Popular Staircase Styles

Deciding to add a staircase to your home can leave you with many questions. Learning more and gaining an understanding of different styles of staircases can help you make a more informed decision about which style makes the most sense for your home.

Straight

A straight staircase is one of the most simple and common styles in residential and commercial properties. There are no changes in direction with these stairs. Straight stairs are typically the easiest to build, and installing railings and handrails also tends to be uncomplicated. Not only does this style work well with almost any design aesthetic, but dressing it up is simple since it is one straight line. Most home stores usually have precut parts for a straight staircase. Due to its slope, it takes up a significant amount of floor space. Compared to some other styles, you may also get less privacy with this type of staircase.

L-Shape

Also known as quarter-turn or dog-legged staircases, these staircases usually have a 90-degree bend in some portion of the stairs. A bend usually is achieved by adding a landing to create a transition point. Some people argue that these are safer than a straight staircase because the number of stairs that you would fall down is broken up with the landing. This is another common design since it takes up less space and is easy to decorate. The disadvantages of an L-shaped staircase are that they are more complex to build, which means they are more expensive. The handrails can also become complex to design and construct.

Winding

Also known as winder stairs, this style is a variation of the L-shaped stair; however, instead of having a flat landing, the transition is triangular. The main advantage of a winding staircase is that it requires less space than many other types of stairs. Visually pleasing, they create a more seamless transition around corners. Handrails can be more complicated to add than other types of stairs, and center support is typically required.

Split Staircase

When you think of a grand set of stairs, you’re probably imagining a split staircase. This style has a wide set of stairs starting at the bottom that ends at a landing halfway up the flight that then narrows into two smaller sets of stairs leading in opposite directions. Also known as bifurcated stairs, it is the most common stair design portrayed in wealthy family homes in TV and movies. If you want to make a grand statement, a split staircase is a great option. This style can serve as a point of interest in your home. While beautiful, split staircases take up a lot of space and can get quite expensive.

U-Shape

Also known as half-turn or switchback stairs, this style includes two flights of straight stairs that are parallel and joined by a curved landing that creates a 180-degree turn. U-Shaped staircases can be easy to fit into your architectural plan. You may find it difficult to get large furniture items up and down these stairs, depending on how tight the turn is.

Spiral

This style of staircase follows a helical arc that treads around a central pole. This design is very compact, saving room space. Spiral staircases are visually appealing but can be difficult for some to navigate. Unfortunately, due to building codes, these cannot be used as the primary access to the second floor of a home.