During the pandemic lockdown, there was one thing that kept many of us busy: home improvements. Last year, Brits spent a massive £21 billion renovating our houses.

But while patios and kitchens might be some of the top trends, another area of our homes needs equal care and attention. And that’s the staircase. Have you neglected the interior of your hall and stairs? If so, it’s time to switch focus.

We’ve created this list of eight fantastic modern staircase ideas you might want to try to inspire you.

1. Beautiful Low Lights

Staircases tend to be narrow and dark, whether you live within an old Victorian terrace or a modern semi. You can transform the look of your hallway and stairs in one easy sweep by adding some low lighting to the staircase.

That has a bonus – it will help you watch your step when walking downstairs at night.

You want to go for a subtle minimal effect with lighting, so opt for small spotlights at the bottom of each step or some modern LED strip lights instead.

Always speak to a qualified electrician to get the job done, and don’t attempt to add this lighting yourself!

2. Floating Glass Glamour

This style works well with wide modern staircases and an impressive hall. A cantilevered or floating glass railing is an attractive way to add minimalism and glamour to your home.

It will make your room feel large and light, turning a dated hallway into a modern masterpiece. Don’t forget there is more to glass than a transparent style, so choose opaque or tinted glass if it fits better with your interior.

Are you fortunate enough to have a generous renovation budget? If so, you could also install LED lights with movement sensors so that your grand staircase lights up as you or your guests ascend.

It’s a modern way to add a bold statement to your home design.

3. Under Stairs Office

With house prices on a non-stop rise, many of us find a house move unaffordable. Instead, we are considering ways to add extra space to our current homes.

So why not consider renovating that precious space underneath the staircase?

The staircase underneath is the perfect setup for a home office if you have reasonable space in your hallway.

Choose floor-to-ceiling storage to maximise the space and keep the depth of your desk minimal.

Don’t forget to install some carefully-placed spotlights, as you probably won’t have much natural light in your hallway.

4. Eclectic Steps

Interior fashions change rapidly, but there is one trend that’s continued to circulate on the likes of Pinterest and Instagram for several years now.

That style is probably best described as eclectic and involves turning every step on your staircase into a unique design.

Some people have done this using patchwork or print designs, adding colour and uniqueness to the stairs from top to bottom.

Another popular design is to replicate the binding of famous novels. That’s fun to try if you are in a literary household.

If you prefer something a little less dramatic, paint your staircase steps in different shades of a single colour for an elegant finish.

5. Oak Spiral Staircase

Modern interiors don’t necessarily mean you have to choose a modern material for your stairs. Traditional, high-quality materials like solid wood can look contemporary in any home.

Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have space for a dramatic and intricate spiral staircase in your home.

In this case, opting for a solid wood material like oak could leave you with a sophisticated finish. It works beautifully in homes that have a neutral colour scheme.

Our design team has lots of experience constructing spiral staircases. Take a browse through our gallery to see for yourself.

6. Coat and Bag Storage

If you have several school-age children, you’ll know first-hand the chaos of getting ready for the school run. It often involves multiple school bags, coats, PE bags, and arts and crafts projects.

The understairs space is the perfect storage area. But don’t let this fall into disarray. You need dedicated storage to keep it tidy.

Invest in coat hooks, shelving, and a shoe cabinet to give you an orderly and neat family storage area. Individual storage basket for each family member is also a great way of keeping clutter to a minimum.

You never know; a clean hallway could make the school run a little less stressful!

7. Gallery Wall

Walking up and down the stairs need not be a dull affair. You could use the wall space to make an artistic statement or merely to display your most treasured family pictures.

The modern and stylish way to achieve this look is by designing a gallery wall.

The perfect gallery wall starts with placing your largest framed photo or artwork. After, add smaller pieces, concentrating on a mix of sizes, vertical elements and horizontal frames.

Remember to consider the colour scheme too. A gallery wall doesn’t have to match but should have some cohesive theme that ties the frames together. Alternatively, pick simple black frames for everything.

8. A Hidden Cupboard

How many of us think of a rather famous child wizard when we imagine a cupboard under the stairs?

But gone are the days of the old-fashioned cupboard door leading to a dark and dusty space (or a wizard). Nowadays, it’s possible to create style and personality with under-stair storage on modern staircase designs.

One innovative way to do that is to create a concealed cupboard door for a shelved space with LED lighting. That will give your staircase a more streamlined, modern look while providing you with the practical storage your home needs.

Eight Modern Staircase Ideas

It’s easy to forget about your stairs and hallway when designing your home interior. But with these modern staircase ideas, you can turn this space into the most exciting and dramatic room in your home.

For more ideas and inspiration, visit our showroom in Romsey to see real-world examples of the modern staircases we’ve crafted for our customers.