A Guide to Selecting the Perfect Stair Parts for Your Home

When you’re remodeling or building a home, the design of your staircase will have a big impact on your home’s aesthetic. In many homes, the stairs are conspicuously located near the entrance or included in the main corridor. That’s why redesigning your stairs can help you set the tone for the rest of your decor.

Choose a Style That Complements Your Home

Before you plan your staircase redesign, you’ll have to pick a style for the finished look. This isn’t as simple as it seems since the size of your home might limit your options.

The amount of space you have for your stairs and stair parts will help you settle on the right style. Measure the width of your current stairs to ensure you plan for a redesign that takes up the same amount of space. If you’re building a new home, set aside enough space for your staircase.

If your home is smaller, you’ll have fewer choices. Stick with simple and straight or L-shaped staircases. Roomier homes might accommodate elegant Spanish-style spiral stairs. Almost any style will fit large homes, but some good options include U-shaped staircases or helical stairs.

Why Wood Is the Best Material for Your Stairs

When designing stairs for your home, you’ll find a range of materials available on the market. However, many property owners prefer wood for the benefits it delivers. Here are a few reasons to limit your search to wood stairs and stair parts:

• Wood won’t echo like metal
• Wood is durable and lasts longer with heavy foot traffic
• Wood is easy to clean
• Wood offers a warm, natural finish

In addition to these advantages, wood stairs are timeless and complement almost any design style. Even when the stairs begin to show signs of wear, you can easily sand and buff the blemishes away. A fresh coat of sealant will renew the durability of your wood stairs. Through these benefits, your new stairs will pay for themselves over time.

Buyers value wood for its longevity, beauty, and traditional look. When you decide to sell your house, wood stairs could raise the value of your home by 3% or more. Even a simple wood staircase without extravagant carvings will catch the eyes of potential buyers.

Pick Out the Right Balusters or Spindles

Once you decide on the style of your wood staircase, it’s time to look for the best stair parts to suit your design. Start with the spindles or balusters and explore the endless design styles, which range from basic to incredibly elegant.

You might choose a style that matches the mouldings in your home, or you can pick a style that helps your staircase stand out.

Contemporary Balusters

Contemporary balusters are square-shaped from top to bottom. This is the most basic design you can install in your home. These balusters go well with open or closed stringer stairs, and the simple design makes cleaning and maintenance easy.

Colonial Balusters

The colonial baluster style adds a little twist to your staircase design. The spindle starts with a square base, but the center is round and smooth. The manufacturer carves grooves into the baluster for an understated touch of elegance.

Country French Balusters

These spindles resemble colonial balusters but are distinguished by their dimensions. They are thickest at the bottom, with a longer square post. As the baluster transitions to a smooth and rounded section, it gradually thins and then transforms into a very thin top point. The style is best with a closed stringer staircase.

While these examples are the most common, you can find a wide range of styles to suit your home. Browsing through baluster styles online can help you find a style that appeals to you.

Top Off the Balusters With a Sturdy Handrail

When you’re looking for the best handrail, you should consider several features. Safety should be your first concern. You’ll want a heavy and sturdy handrail that’s easy to grab, especially if your family includes young children or senior adults.

Cleaning and upkeep is another factor to consider. Pick a design style that won’t collect dust in tiny crevices or spaces. A handrail made from hardwood won’t dent, scratch, or erode easily.

Think about the beauty of the handrail in addition to its functionality. You can explore a variety of square or rounded handrail styles. If you have a straight staircase or one that turns at sharp angles, a square handrail will complement the design. Use a rounded handrail to match a curved or spiral staircase.

Finish Your Stairs With Newel Posts

Newel posts define your staircase and anchor the stairs to your home. For that reason, a bold design is the best way to finish off your staircase. As with handrails and spindles, there are several styles available on the market. Here’s a look at the most common styles.

Posts With Fluting

This common style consists of a broad, rounded post. It might finish off with a square top, or it might include a cohesive, round design from top to bottom. Straight indentations, or fluting, are carved vertically on the post. This fluting makes the design more visually appealing than a basic rounded post.

Square Posts

If you’re looking for a simple design that will go well with a straight staircase, look into square newel posts. These posts use sleek lines and sharp angles for a streamlined appearance. They can also include beading or fluting for a more intricate facade.

Round Posts

If you’re looking for more ornate newel posts, round posts have plenty to offer. You can find engraved round posts that provide an elegant base for your staircase. Engravings on the tops of these posts create the illusion of multiple layers with soft, rounded peaks. You can also find round posts with intricate carvings on top, such as scrolls or leaves.

Find Everything Your Stairs Need in One Place

Moulding One offers stair parts in a variety of styles and dimensions to match any design you want to implement in your home. If you’re having trouble choosing a style for your stairs, try browsing the samples in our online catalog for inspiration.