Staircase Ideas with a Modern Twist

A staircase can be a statement feature of your home. Modern stairs have changed the game on what’s possible, whether that is having a floating stair or using modern materials.

More than just a way to get from floor A to floor B, an exquisitely designed staircase can accent a home’s interior design with an unforgettable signature that is yours alone.

Straight-open staircases, circular designs, and u-shaped models are just a few upgrades of modern staircase ideas employed by contemporary architects.

With styles and components ranging from Berkeley courtyard to metropolitan glass plating, the modern staircase is nothing short of a work of art, with the added benefit of easy ascension and unmatched fluidity.

How we pass between the levels of our home should be a daily pleasure. A well-crafted contemporary staircase blends quality and nuance while lending a quality of timelessness to your home.

But what should your stair design be? Thankfully, we’re here to help with our list of the best staircase design ideas for you to browse over. Get ready to be inspired to create a special staircase in your home.

1. Exposed Staircase

One of the most dramatic ways to show off a staircase in your home is to show it completely exposed with nothing around or underneath it. We’re used to staircases being hidden at the side of a wall, but this doesn’t need to be the case.

An exposed staircase allows it to be the centerpiece of your foyer or entryway. You can also marry your minimalist staircase with an exposed landing and make something even more striking. You can work with an architect to create something incredibly special.

A modern home interior with a dog on the floor, people on the staircase and balcony, and stone and wood accents

Sleek glass staircase adorned with pendant lights, large windows showcasing lush greenery outside

Modern staircase with floating wooden steps, glass railing, and stone wall featuring artistic lighting and sculptures

Modern staircase with wooden steps, glass railing, wall lights, and a large window framing an outdoor tree

Modern floating staircase with wooden steps stands amidst construction materials in an unfinished room

Modern interior with a sleek black kitchen, glass staircase, and lounge chair next to a small glass table

2. Minimalist Wooden Planks

One of the best staircase ideas to give your home a rustic feel is with minimalist wooden planks and open stair risers. Having a natural wood color can bring more warmth into your home, especially if it’s surrounded by white walls or a bright hallway.

Using wood like this can perfectly marry the old and the new. You’re using a traditional material with its true color but in a modern way and with 21st-century architecture. That clash of old and new makes your staircase stand out and the envy of any guests.

Man in a cap measuring staircase treads with a tape near a large window

Modern wooden staircase with sleek metal railing and framed art on the crisp white wall

A modern staircase with wooden panels and an abstract chandelier in a sunlit room, leading to panoramic window views

Modern interior featuring a sleek staircase of black metal and glass, leading to a sunlit upper floor

Modern staircase featuring wooden steps, sleek glass railing, and chic metal fixtures

Modern interior with wooden staircase, metal railing, a workspace beneath, large windows, and natural light

3. Stairway Lighting

There are various staircase decorating ideas that can make your staircases look unique and magical. An easy way is by installing some lighting. This can be done in many ways, with the most common being spotlights leading up the stairs. These are easy to install, and you get instant aesthetic improvement.

But there are other ways to light up modern staircases. One such way is to follow them all the way up using LED lighting strips. For those looking for something truly unique, you could place a lighting strip across each stair tread. These will look incredible after dark.

Wooden staircase with LED lights along the edges, creating a modern and illuminated effect

Minimalist staircase with glowing under-step lighting, adding elegance to the dark interior setting

Stylish living room with modern staircase, large windows, and contemporary furniture

Aerial view of a modern staircase with glass railing, featuring pebbles and driftwood decor beneath

Modern, minimalist staircase with dark wood steps and soft lighting on a textured staircase wall

Staircase with a slide on the left, leading to a bright room filled with sleek white furniture

4. Metal Railing

By far, the most common type of railing in homes is wood. It’s an easy material to work with, but for those looking for an eye-catching staircase, it doesn’t stand out. A great alternative is to use a metal railing or a glass railing which gives a staircase a very modern look.

It could be that wood simply does not suit the aesthetic of the rest of your space. Metal gives those perfect clean lines and is perfect for a minimalist space. You also get the benefit of it being easy to clean and extremely durable.

Spacious modern living room featuring a sleek staircase, fireplace, and elegant chandelier

Spacious entryway with black staircase, tall windows, and a decorative plant on a chest beside an open door

Spacious modern living room with wooden flooring, a prominent staircase, and an open kitchen at the far end

Modern entryway with dark wood floors, patterned rug, and rustic decor; a staircase leads to a visible dining area

Modern interior featuring a sleek staircase, concrete wall, and kitchen in the background

5. Glass Wall

You can combine a metal railing with a glass balustrade, which is the epitome of a modern staircase design idea. This is extremely clean, and that transparent staircase will look incredible. It also helps to open up the space if your staircase is in the middle of a room.

As with a metal railing, this is perfectly suited when the rest of the room is minimalist in design. Having a staircase with a glass railing doesn’t really work in an otherwise rustic room. If your room is light, sleek, and uncluttered, a glass staircase would be perfect.

Sleek staircase features a glass railing, light wood steps, and a framed art piece on the wall

A clear glass panel guards the top of the staircase, adjacent to a closed white door

Staircase glass railing installation in progress with tools scattered on the wooden floor

Modern beach house interior with a glass staircase, stone wall, and sweeping ocean views from the living room

Modern interior with a sleek staircase, wooden beams, skylights, and geometric chandelier in the living room

Modern floating staircase with glass railings in a bright room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows

6. Curved or Spiral Staircase

If you have always dreamed of having a grand staircase in your home, then a spiral staircase is the way to go. They look incredible as they sweep up with those curved lines. While you may not have the space for bifurcated stairs, having a spiral stair is a great alternative.

Your staircase doesn’t have to spiral, though. A curved staircase can look equally grand. The sweeping lines of a curved stair create an opulent appearance that most homes hardly have. Whether it’s a modern or classical design, a curved or spiral staircase will always look amazing.

Modern loft with a spiral staircase, large windows, and a cozy seating area overlooking a cityscape

Spacious modern living room with large windows, wooden floors, and a view of the poolside patio from the staircase

Rustic spiral staircase with stone walls, wooden steps, and large windows; a circular chandelier illuminates the staircase

Spacious foyer with dark wood floors, a sweeping staircase, arched doors, and a modern chandelier

7. No Railing Staircase

Staircases without a railing are a bold choice. You need to think about the practicalities of this modern staircase idea, especially if you have children or someone elderly in your home. If you don’t, then go ahead! They will draw immense admiration from anyone who sees them.

The easiest way to do this is when you have a staircase flanked by a wall on either side. You can take out a railing to open up the space. You still have the walls for safety, so this is a great way to have a staircase that looks great without being too impractical.

Modern wooden staircase with a lattice wall on the left and a cozy chair waiting at the top

Modern interior with floating wooden staircase, dark slate floor, and built-in wooden shelves

Modern interior featuring a glass elevator and sleek wooden staircase in a well-lit hallway

8. Decorative Baluster

A baluster is the correct term for the spindles between the stair tread and the handrail. A section of these balusters is called a balustrade. Traditionally, this is where you have a little more design creativity with ornate shapes and carved features.

The idea of having decorative balusters has become less common in recent years, which is why we think it’s a great idea to have one. It will make your staircase stand out from the crowd.

Elegant interior with a grand staircase featuring black railings, white walls, and arched doorways

Elegant hallway with a sweeping staircase, round table with orchid, large mirror, and geometric chandelier

Modern staircase with wooden railings, white panel walls, a tall plant, and a decorative art piece

Art-filled stylish hallway with a white staircase, dark wooden floor, and sculpture displayed in the corner

9. Painted Wooden Staircase

If you don’t want the natural look of an exposed wooden staircase, then a great idea is to have painted wood. Painted stairs give you many of the design qualities of wood but allow you to personalize the space. Carpeting your stairs is out of fashion, so this is a great alternative.

What can look particularly good is when you have the step painted one color, and the riser painted another. This two-tone appearance can add a unique design element to the space while also making the steps safer to walk on, especially if you don’t have a carpet, although you can get a stair runner if you want.

A sleek staircase with gray wainscoting and photo frames adorning the walls

Staircase with sleek railing beside dark cabinets on wooden floor

A modern staircase with wooden steps, white railings, a large window, and an illuminated wine cellar beneath

Modern interior featuring a chic staircase, black walls, sleek console table, white stools, and floral arrangement

A modern staircase with dark wood steps and sleek glass railing in a well-lit, stylishly decorated room

10. Grand Newel Post

A newel post is the main post at the bottom of a staircase and is usually much bigger than any other post. Due to its prominence, having a customized newel post can draw eyes to your staircase and make it look very special.

This is often an underrated part of a staircase, but it can be very important, especially if you’re going for a more traditional feel.

Bright entryway with open door, rug, staircase, and pumpkins outside; geometric chandelier and natural light fill the space

Elegant staircase with dark wooden handrail, bathed in natural light from a large window in a well-lit interior

Elegant staircase with carpeted steps, metal railings, and white posts, alongside a cozy firewood stack

A sleek staircase with white railings and dark wooden steps graces the gray wall

Hallway with white shiplap walls, a wooden staircase, and a black-framed glass door at the end

11. Open Riser Staircase

The riser is the vertical part of a stairway underneath the wood treads. Having an open riser takes this away and makes your staircase look much more naked, and it’s not something you could do with carpeted stairs. It can look especially amazing with oak steps, but many other materials can also work.

The open riser is a very modern staircase, as it requires a high level of engineering. Some don’t like it as it makes them feel a little unsafe, but it’s a stair design that immediately transforms your stairs from something purely functional to something beautiful.

Sleek modern staircase with wooden steps, glass railing, and built-in wall lights

Modern minimalist interior featuring a floating staircase, glass railing, and large windows with black couches and plants adding decor

Modern staircase with glass railing, sleek black steps, and large windows overlooking a contemporary living space

A modern staircase with wooden steps, glass railings, and spherical chandeliers in a bright, high-ceilinged room

Modern black and white interior featuring a wooden staircase, glass railing, and hallway leading to distant seating

12. Industrial Staircase

A curious aspect of modern staircase design is that many of the new ideas for a contemporary stair are taken from old ideas. A great example of that is the rise in popularity of the industrial staircase, which often uses wrought iron or other metals to create an industrialized appearance.

There is something about this old-fashioned stairway that works when surrounded by modern design. For those looking for something different for their staircase ideas, installing an industrial staircase should be very tempting. A steel wire staircase is also a great option for this, as it has that beautiful contradiction of looking modern and traditional at the same time.

Modern staircase with black metal mesh railings, wooden steps, and a potted plant enhancing the industrial vibe

Modern staircase with wooden accents and a potted plant underneath, bathed in indoor natural light

Modern staircase featuring wooden steps and sleek metal cables in an industrial-style interior

Open, modern staircase with cable railing in a bright room featuring wooden floors and a sleek table

13. Multiple Stringer

A stringer is the name for a straight set of steps and a stunning staircase design is to have a half-turn staircase. This is also called a U-shaped or L-shaped stair, where you don’t have one continuous stringer. This is a creative staircase design that can make the most of a tight, small space.

This staircase design allows for plenty of creativity and can work with floating stairs or traditional wooden stairs.

Modern interior with a sleek staircase, dark wood floors, and a kitchen featuring a green-lit backsplash

Modern staircase with glass railings, surrounded by large windows and bathed in natural light

Spacious entryway with a wooden staircase, large glass door, and an outdoor view of greenery

Modern living room with high ceilings, abstract wall art, glass staircase, and a sleek white sectional sofa

Modern home interior with a glass elevator, wooden flooring, a striking staircase, and a large window

FAQs

Which type of staircase is the best?

Almost all homes will have a standard straight staircase, but that doesn’t always make the most use of the space and can be a little boring. If you want to have something more visually striking, then L-shaped, curved, or spiral stairs can be incredible. There is no “best” type of staircase, as the demands of every home are different.

How can I make my stairs more attractive?

There are a few ways to make your stairs more attractive. A few great options include painting them, adding lighting, or replacing the railing. These are fairly simple ways to improve your staircase without completely replacing it.

How do you modernize a staircase?

Carpeted staircases are standard in many homes and aren’t a modern look. You can remove the carpet and paint your stairs for an instant upgrade. You could also decide to replace your old wooden railing with a glass and metal fixture to be truly modern.

What are the different types of staircase?

There are five main staircases: bifurcated, circular, straight, spiral, and half-turn. Each takes up space in a different type of way, and there are slight variations in each style.

What is a staircase with a turn called?

These types of staircases are called half-turn stairs, as most of them have a 90-degree turn. You can have several half-turns which is great for creating plenty of height in a cramped space. These stairs are also often referred to as L-shaped stairs, and you can also have a full turn, which is called U-shaped stairs.