Staircases are probably one of the most overlooked features of any home. After all, they aren’t exactly a place you linger – they’re pretty exclusively there to get you where you’re going, and most conventional staircases aren’t much to look at. But well-designed staircases can be beautiful, and modern minimalist staircases open up a whole lot of design opportunities that you can’t get with a traditional enclosed stairwell. Even in the most ornate grand staircase, the structurally important part is the steps, and modern staircases are pared down to that bare minimum functional component, giving you a more open look and a whole lot more room to work with.
Modern Staircases Make For Open Entryways
Barrier-free spaces have become the norm in contemporary interior design, and that means staircases, too (by Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects)If you’ve ever seen a staircase being built, you know there isn’t much to them: the steps themselves are built in a bare-bones zig-zag line going up from one floor to the next. That’s it. The railing comes later, and more importantly the sides of the staircase are all finish work – they’re not actually supporting anything. That means that all the space between your steps and the floor is closed off and wasted. Minimalist modern staircases do away with this wasteful convention; their steps are installed parallel to one another rather than in a zig-zag pattern, so the space between each step and beneath the staircase is left entirely open. Depending on the size and shape of your staircase, this can make your space feel much, much larger.
Make The Most Of The Space Under Your Staircase
When it’s opened up, the space underneath your stairs can make a really cozy sitting area (by Denton House Design Studio)It might seem like a small change, but the area lost under the average staircase is no meager amount of space. By law, the stairs themselves have to be three feet wide, plus room for the railing and finish work, all of which is hidden on a conventional staircase. Though the slanted ceiling makes the space a touch awkward, it’s more than enough room for a small sitting area or even a petite home office setup. Depending on the location of your staircase, switching from a traditional to a modern layout can make it possible to extend your living room, build a cozy reading nook, set up a hallstand for your family and guests, or even create a relatively private spot to work from home – all in space that otherwise would have been walled off and forgotten.
Modern Staircases Pair Well With Recessed Storage
The open feel of modern staircases makes them comfortable enough to use the walls for storage (by Feeney Inc.)Having an overall more open feel also makes it possible to do something with modern staircases that you can’t with more traditional ones: put things on (or, really in) the walls of the staircase. Even hanging pictures in a conventional stairwell can feel incredibly oppressive, but with an open, minimalist setup, recessing shelves into the wall along the side of the stairs actually feels really natural. Because the stairs themselves have such a low profile, the result is not only a whole heck of a lot more storage space, but also a really lovely, striking, two-story tall bookshelf.
Minimalist Stairwells For Compact Spaces
Trimming the bulk from a modern staircase makes them both more compact and more flexible (by Andrea Swan – Swan Architecture)On the more architectural side of things, modern staircases can also be a whole lot more compact. For houses with basements or more than two stories, minimalist staircases have a very distinct advantage: they’re a whole lot more stackable. Now, in big houses, staircases can end up taking up quite a bit of space. Architecturally speaking, it’s challenging to get from one floor to the next without your steps being too steep or your stairwell too cramped, crowded, or full of corners to navigate. But when the stairs themselves are thinner and not enclosed, you can stack two long, straight staircases on top of each other without oppressively low ceilings or a cramped feeling.
Letting In Light
Minimalist staircases make the most of big windows and natural light, making your space feel brighter and more open (by The Lagasse Group, LLC)Modern minimalist staircases are also absolutely amazing if you have big windows – especially two story ones. While traditional staircases are very closed off and can definitely darken your space, small, open steps without barriers on the sides let through tons of light. The smallest ones (with wire or plexiglass handrails) can even pass in front of a big picture window without either ruining the view or blocking the light coming through. It’s kind of the polar opposite effect of a grand staircase: rather than the wood, woodwork, and drama of the staircase acting as the focal point of your space, a pared down staircase makes the open space itself a decorative feature, which is great for a more relaxed, natural ambiance.
Making The Most Of Your Space – Even With Old Fashioned Stairs
Even with a more traditional staircase, you can still make use of the space underneath (by Structures Building Inc.)Of course, even if you live in a home with a more traditional style where a minimalist staircase would look out of place, that doesn’t mean you can’t make use of the space underneath a more conventional set of stairs. Instead of setting a hallstand or storage chest along the side of your staircase, you can build storage directly into it – from drawers and cubbies to bookshelves, coat hooks, and even cozy seating nooks. No matter what your sense of style, knowing that empty space is there is the first step to making use of it – and making your space both more efficient and more attractive!
