Your stairway will be a step above the rest!
Take it from us: Staircases don’t have to be grand to make a statement. Humble stairwells with wonderfully worn paint and a good gallery wall are just as dreamy as their more elegant counterparts. This oft-overlooked feature is often the first things guests notice about your entryway, so you’ll want to put your best foot forward. But, don’t worry, you don't have to break the budget to upgrade your stairs—really! There are lots of inexpensive ways to transform your stairs from blah to beautiful.
Hanging a collection of art or a recently found vintage treasure can be just what you need to give your staircase the personality boost it needs. You can also simply paint your stairs or railing for an easy-to-accomplish upgrade with loads of design power. (Get started with one of our favorite paint colors.) But, if you’re willing to pull out the sledgehammer for a big renovation project, we’ve got those ideas for you, too! This list of our favorite 46 staircase ideas promises to fill you with endless inspiration on how to layer your entry with some classic country charm.
Here are some more ideas for styling up your entryway:
- Creative Entryway Ideas That'll Give Your Guests a Warm Welcome
- Best Front Door Paint Colors to Give Your Home an Inviting Entry
- Small Space Decorating Ideas for Making the Most of Any Room in Your House
1
Utilize Dark Paint
Don’t be afraid to make a bold statement with your staircase, like this one that's painted an rich inky gray. Offset the dark with light paint on the walls and bring in warmth through aged picture frames and rustic lighting fixtures.
RELATED: 100+ Best Places to Shop for Antiques and Vintage Online
2
Build a Dreamy WFH Space
Take a note from homeowners Sarah and Russell Bennett by transforming your overlooked nook under the stairs into a home office. The desk can also easily double as a drinks station when hosting!
RELATED: 45+ Best Home Office Ideas to Inspire You While You Work
3
Channel Beach Vibes
Look to the outdoors for color inspiration. If you didn’t know you were near the ocean before entering this circa-1855 Maine cottage, the sea-foam green staircase might be a huge clue. A duo of picnic baskets lined up against the wall adds to the summery theme.
RELATED: 48 Beach House Decor Ideas That Will Make Major Waves in Any Interior
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
4
Add a Stair Runner
Lay down a stair runner to add pattern and interest to your steps. The well-worn stair runner at this 18th-century farmhouse is a fond reminder of guests who have come and gone. To get the look in your own home, find a runner you love and don't forget the carpet tape!
RELATED: Tour the 18th-Century Farmhouse of Your Dreams
5
Make It Practical and Pretty
Short on space but determined to make it stylish, the homeowners of this Long Island, New York saltbox added an antique piano and a collection of straw hats—amongst other things—at the bottom of their stairwell. For an added design upgrade, you could arrange the straw hats to flow up the stairs for a stylish grab-and-go set up.
RELATED: Peek Inside This Three-Centuries-Old Saltbox Home
6
Add an Interesting Newel Post Cap
Before the renovation of this 19th century New York home, the stairs were covered in a colorful carpet and the walls were painted bright salmon. Now, crisp white walls complement the dark stair treads and a simple Moravian star lights up the entry. The homeowners also embraced the quirky antique newel post cap that came with the home and welcome it as a conversation starter for guests.
RELATED: This Elegant 1850s Home Used to be Packed With Over-the-Top Furnishings
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
7
Lighten Up Your Entryway
The entryway in this fixer-upper farmhouse was originally two tones of green and had built-in shelving that made the space feel small. Now, a colorful antique rug and sets of wall-mounted coat hooks bring in color and free up walking-around space, while the bright white-and-gray palette offers a soothing welcome to guests.
RELATED: This is What Happens When a Small-Town Farmhouse from the 1800s Gets Restored
8
Create a Salon Wall
Antique portraits line the entire stairwell of this California farmhouse giving it a collected-over-time look. Search for a quirky mix of personalities to get a similar look that also makes for a great conversation starter.
RELATED: A Single Piece of Wallpaper Inspired the Colorful Style of this Entire House
9
Try Trompe L'Oeil Paint
Rather than lay a real runner in this narrow stairwell, designer Christina Salway painted one! To get the look, start with a light neutral base, then paint a wide stripe of one color with thin borders of another darker paint color.
Get the Look:
Stair Paint Colors: The wide middle stripe is painted Stonybrook by Benjamin Moore. The thinner outer stripes are painted French Press by Benjamin Moore.
RELATED: 21 Brilliant Ideas for Painted Floors
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
10
Create an Under the Stairs Pantry
If you’re unsure of what to do with the little nook under your stairs, transform it into an adorable and hardworking pantry, complete with a crusty sliding barn door.
RELATED: Our 34 Best Pantry Organizing Tips
11
Paint the Balusters
Rather than painting your stair railing all the same color, give it a little wow factor by paint the balustrade a different color than the handrail. Here, that color pairing is repeated on the front door.
Don’t know what to do with that empty landing? An oversized pitcher or an antique accent piece can easily fill a design dead space in the corner of an L-shaped staircase. Just be sure to measure your piece so you don't crowd the walking space.
12
Hang a Mismatched Gallery Wall
Art lines this entire staircase wall, adding pops of color to the subdued neutral space. To get the look, try mixing and matching your favorite bold prints in subtle wood frames.
RELATED: 10 Ways to Incorporate Mushroom Colors in Your House
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
13
Go Bold with Paint
Bright canary-colored paint steals the show in this New York farmhouse’s entryway. Opt for happy hues in complimentary color families to get a similar look.
RELATED: This New York Farmhouse is the Perfect Mix of Vintage and Modern
14
Put Your Collection on Display
Obsessed with fun and figural pieces? Take inspiration from this Wisconsin lake house’s gallery wall and hang them with pride. Cascading down the main stairwell, these skis, which the homeowners spent years collecting, take wall paneling to the next level.
RELATED: This Wisconsin Summer Cabin Feels Like Happy Hour
15
Install a Permanent Ladder
When stairs won’t do (or there is simply no room), opt for a sturdy, permanent ladder such as this one. Work with a contractor to make sure your setup follows code and safe for the whole family.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
16
Try Nothing but Neutrals
A combination of whites and browns will make your entire home look and feel clean and airy. This New York guesthouse takes inspiration from Scandinavian design for its refined look. Oversized brass candlesticks dotted up the stairs add to the restrained elegance.
RELATED: This Backyard Barn Is Actually a Guest House—and the Inside Is Unbelievably Beautiful
17
Hang Some Paw-fect Portraits
If your furry friend is more like family, consider decorating an area in honor of your pooch. A wall of dog silhouettes and portraits adds collected, crowd-pleasing charm. Hanging the collection on the stair ends provides a unique stairstep shape and helps turn what could be the wasted space in front of the stairs into an inviting spot to sit.
18
Embrace Pattern All Over
Is there really such a thing as too much pattern? Don’t be afraid to mismatch patterns in a small space, just keep within a similar color palette to keep it cohesive. Here, the tranquil shade of the wallpaper and the patterned stair runner create a coastal vibe that is equal parts fun and elegant.
RELATED: 40+ Beach House Decor Ideas That Will Make Major Waves in Any Interior
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
19
Put Up Plenty of Paintings
Does your artwork hang out in storage because there’s no room to display it in your home? Take a tip from designer Ken Fulk, who hung oil pantings all over the place—including above and underneath his staircase, and get creative with placement. Don’t be afraid to stack art up and down a wall or tuck it into unusual spaces.
RELATED: Ken Fulk's Harborside Cottage Is What Dreams are Made Of
20
Try to Remove and Reveal
Don’t worry if you don’t like what you see—there might be something even better underneath! The owner of this once-foreclosed Wisconsin farmhouse stripped away old carpeting to reveal yellow and green paint.
RELATED: This Renovated Wisconsin Farmhouse Is Packed With Smile Inducing—and Budget-Friendly!—Decorating Ideas
Anna Logan
Senior Homes & Style Editor
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
