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10 Things You Need to Know Before Planning a New Staircase
Here is a list of the most essential (and creative) things you need to think about when building a new staircase
There are so many great staircase designs and ideas that can help set your house apart from the rest. The staircase is a major feature in your home, and whether you decide to make it a focal point or just simply an integral working function in your home, there are a few things you need to know. This ideabook will take you through all of the most essential terms and design elements used when planning a staircase, so you can reach a solid staircase concept and plan for your home that suits your needs and lifestyle.
2. Location
One of the most important things is understanding how people are going to be using a staircase. What is upstairs that people in your home will be needing access to and how often will these levels be used? The location of the staircase is the first design decision you need to make as it will impact on the final design of the staircase. The staircase should be in easy access to the front door and all main living areas. However, it is important to make sure your staircase is not taking up valuable or ‘main’ space if it is not going to be a feature element within your home.
One of the most important things is understanding how people are going to be using a staircase. What is upstairs that people in your home will be needing access to and how often will these levels be used? The location of the staircase is the first design decision you need to make as it will impact on the final design of the staircase. The staircase should be in easy access to the front door and all main living areas. However, it is important to make sure your staircase is not taking up valuable or ‘main’ space if it is not going to be a feature element within your home.
3. Measurements
In Australia, we have the BCA, which stands for the Building Code of Australia. These guidelines are in place to ensure our safety. There are certain measurements that are standard when designing a staircase and these measurements work together to ensure the safest and most comfortable use for staircases. These measurements need to be calculated depending on the amount of floor space you have, the height of your ceilings and the thickness of your floor. This can get quite tricky, but there are plenty of online resources and calculations to help you figure out the right formula.
In Australia, we have the BCA, which stands for the Building Code of Australia. These guidelines are in place to ensure our safety. There are certain measurements that are standard when designing a staircase and these measurements work together to ensure the safest and most comfortable use for staircases. These measurements need to be calculated depending on the amount of floor space you have, the height of your ceilings and the thickness of your floor. This can get quite tricky, but there are plenty of online resources and calculations to help you figure out the right formula.
- Rise:
Maximum height: 190mm
Minimum height: 195mm
- Run:
Maximum depth: 355mm
Minimum depth: 240mm
Sticking to these measurements will ensure your staircase is safe and comfortable to use.
4. Budget
Of course, budget is one of the main factors that determines what type of staircase you can have. If you have a limited budget, you should look at cheaper materials and a standard conventional staircase that is made from MDF and covered with carpet. This option also has other benefits that we will get into below.
If you have a bigger budget, it’s definitely worth creating a feature staircase that also has the huge potential to add value to your home.
Of course, budget is one of the main factors that determines what type of staircase you can have. If you have a limited budget, you should look at cheaper materials and a standard conventional staircase that is made from MDF and covered with carpet. This option also has other benefits that we will get into below.
If you have a bigger budget, it’s definitely worth creating a feature staircase that also has the huge potential to add value to your home.
This design by Your Abode includes a compact staircase, which is known as a ‘dog leg’. A landing has been used to separate two ‘flights’ of stairs and change the direction of the staircase, so that the staircase is doubled up and therefore requires half as much floor space compared to a one directional ‘single run’ design.
‘Spiral staircases’ are a wonderful way to both reduce the use of space a staircase takes up and also create an incredible look within your home. These staircases are circular in plan where the treads wind around a post in the centre of the piece. These treads are ‘tapered’, meaning each step becomes smaller at one end so that they can wrap around this central post.
Do note that these staircases are quite expensive, tricky to design and a bit tight to use, however, if you do have the right budget, time and ability to move up and down the staircase easily, this is a stand out and very sought-after design option!
Do note that these staircases are quite expensive, tricky to design and a bit tight to use, however, if you do have the right budget, time and ability to move up and down the staircase easily, this is a stand out and very sought-after design option!
7. Balustrades and hand rails
Essential for safety, there are so many options other than the typical one rod hand rail usually mounted onto the wall. The height of balustrades need to be at least 1m above the floor. If you have gaps between posts, a 125mm sphere must not fit through (roughly the size of a baby’s head, this is a major safety consideration, and I am sure you can understand why).
Essential for safety, there are so many options other than the typical one rod hand rail usually mounted onto the wall. The height of balustrades need to be at least 1m above the floor. If you have gaps between posts, a 125mm sphere must not fit through (roughly the size of a baby’s head, this is a major safety consideration, and I am sure you can understand why).
Here is where you can get really creative: think about using up the entire space from the floor to the top. You could have this in a translucent or opaque glass, a slatted timber or metal frame. Note that most of these options for this entire side/’barrier’ of the staircase don’t actually provide a hand rail. However, in this retro staircase design by Scott Weston Architecture Design, the pattern designed into the metal frame actually gives a flat T-type section that you could grip on to. If you need extra support, have balustrades on both sides of the wall (include this when determining the width of the stairs so that you have enough space to navigate up and down).
Take into account: Due to gravity, it is harder to walk up stairs, but also dangerous to walk down, and people usually walk to the left side of a staircase in Australia so take this into account when choosing safety hand rails and balustrades.
Still bamboozled by balustrades? Click here.
Take into account: Due to gravity, it is harder to walk up stairs, but also dangerous to walk down, and people usually walk to the left side of a staircase in Australia so take this into account when choosing safety hand rails and balustrades.
Still bamboozled by balustrades? Click here.
8. Materials
There is such a wide range of different materials you can use and mix up together, dependant on your budget and style.
There is such a wide range of different materials you can use and mix up together, dependant on your budget and style.
- Glass and hardwood treads: Although these materials can look amazing, be prepared to spend top dollar.
- Stainless steel sheeting: This can be cut out and used as stair treads. You can also get different embossed patterns with steel sheeting.
- Concrete stairs: These have a great look and need to be planned well.
Make sure you judge who is using the stairs. The elderly and children will need handrails and safe non-slip materials. Even if you don’t have children or the elderly living in your home, think about re-sale here.
- The standard conventional staircase
Usually made from MDF and then covered with carpet, this is also the most safe and cost-effective staircase. This type of staircase has a very homely feel and you can play with different carpet colours or patterns.
Red Interiors have used a plush dark carpet here – its luxury leads you up in to more of a personal area and its dark colour ensures that dirty shoes and constant use won’t be as noticeable, which is a relief for everybody!
DESIGNER TIP:
Play with the design of the balustrade to make this type of staircase more individual and suited to your personal style. You could even consider using a nice clean sisal here, as sisal is known for being very durable in such a high-traffic area and also has many anti-bacterial properties, which means it also has a longer life span. You can also get the look of sisal here without having to worry so much about its comfort.
9. Lighting
Safety wise, your steps need to be well lit to avoid any nighttime accidents. The main point when speaking in a design sense here is how both artificial and natural lighting will work with the characteristics of your staircase. This contemporary home in Bondi by Redgen Mathieson uses recessed wall lights that focus on the actual treads, while natural light flows through and creates a dramatic and beautiful scene through the slats in the floor to ceiling balustrade/divider.
Safety wise, your steps need to be well lit to avoid any nighttime accidents. The main point when speaking in a design sense here is how both artificial and natural lighting will work with the characteristics of your staircase. This contemporary home in Bondi by Redgen Mathieson uses recessed wall lights that focus on the actual treads, while natural light flows through and creates a dramatic and beautiful scene through the slats in the floor to ceiling balustrade/divider.
Here is a great example by Paul Uhlmann Architects of a creative staircase design where treads have been attached to a full wall feature and slats on the opposing wall. It is the lighting in this space that creates both light and shadow here. The way that all features of this staircase are white apart from the treads makes the treads look as if they are seamlessly floating within space, resulting in an absolutely beautiful design.
These floating stairs create such a light and contemporary design. A major point when designing floating stairs is to keep in mind the same rule we have learnt with balustrade spacing: the gaps between each step should not fit through more than a sphere with a 125mm radius.
DESIGNER TIP:
Collect samples of all the material options you can use in your staircase and see how these can be used in combination with one another.
This wide staircase in beach suburb Clovelly was designed by Tessellate Architecture and Design and mixes up raw timber and concrete for a contemporary and multi-functioning area. This creates both visual interest while the concrete feature on the right creates a spot for kids to sit and put on their shoes, furnishings to be displayed or kept clear, and is just as visually stunning.
Collect samples of all the material options you can use in your staircase and see how these can be used in combination with one another.
This wide staircase in beach suburb Clovelly was designed by Tessellate Architecture and Design and mixes up raw timber and concrete for a contemporary and multi-functioning area. This creates both visual interest while the concrete feature on the right creates a spot for kids to sit and put on their shoes, furnishings to be displayed or kept clear, and is just as visually stunning.
10. Extra functions
To make use of the staircase space below, you could incorporate a storage area or design your staircase for many other uses.
Find out how you can utilise the space under your stairs here.
TELL US
Which staircase do you have in your home, or are you planning a new one? Which staircase appeals to you the most and why?
MORE
Flights of Fancy: 15 Amazing Staircase Designs
What to do With That Awkward Spot by the Stairs
On the Way Up: Stairs That Elevate to a New Level
To make use of the staircase space below, you could incorporate a storage area or design your staircase for many other uses.
Find out how you can utilise the space under your stairs here.
TELL US
Which staircase do you have in your home, or are you planning a new one? Which staircase appeals to you the most and why?
MORE
Flights of Fancy: 15 Amazing Staircase Designs
What to do With That Awkward Spot by the Stairs
On the Way Up: Stairs That Elevate to a New Level
When designing stairs, we refer to the actual steps as ‘treads’; the height between these treads are referred to as the ‘rise’; and the depth of a step (horizontal measurement) is called the ‘run’ and is also known as the ‘going’.
Learning these terms will help you to communicate with your architect, designer or construction team.