. This is often used in formal areas like a den or family room to get attention away from the TV and draw focus to the other aspects of the room.
Why are modern homes missing staircases?
Stairs are often an afterthought. Because they are hidden until needed, they are often treated like an afterthought. However, they should be treated the same way you would treat any other design element. You’ll notice in many newly built homes that they have no staircases. They often have no further access to the upper level than a ladder. The reason for this is primarily a cost-saving measure. Stairs are notoriously expensive to add to a home, which is why many builders will skip them altogether. This is especially true in new construction, where staircases are often squeezed in at the end of the building process with no care for aesthetics or functionality. The truth is that staircases in new construction deserve the same level of consideration as any other design element. If you don’t care about how the functionality of a staircase works in your home, it will show.
Six reasons why you should care about stairs
Stairs are the only way to get to upper levels in a home – If there is no staircase, you can’t get to the upper level. This makes stairs one of the most critical design elements in any home. Stairs are the only way to get to the garage – If you have a garage, there is no other way to access it then the stairs. Stairs are the only way to get to the laundry room – You can’t have a washer and dryer in every house. At some point, you’re going to have to walk back and forth, and when you do, stairs are the only way to get back and forth between levels. Stairs are the only way to get to the basement – The basement is an important room, too, no matter how unimportant it is to you. Stairs are the only way to get to this room from the rest of the house. Stairs are the only way to get to the pantry – If you have a large pantry, you probably want a staircase going up to it. Stairs are the only way to get to the attic – If you have an attic, you most likely have stairs to get up there.
How to choose a staircase for your home
There are two main types of stairs: Open-string stairs and closed-string stairs. Open-string stairs are the most common type of staircase. These are the stairs you see in almost every home. Open-string stairs have strings parallel to the ceiling and a railing along the side of the stairs. Closed-string stairs have a bar that goes all the way to the top. Stairs are generally built with two materials, steel, and wood. Steel is the cheaper material, but it can be challenging to work with. Wood is the best and most common material for exterior stairs. When choosing a type of staircase, there are several things to consider. The first thing you should do is determine if you need an interior or an exterior staircase. This is important because the materials are quite different.
Seven things to consider when working with stairs in your home
Space available: The slope of the stairs will determine how far apart the risers and the treads are. On average, the risers will be 1/3 the width of the area, and the tracks will be 2/3 the width. Make sure to leave enough room for the handrail, too. Stair width – You’ll notice that the stair width correlates with the size of the space. Wider stairs are more suitable for more expansive areas, while narrower stairs are better for smaller staircases. The stair width will determine how many people can simultaneously go up and down the stairs. Staircase height – Staircases are designed to fit standard height ceilings, but you can adjust them if necessary. A typical size for a staircase is 78 inches at the bottom of the uppermost step, with each step being 4 inches higher than the one below it. Stair shape – The shape of the staircase will affect the overall appearance of the staircase. There are three basic shapes for staircases: Straight, curved, or combination. A straight staircase is suitable for an open room or if you want to draw attention away from the stairs. A curved staircase is good if you want to focus attention on the staircase. Stair material – The material your staircase is made of will affect the overall design of the stairs. There are many different materials, including wood, metal, and concrete.
Three rules of working with stairs in your home
Staircases should have a purpose – The staircase should be going somewhere. If the only reason a staircase is in the room is that there is no other place to go, you have a problem. The architecture should be designed to accommodate the staircase – Staircases are architectural elements that deserve to be treated as such. If the architecture is designed to accommodate a wall in the middle of the room, the architect won’t know how to incorporate a staircase. The staircase design should complement the room’s architecture and function- If the room’s architecture is designed to have a wall in the middle, then the staircase should be prepared to flow up the side of the room.
Wrapping up
Staircases are more than a way to move from one floor to the next. They are a way to draw attention to certain features and rooms of the house. Staircases can be a focal point or an architectural element that blends in with the rest of the home. They can be broad, narrow, short, or tall. There are so many ways to design a staircase, but the only way to properly do so is to see them as an essential part of the overall design of your home. If you do, you can create something truly unique and special.