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A staircase is not only functional, but can also serve as a beautiful centerpiece and make a strong style statement. From the dramatic and dynamic to the sculptural and sophisticated, here’s a collection of some unusual stair designs that are highly functional and a visual delight.
1. Industrial elegance
In this industrial design-inspired space, an open staircase with a minimalist triangular balustrade provides structural support. It keeps the look compact and clean without taking up visual space, which is essential in shrinking urban areas with limited square footage.
Designer: Valenti Albareda
2. Contemporary atmosphere
This gray tinted staircase borrows from the industrial style and hangs from the ceiling. The metal frame gives a feeling of privacy and gives the stairs a mysterious character.
Designer: Flavio Castro
3. Built-in shelf
The steps share the wooden tonality of the floor. The first two steps on the base level have a rounded edge, while the third step goes one step further and extends like built-in low shelves.
Designer: Hansquare
4. Contemporary sophistication
The floating wooden steps are an eye-catcher that contrasts with white walls and hangs from them. A series of vertical metal folders looks sleek. It functions as a balustrade, forms the structural support system of the stairs and creates an impressive visual effect.
Designer: Potamitis & Nicolaou Architects
5. Smooth curves
Inspired by the oasis-like landscapes of the Middle East, this staircase is a celebration of lavish grandeur with a balance between opulence and understatedity. The space is detailed with a sculpture to create a pleasing image.
Designer: Conrad Architects
6. Texture beauty
The floating staircase washed with skylights allows light to fall into the open design home and provides a fresh and airy appearance. The built-in seating and exposed brick wall create a peaceful in-between space.
Designer: Azimetri Design
7. Contrasting wood
Inspired by Scandinavian minimalism, the spiral staircase exudes a calm atmosphere in the interior. The white staircase combines wooden steps and herringbone floor patterns to give a fresh and airy look.
Designer: DEJAVU DESIGN
8. Triangular Elegance
Set around a triangular stairwell, this staircase has a dramatic quality with its symmetrical steps that intersect on the landing. The green marble handrail forms a beautiful contrast with the white marble floor and thus forms an interesting composition.
9. Spiral staircase
Check out the interplay of color and cut-outs in this beautiful spiral staircase. The bright green tones of the railing and the tall houseplant create a nature-inspired atmosphere in this neutral space.
Designer: Aamir & Hameeda
10. Built-in lighting
Linear strips of LED lighting create a luxurious atmosphere in each tread and create an interesting pattern. The glass balustrade provides visual lightness and completes the look.
Designer: Bellisi Design
11. Angular composition
A grand stairwell consists of a double staircase that converges on a central landing to form a spectacular geometric composition. A large industrial style sculptural light adds depth and dimension to the space.
Designer: Newsam Construction
12. Floating Steps
The wooden steps seem to float in the air, while the glass balustrades provide visual transparency. The modern, functional and sophisticated design makes a spectacular style statement in this open design home.
Designer Silvia Vanzini Architetto
13. Abstract composition
The flowing shape of this staircase is an intricate form of engineering and a beautiful work of art. It’s a great way to bring a dramatic and playful atmosphere to the room.
Designer: SIPAL.WAFAI.Architecture
14. Texture effect
These slim concrete floating steps look like a seamless part of the hardscape and contrast well with the stepped waterfall in black. The layered effect of each tread is enhanced with diffused light, while the concrete steps are softened with an outline of multicolored hydrangeas.
Designer: Ed Hollander, Leeroy Street Studio
15. Steep ladder
Bold and steep, a series of triangular wooden boxes are stacked on top of each other to form a ladder staircase while adding a sculptural quality.
Designer: Gabriella Gustafson & Mattias Stahlbom
16. Zen Effect
These floating stairs add visual drama to the outdoors and create a striking composition. Surrounded by trees and lots of greenery, this all-white concrete staircase is like a Zen art installation.
Designer: Coolabah Landscapes
17. Beauty in travertine stone
This travertine staircase adds to the calm, relaxed atmosphere of this space. The graceful curves on one side of the staircase combine with the cream and brown tones of travertine stone to enhance the tranquility of the space.
Designer: TJAD
18. Ribbon shape
Designed from a continuous sheet of metal, this open staircase creates an interesting pattern that exudes simplicity, while the sculptural form displays a stark materiality as one moves up and down this space.
Designer: HSH Architects
19. Pure Geometry
Each metal tread has an angular shape that protrudes cantilevered from the wall, appearing to float in space. They are welded into the wall on steel plates to ensure the structural stability of the steps.
Designer: APOLLO Architects & Associates
20. Organic Swirl
The large, wooden steps are encased in a smooth white body of the spiral staircase to create a captivating look. The woody tones of the chevron floors continue with the steps and risers to complete the look.
Designer: Steven Harris Architects
21. Sculptural Wood
Clean, rounded and unique, each tread has an organic sculptural quality that gives a light and airy feel. Some steps move further to provide support as the handrail continues to form more steps on the top stair.
Designer: Arquitectura and Movimiento Workshop
22. Form over function
This staircase revolves around a beautifully carved pole and shows a striking combination of materials and shape. With a minimalist sculptural shape, it transforms into a show-stopper element that draws attention to its curves.
Designer: YDDG
23. Warm wood tones
The flowing shape of the wooden staircase creates a dynamic atmosphere in the open space. The rich tones of wood add warmth to the overall decor of the room.
Designer: The Purple Ink Studio
24. Biophilia
The sculptural wooden staircase deserves a lot of attention and brings a touch of biophilia to the room. It connected each step with vertical wooden panels. The courtyard garden and natural light add softness and complete the look. This staircase cleverly creates a solid design without visually overwhelming the space.
Designer: Anna Kobialka
25. Wood and glass
With a perfect mix of different materials, the individual steps of this smart and contemporary staircase design are connected by a single wooden vein under each step. The glass balustrade gives a sense of visual lightness to the overall design of the staircase.
Designer: Mark A Silva
26. Origami-inspired stairs
Inspired by origami or the art of paper folding, the artisan design of the stairs adds a playful atmosphere to the interior. In addition, the floating spiral design gives a sense of movement and dynamism to the space.
Designer: ArchitectsTM
27. Showstopper Design
The C-shaped spiral staircase starts from the ceiling and continues to the floor. Contrasting shades of brown wood with black along the stairs and lots of indoor plants freshen up the look of this space and are a spectacular design feature.
Designer: SIPAL.WAFAI.Architecture
28. Abstract Masterpiece
From its swirling shape to the curved convex railing and wedge-shaped steps, this metal staircase revolves around curves, lending a decorative quality to the space. Just look at how this staircase blurs the line between art and function.
Designer: Sabrab
29. Ribbon-shaped design
The alternating ribbon-like structures in shades of white and brown act as steps and handrails, creating a dynamic geometric pattern.
Designer: Andrii Ortynskyi
30. Bright in orange
This bright and cheerful orange staircase ensures that climbing up and down this spiral staircase is cheerful. It effortlessly adds character to the neutral tones of this space.
Designer: Martin Dulanto
31. Perforated Staircase
The perforated staircase adds quirkiness and vibrancy to the space, making a bold architectural statement. The holes in the body let light through and seem to hang from the ceiling.
Designer: Michaelis Boyd
32. Dramatic Centerpiece
This cascading staircase doubles as a work of art in this dining space. It forms an extraordinary architectural element and adds a sense of drama to this spacious open plan design home.
Designer: Dieter De Vos
