News — stair railings

This Year's Best Staircase Trends

Every year new trends emerge in the stair parts marketplace. It usually takes a few years for them to pick up steam, but once they do, you'll see it in stair remodels everywhere. Whether you prefer a classic stair design or a more modern staircase, the trends of of the year have a unique combination of the two.

Unique Iron Balusters

Iron balusters have been trending for years, but these unique designs have started to show up in stair parts shops all over the country. You can now find iron balusters with geometric shapes, arches, and various other lovely designs.

Dark Treads

Wood stairs are as classic as you can get, so it's not surprising that a new spin on this classic preference has come to the light. Designers are beginning to use darker stains and woods to give treads a striking elegance.

Natural, Eco-Friendly Wood Stairs

Going green seems to be the trendy thing to do in 2016, and staircase design is no exception. Designers have started to source wood stairs that are free of chemicals from local distributors for a more eco-friendly approach.

Minimal Staircases

The Tiny Home Movement has sparked the consumer's desire for less in their homes. And with less square footage, the more minimal the staircase, the better. Spiral staircases, staircases with stair railings, and other variations are very trendy right now.

Spring Decorating Ideas for Your Staircase

It's warming up outside and colorful flowers are coming in, springtime is definitely in the air. Spring cleaning has commenced, and bright decorations are popping up everywhere you look. If the decor in your home is going to shift for spring, don't ignore one of the most visible places in it: your staircase.

Instead, let your staircase steal the show with some beautiful spring decor. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for the season.

1. Add a springtime wrap to your handrail. Go to your favorite craft store, pick up about 15-20 feet of your favorite floral line, and wrap it around your stair railings. You can even experiment by adding the floral line to other stair parts like your iron balusters.

2. Add brightly colored, temporary wallpaper to your risers. You don't have to adjust your permanent stair design to play with this colorful addition. Simply purchase a few different springtime wallpaper designs and get started.

3. Create a springtime collage on the wall. Although this might be the most expensive idea, it is definitely a stunning one. Start by collecting images that are in line with your theme, buy matching frames for each images (or mismatch them, either way!), and get hanging! You'll love the updated look this springtime decor adds to your staircase.

How to Make Your Wood Stairs Less Slippery

Everyone loves a classic, wooden staircase. Not only do wood stairs give a timeless look to a stair remodel, but they're easy to keep clean. Unfortunately, installing wood treads can come at a price: a slippery staircase. The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent this from being the case.

The first option for slippery wood stairs is carpeting. 

Runners are good for adding a bit of luxury to any staircase, but keep in mind that if your treads are narrow, the carpeting might end up causing an even bigger hazard. Unsupported carpet at the edge of each tread could cause someone to slip. If this is the case on your wood stairs, you can also buy individual carpeting for each stair.

A coat of anti-slip paint is also an option.

You probably had no idea that you could add a layer of non-slip paint to each tread to prevent slips. This kind of paint can be found in hardware stores or online. It can be purchased in a variety of colors or as a clear coat, whichever you prefer for your staircase.

You can install a No-Slip strip.

There are a variety of adhesive strips that you can apply to your staircase to make it less slippery. The No-Slip Strip is a great option that's easy to install. They're comfortable on your feet and durable so that they can last for years to come.

Before you decide on any of the options above, be sure to check the level on each of your individual treads to make sure that none of them are slanting forward. This is a common issue that causes wood stairs to be more slippery, so if your stairs are slanting forward, you might have to consider installing new ones. You can find stair parts and everything you need for a stair remodel or project on our website. Be sure and connect with us on Google Plus.

Upgrade Ideas for Your Stair Remodel

Changing the look of your staircase is a big project, but in the end, homeowners agree that their stair remodel was always worth it. This high traffic area in your home endures a lot of wear and tear over the years, so it's important to keep your staircase looking new and your stair parts in good condition. If you're not sure what to do during your next stair remodel, check out our list of suggested upgrades below.

Under the stairs storage.

Say goodbye to wasted space and hello to your beautifully efficient stair remodel. That valuable real estate below the staircase has often been ignored in home designs, but in recent years, designers have been getting creative with the extra space. Adding this area beneath your staircase is not only practical for storage purposes, but it creates another attractive, decorative area to your home.

Add wallpaper to risers.

This simple upgrade can be done with a few rolls of wallpaper and a free Saturday. You'll want to make sure that your staircase is clean and that you have good looking wood treads in place to properly accent your new wallpaper design. The best part about this upgrade? It's easy to remove the wallpaper and change the look of your staircase any time you'd like. You can find plenty of ideas on Pinterest and other home decor websites.

Transition to iron balusters.

Trading in your old balusters for a beautiful set of iron balusters is a guaranteed way to upgrade the look of your staircase. With a variety of finishes to choose from, finding the right set of iron balusters for your home's staircase isn't a complicated process. Upgrading your staircase doesn't have to be a big, expensive project. Even the smallest additions can make a big difference.

Be sure and check out our website for all of your stair parts needs. Starting on your next stair remodel or project can be tricky, so be sure and check out our page on getting started.

How to Keep Your Staircase Clean for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us, and we find ourselves asking where has this year gone? Whether you're ready for the holidays or not, we are less than two weeks away from Thanksgiving and a little less than six weeks away from Christmas. One of the inevitable things that happens during the holiday season is an influx of foot traffic in your home. This increased traffic affects every part of your home, especially your staircase.

Keeping a clean staircase can be challenging during the holidays. Stair railings are touched by new (sometimes dirty) hands, iron balusters are grabbed and knocked, and new stair parts added this year will begin seeing some wear and tear. Remember, every part of your staircase will begin seeing some wear and tear after the holiday season, but that doesn't mean that keeping your staircase clean will be an impossible task.

Here are our top tips for keeping your staircase clean for the holiday season.

Keep your staircase clear of random objects. Occasionally you'll decorate your staircase with garland, presents, or even ornaments for the holidays, so keeping an uncluttered staircase becomes an even bigger task. Make it a family effort to keep laundry, toys and various other things off of the staircase during the holiday season. This is not only going to make for a safer environment for your visitors, but it's also going to create a clutter-free look on one of the highest traffic areas in your home.

Sweep and/or vacuum stairs. If you have a carpeted staircase, you will want to use a vacuum to pick up unwanted dirt. You may need to use your vacuum attachments to get tight corners or cracks. If you have wood stairs, you will want to use a broom to sweep dirt and debris starting on the top step. Sweep dirt from the top step down to the next step, and so on. This way, you can pick up the dirt from all of your stairs on the floor at the bottom of your staircase. If you have a combination of carpet and wood on your staircase, you will have to use both a vacuum and a broom to clean it.

Dust your treads and balusters. Keeping your stair parts dust-free adds a clean feeling to your staircase that your guests will admire. Dust accumulates on wood stairs, wood balusters, newel posts and in a variety of other places depending on your stair design. Don't forget to check the nooks and crannies that you may forget about in a routine dusting. Also, you may need to use a rag to pick up the tough dirt that's accumulated on the treads. You'll see a huge difference in the look of your staircase after you give it a good dusting.

Keeping your staircase clean during the holiday season doesn't have to be an impossible task. If you stay on top of these three things, your staircase will be safe and inviting for all of your holiday guests.

Add Color and Character to Your Stair Remodel with Paint

Your staircase might fall on one end of this spectrum or somewhere in between: is it a beautiful focal point or a boring necessity in your home? If your staircase needs some love, we have great news for you. It's easy to do a quick stair remodel with a few cheap stair parts and a fresh coat of paint.

There are a few things you need to remember if you're going to use a splash of paint to revamp your boring staircase.

If your staircase is carpeted, be sure and rip up the carpet to get the most out of your stair remodel paint job. Odds are, your staircase has some lovely wood stairs waiting for your underneath that carpeting. The wood treads are probably also pretty dirty from spending years under a carpet, so be sure and give them a good clean before you begin painting.

You will need to sweep, vacuum and even scrub them with soap in order to ensure a clean surface for the paint.

Also, be sure to use masking tape to prevent paint from getting in areas you don't want it to be.

After you've selected your paint color of choice and decided where you want it to be, paint over the area with a base color like a white gloss. You'll need to wait for this base color to dry completely, which can be difficult in a high traffic area like your staircase, so plan accordingly.

Your options are endless when it comes to design and color, so get creative and try your best to match the feel of your home. Remember, you can always replace the wood treads you find under your carpeted staircase if they're ugly or in bad condition. You might also consider replacing your balusters to match your new paint job, and you can use our stair design tool to help you make that decision.

Good luck on your next stair remodel or project. Feel free to check out our FAQ section or reach out to us with any questions you might have.