5 Easy Oak Staircase Ideas for Stunning Interior Design

Oak staircases are not only beautiful and long-lasting staircase designs – but they respond well to simple interior design ideas. You can spruce up an old oak staircase, create a high-quality finish for a new staircase or simply give yourself a bespoke staircase finish that sets you apart from the crowd.

Wood is a traditional material for staircases that have endured through the ages. Wooden staircases such as oak are perfect for custom designs for the following reasons:

• Replaceable parts: Oak spindles and newel posts are relatively simple to remove, repair, replace – or decorate. As a result, oak stairs can open your space up to many design opportunities on each of the individual stair parts.
• Low costs: Wood such as oak is a relatively low cost but highly versatile staircase material, so you can be bold with your design choices without worrying that you are ruining a precious commodity! Oak is easy to source.
• You can wipe the slate clean: The appearance of oak or other wooden staircases are a timeless classic, and you can strip back all of the decorating you carry out and recreate that clean look should your tastes change.

As providers of many stair parts such as rods and brackets, thresholds and stair runners we know the subtleties of stair decor, and we are happy to share top tips for better interior design. Browse and buy the fantastic products we have for sale, with free delivery on orders over £75 or get in touch if you have any questions.

Our 5 Simple Tips & Oak Staircase Design Ideas

You will see that we offer a diverse selection of high-quality products that will enhance your home decor when you buy – and there are several oak staircase ideas that you can try that will not be costly and are quite simple to do yourself.

Oak is a very responsive material, providing a surface and texture that is ideal for decorating. So, to refresh the oak staircase in your home you can try the following:

1. Paint Some or All of the Stair Parts for Contrast

One of the most simple and cost-effective strategies for any wooden staircase design is applying paint. You can paint individual stair parts in different colours for contrast. You do not need to use a striking colour scheme to make a big impact.

You can try leaving the bannister its natural colour and painting the spindles and newels in solid paint that also matches your walls. If your staircase is white oak, which is quite bright already, try painting parts using darker colours for variety.

Wood such as oak is easy to paint and it is relatively simple to remove the paint and redecorate down the line by using sandpaper and paint remover. For a very bold look and powerful visual focal point, you can try painting the entire staircase.

2. Add a Stair Runner to Incorporate Soft Textures

One of the best oak staircase ideas for an instant impact is to add a simple stair runner. Runners add a splash of colour to the stairs as well as a contrast in texture. The use of carpet runners also makes it more comfortable to walk on than wood.

By covering most areas of the stair treads and risers you create a more continuous appearance, which will make the stairs feel as if they flow upwards in a smooth motion as opposed to step-by-step. This is perfect for long and winding staircases.

Stair runners are held in place by rods and brackets, so you have further design opportunities here. Stair rod ideas for oak staircases include chrome, pewter or black colours, as they out from the oak texture and draw focus to the runner.

3. Change the Spindle and Newel Design

You can switch out the spindles and newels with different types for a fresh look. For example, stop-chamfered spindles, which are square at the top and bottom with a narrower middle, can give your staircase a sleeker and smoother look.

Other types of stair spindles include the following, which will all make excellent oak staircase ideas – depending on your tastes and existing decoration style:

• Square: A blocky, angular spindle – reminiscent of art deco design.
• Square tapered: A spindle that is square in the top and rounded in the middle.
• Stop chamfered: This style is square at the top with a narrower but still square-shaped middle section.
• Twist spindles: Spindle varieties with a curved look, including single, double and barley twist designs.
• Edwardian: A classic, more ornate and rounded design – similar to a period table leg.

You can also change the style of your spindles, switching from cut string to closed string or vice versa. Cut string spindles go directly into the steps whereas close string spindles are slightly raised by fixing them to a base rail.

Another idea is to change the materials of your oak spindles entirely, such as metal or even glass panels. This may be slightly more expensive than simply modifying your existing oak spindles – but can it make a huge visual impact.

4. Create a Feature Step to Separate Spaces

You might be a bit intimidated by the prospect of a big modification or addition to your entire staircase, such as replacing all the spindles, but one of the less involved yet effective oak staircase ideas is the addition of a new feature step.

A feature step is simply a step or steps (typically from one to three) that are not like the others – so they will stand out. This will typically be on the bottom step or steps, and there are a few simple things you can do to create a compelling design.

Removing existing runners is a good option, but you could also simply paint the step too – anything to make it different from the rest of the staircase. Feature steps can make for a cleaner look as well as delineating upstairs and downstairs.

5. Apply Varnishes of Polishes for Protection and Gloss

Polish and varnish are one of the best oak staircase ideas that almost anyone can do. Polish and varnish can add a sheen to your steps, treads, spindles and newel posts or bannisters – and there are many shades and colours to choose from too!

Varnish also adds a protective layer that will stop the wooden stairs from chipping or scratching through regular use or heavy impacts. It is easy to apply varnish or polish with a simple paintbrush. Try testing a small patch first as an experiment.

Many varnishes use a water-based polyurethane substance that is translucent but will add a glossy finish to the wood. These are the best option if you wish to keep a natural tone and hue of the oak. Varnish is an option that you can remove too.

Cost-Effective and Simple Oak Staircase Ideas from Stair Experts

We offer a wide range of high-quality stair parts and decorative products for sale on our homepage, so make sure you browse and buy online for some of the best designs. Getting parts for stairs can be expensive as they are bulky in most cases – but we eliminate this problem as we offer free UK delivery on all orders over £75.

Oak staircase ideas include some simple things like painting or varnishing, but replacing spindles, adding runners and other small modifications are also quite easy and low cost to try – and can do wonders for your home decor!

Please get in touch with us if you have a question about a product or have trouble buying.