Tips for Choosing the Perfect Stair Balusters

Stair balusters add style, safety, and structural security to the handrail. Balusters have been around since the seventh century B.C.E., but people still have a hard time deciding what type of balusters they want in their homes.

Balusters provide both aesthetic appeal and function to a staircase or balcony. Not only do they add to the decor style, but they also prevent people, pets, and objects from falling off the side of the staircase. It’s safe to say that there aren’t too many design elements that are also potential lifesavers.

Understand the Lingo

When discussing what type of balusters you want, it’s easy to get confused by industry jargon. Making a decision is easier when you understand the different parts of a stairway and how they interact.

• Baluster: The single vertical posts that connect the handrail to the risers (steps)
• Banister: The handrail
• Balustrade: The entire safety assembly, including the balusters, banister, post caps, bottom rail, and any decorative elements

A baluster refers to individual posts, and a balustrade may be built onto a staircase, a balcony, or a terrace. The terms tread, riser, nosing, landing, and stringer all refer to the parts of the staircase that you walk on.

Choose the Right Material

Wood is the most commonly used material for stair balusters. Metal may be incorporated to accentuate a modern aesthetic, and wrought iron balusters may be chosen for homes with a Mediterranean design style. Due to their weight and durability, concrete balusters are typically reserved for outdoor use.

There is a good reason for the popularity of wood balusters: they’re easy to customize. Experienced woodworkers can craft nearly any design your mind can conceive. Whether you prefer traditional, whimsical, or intricate design details, you can make your vision come true with custom wood stair balusters.

Wood can also be painted or stained in a natural finish. If you decide to change your home’s color palette in the future, stair balusters can easily be repainted or refinished to coordinate with your new look.

5 Tips for Choosing Stair Balusters You Will Love

With so many options, selecting balusters for your stairway can be intimidating. These tips will help you find a baluster type that works with your home and your personal decor style.

1. Know Your Aesthetic

Stair balusters aren’t something you want to redo every few years. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys changing their home’s interior style now and then, consider opting for a more transitional design that will look great with a variety of styles. If needed, you can update it by changing out decorative elements like the paint, stain, or newel posts.

2. Personalize It (With Restraint)

Do you love adding unique touches to your home that no one else will have? Let your staircase be a statement piece that elicits oohs and ahs from every guest by having customized stair balusters made. However, if you’re concerned about resale value, remember to use some restraint in your one-of-a-kind design.

A balustrade that’s too specific could turn away some homebuyers. A good compromise is to choose balusters that complement your unique design and let your creativity go wild when it comes to small details. An unusual handrail, unique newel posts, or a creative color can help you realize your vision without alienating future buyers.

3. Take Design Cues From Your Favorite Furniture Pieces

Do you have a table or other piece of furniture that you adore? Take a close look at the shapes of the legs or ornamentation on your most loved pieces to find inspiration for staircase balusters. Matching your balustrade’s details with those of belongings that have already stood the test of time will help you create a lasting and unique design.

Finding inspiration from your furnishings will also help you define your style. It will prevent your balusters from standing out like the “sore thumb” piece of furniture that doesn’t go with anything else you own.

4. Match Your Home’s Architectural Style

When in doubt, choose stair balusters that complement the existing architectural style of your home. Your decor preferences may come and go, but unless you do some major remodeling, your contemporary home will always be contemporary.

Think of your staircase as a giant piece of unmovable furniture, one that’s typically placed in view of everyone who enters your home. A mid-century modern balustrade will look out of place in your traditional home no matter how well it’s built.

5. Don’t Compromise Safety

Remember that balusters are, first and foremost, a safety feature. Some staircase designs eliminate the balustrade altogether in favor of a clean, modern look. While beautiful, a stairway without a balustrade isn’t practical for most people, especially families with children.

For safety’s sake, a balustrade and balusters should be professionally built and installed by people with expertise. No matter how attractive they may be, stair balusters that are loose and wobbly are definitely in bad taste.

What Kind of Stair Balusters Are Right for Your Home?

Stair balusters bring both form and function to your stairway. If you’re building a new staircase or remodeling an old one, choosing balusters can be a difficult decision. There are so many types of wood and finish options. And if you decide to go down the custom balustrade route, the variety of available shapes becomes almost endless.

Start by understanding your own aesthetic. Do you want your balustrade to make a big design statement, or do you want it to blend in with the rest of your decor? If you decide to have some completely unique balusters made, remember that anything too personal could affect any future resale efforts.

Taking inspiration from your existing furniture and your home’s architectural style is always a good idea. Whatever you decide, keep your safety needs in mind. Stylish stairways without a balustrade may be beautiful, but they are also a hazard to family members who need a bit of extra support to make it up and down the stairs safely.

Contact Mouldings One today for a quote or to speak with a member of our design team about creating custom balusters.