The 24 Types of Staircases That You Need to Know

It’s an integral part of any home that has more than one level: Thestaircase. For a construction or remodeling project, the楼梯的类型is also a very important consideration, provides specific kinds of visual appeal, and take up varying amounts of space in your home.

When considering a new staircase, think about your family members and how they use the stairs to make the best choice because each kind has advantages and disadvantages.

Here we run down thedifferent types of staircasesand the considerations for each one.

Straight Stairs

Modern house featuring Straight Stairs View in gallery
A straight staircase is the most common style and is most affordable to build.

A straight staircase is the most common and affordable style available. Pre-cut risers — the vertical part of the staircase — are available in lumber yards home stores and many builders use these because of their simplicity.

The straight-line design means that the staircase doesn’t need any special support and only needs to be attached at the top and the bottom. This type of staircase also allows for easier installation of railings and handrails.

Of course, there are variations of the straight staircase that include open risers, modern materials and metal cable railings that significantly alter the basic look.

While a straight staircase may be the most common, it does have a few drawbacks, namely that it takes up a greater amount of linear space, which can really affect your design.

Straight Stairs with a Central Landing

一个中央着陆的污渍rs. View in gallery
A central landing breaks up a long expanse of stairs.

If you have a tall, high-ceilinged room and are considering a straight staircase that will need to be more than 12 feet high, it will require a central landing. The same is true if your planned staircase has more than the standard number of risers, which is usually 16.

The main drawback of straight stairs with a central landing is the increased amount of space they require, which usually leads designers to choose another style. This type of staircase is generally used in commercial buildings, not private homes.

L-shaped stairs

L-shaped stairs are attractive and take up less space. View in gallery
L-shaped stairs are attractive and take up less space.

Pupo Gaspar Arquitetura L shaped Stairs View in gallery

L形楼梯是楼梯的另一种常见风格。它们基本上是一个转弯的笔直楼梯,无论是中间还是靠近一端或另一端。L形楼梯出于各种原因吸引人,主要是因为它们在视觉上更具吸引力。

In addition, they tend to take up less space and can be used in the corner of a room. For some people, they are also easier to navigate because of the wider landing that breaks up the flight of stairs.

Of course, these types of staircases are more complex to build and consequently more expensive. L-shaped staircases also usually require support for the landing and the turn.

U-shaped Stairs

U shaped stair design View in gallery
U-shaped stairs have a 180-degree turn.

U-shaped staircases generally consist of two flights of stairs that go in opposite directions with a landing at the switchback. These are also more visually interesting than a straight staircase.

Moreover, they take up less linear floor space and can be handy for a corner design. Typically the landing is of a generous size. The main drawback of a U-shaped staircase is the turn that makes it more difficult to move larger pieces of furniture upstairs.

Winder Stairs

Concrete Winder Stairs type View in gallery
Winder stairs assume a wedge shape as they turn.

Winder stairs are a lot like an L-shaped staircase, except that there is no landing. Instead, the stairs are continuous, taking on a wedge shape as they make the turn. These have been far less common in contemporary homes and are typically found in older residences. Rarely were they used as the main, front stairs and were more likely to be found as the second set of stairs in the home.

This type of staircase is seeing a resurgence in popularity, thanks to the trends that favor smaller homes and more sustainable homes.

Spiral Stairs

Spiral Stairs Type View in gallery
A spiral staircase is very compact but difficult to navigate.

While perfect for tighter spaces,螺旋楼梯are still considered more of a novelty style. True spiral stairs have one central post to which all the radiating steps are attached, as they spiral upward through a space in the floor above. Because of their contact nature, they are typically found in beach houses and compact city dwellings because of the small amount of space they require.

Many city and municipal building codes require that a spiral staircase be a secondary route of egress from the higher floor because they are not as easy to navigate.

In fact, that is one of the main drawbacks for a spiral staircase: Only one person at a time can use the stairs and footing require caution because the inner portion of each step is narrow. Besides, it is much harder to move larger items up and down a spiral staircase.

圆楼梯

圆形现代楼梯 View in gallery
Circular stairs make a major design statement.

Acircular staircaseis more like a traditional staircase than a spiral one — think of the kind you might find in a medieval castle. While it does go around and the steps are tapered, the curve is more relaxed than a spiral staircase with steps are easier to navigate.

Sometimes called helixed stairs, their curve is more graceful and less compact, which helps to create an architectural focal point. Of course, these require more open space and are costlier to build.

Curved Stairs

Curved stairs type View in gallery
Curved stairs are elegant and designed to impress.

Most commonly used in or near an entryway, a curved staircase is a design statement. They do not form a circle as spiral or circular staircases do, and instead, are meant to be a major design feature.

Easy to traverse, the curve is usually gentle and is an elegant choice for any style of home. This type of staircase is said to be the most difficult to construct and, consequently, one of the most expensive.

Ladder Stairs

Ladders Type of Stairs 1 View in gallery
Ladder stairs are meant for tight space.

Great for tight spaces and small residences, ladder stairs are one of the most space-efficient types of staircases. Of course, it’s a good idea to check building codes in the local area because often they are not permitted as the main staircase.

Ladder stairs can be built in a variety of styles, from a literal ladder style, as in this photo, to more stylized versions. In any case, ladder stairs will typically have taller steps and can be particularly difficult to climb, especially when coming down the staircase.

These types of stairs can be very handy for other uses, such as for reaching the upper shelves of extensive bookcases or extra tight spaces.

Split Staircase

A split staircase is meant for a grand entranceway. View in gallery
A split staircase is meant for a grand entranceway.

一个分裂的楼梯(最初称为分叉)是所有楼梯的大贵妇。楼梯通常在一个非常宽敞的房屋的入口处,始于底部的更广阔的飞行。beplay平台没信用

一部分途中,底部的两侧都有一个宽敞的着陆,一个较窄的航班 - 一个向左走,另一个向右行驶。大型,广阔且昂贵,这是一个设计声明,旨在给人留下深刻的印象。

Space-Saving Staircase

A variety of styles are available for compact living spaces. View in gallery
A variety of styles are available for compact living spaces.

While circular staircases and ladder styles are good for compact homes, there is a widevariety of other styles这是楼梯的节省空间选项。

Stairs that are more steeply pitched, ribbon style stairs, and narrower, alternating steps are all ways to incorporate a staircase in a home with minimal lost space. As long as the choice meets building codes, the actual style is up to you.

Floating Staircase

Floating staircases are a modern take on a standard style. View in gallery
Floating staircases are a modern take on a standard style.

Usually a variation on a straight staircase, a浮动楼梯usually consists of treads with no risers. Instead, the treads themselves are attached to the wall in a way that the support is invisible, or at least minimally visible. Other times, glass or plexiglass risers are used to achieve a floating appearance.

The material used can be wood, but it is often something else like metal, glass or stone. It is a contemporary look that often foregoes handrails, although glass can be used for safety instead of a traditional railing without sacrificing the open feeling. Again, any floating style must meet local building codes.

Storage Staircase

When storage space is at a premium, a staircase can help. View in gallery
When storage space is at a premium, a staircase can help.

Large or small, almost any home can use more storage and the often-overlooked areaunderneath the stairscan be turned into valuable space for stashing necessities. The most common way to do this is by building cabinets underneath the risers instead of simply walling off space.

A second way is to turn each riser into a drawer, which is the best option when you can’t make full use of the void underneath the staircase.

Sculptural floating stairs

Floating back staircase and kitchen behind View in gallery

This stylish private home by studioOlevplaces a lot of emphasis on the lighting and the ambiance in each of the rooms. There’s also a very interesting dynamic between all the different spaces and this staircase only makes things more intriguing. The floating stairs have a minimal and sculptural aesthetic and they’re not leaning against a solid wall but rather going across a glass divider.

Bent metal staircase

Floating string stairs View in gallery

If this staircase looks unusual and intriguing to you that’s because it is. The main question that we all have is what this is made of because it’s so slender and it looks lightweight but also sturdy and durable. The answer reveals it all: bent metal with wooden accents. This is a staircase designed byRUST architects.

Floating standalone stairs

Floating with led light stairs View in gallery

We’ve seen floating staircases before but not like this one. Typically all the steps are connected and they form a continuous structure but in this case they’re all individual freestanding elements. Each is separately attached to the wall and there’s no safety rail which really emphasis the sculptural nature of the design. The accent lighting is also a cool detail. This is part of a house in Shanghai designed by Wutopia Lab.

Spiral staircase made of metal

Modern spiral staircase design View in gallery

Metal is the go-to material whenever something needs to be super strong and durable but also sleek and slender. You can see it being put to good use here bydepaolidefranceschibaldanarchitects to create a space-efficient spiral staircase. The dark blue nuance suits it well and looks beautiful in combination with the natural wood used for the steps.

Spiral staircase with landing

Modern spiral metalic staricase design View in gallery

Not all staircases follow a particular style. Some have eclectic designs that combine elements and features from two or more styles. This allows them to better adapt to the space that they’re a part of and to serve their function as best as possible. This spiral staircase depaolidefranceschibaldan architects is a good example.

楼梯和书架

Floating staircase and bookcase decor View in gallery

This beautiful floating staircase is a companion for the bookshelves that stretches all along this wall, from one side to the other. The shelves as you can see also continue upwards and some can only be reached from the top of the stairs. It’s definitely a very beautiful, practical and eye-catching combination, one that studioEsrawecame up with.

Concrete stairs

小房间和楼梯 View in gallery

在室内设计中某些类型的材料是耶鲁大学管理学院etimes associated with specific styles. Concrete for example is a trademark of industrial decors but also suits really well a variety of modern and contemporary spaces. These stairs for instance don’t looks as rugged and as harsh as one might imagine, especially since they curve around the wall and have this beautiful decorative wall doubling as a railing. This is a space designed byKristina Lastauskaitė-Pundė.

有机楼梯

Spiral staircase with green plants View in gallery

This staircase is unique and special in more than just one way. It has a very organic, flowing design and it makes use of natural wood which gives it a warm and welcoming look. It has a sculptural shape and it’s the centerpiece of a beautiful office building. It’s been outfitted byPaul Cocksedge Studio™with a variety of interesting features such as little nooks for reading, drawing, relaxing and drinking tea, thus becoming a sort of social hub for the building.

Graphical iron stairs

客厅staisrcase专为小空间设计 View in gallery

The design of this staircase is also unusual in the sense that it’s made from a rather unexpected material: iron. It also has a very graphical sort of look, like it’s been sketched out with only the outlines showing and gaps that are not filled in. The design is meant to look interesting but also to be space-conscious and to fit into this small living area without being in the way, visually or otherwise. It was all done byGosplan architects.

Two-tone spiral staircase

Minimalist hanging spiral staircase in green color View in gallery

Here’s another really cool design, this time byTaller Estilo Arquitectura S de RL de CV. The staircase has a sinuous, spiraling shape which makes it space-efficient and gives it a graceful appearance. It’s made of metal which allows it to be slender and to have a lightweight appearance. The stairs have an accordion-like shape and they’re black on the underside and chartreuse on the other.

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