Stair Banister Ideas to Match Your Staircase

In this guide, our team has selected their seven favourite stair banister ideas to complete the design of your staircase. With so many stair banister ideas to choose from online, it can be difficult to choose a favourite. However, something that may help you decide on a stair bannister idea is how it will look alongside your staircase and interior design elements.  

For example, if you have a wood railing, that might go well with a white staircase as the two tones complement each other well. If you opt for a wrought iron stair bannister idea, this design usually goes well with a dark wood staircase, or dark painted stairs. The key is to ensure your stair railing design complements your staircase, wall and the interior design of your hallway (or whenever your modern staircase is located).

Take a look below at some of our favourite stair banister ideas and top decorating ideas when it comes to staircase railings and banisters.

Natural Wood Stair Banisters

Let’s start with a classic, shall we? Modern wooden stair railings or banisters are a timeless addition to any home. A beautifully crafted wood stair rail can look fantastic in both traditional and modern homes and can become a focal point of the room. 

If you are renovating an old wood stair rail, try to preserve as much of the original as possible, this means leaving them unpainted and allowing any wood stain to highlight the natural grain of the wood. If you are painting your staircase, we’d always recommend opting for a wood stain or something that is able to preserve the beauty of natural timber. 

Works well with: stair rods and carpet runners

Wood stair banisters always look great with modern carpet runners and door bars. They offer a timeless and stylish finish that can set the tone for the rest of the room.

Painted Stair Banisters 

Painting stair banisters is another great way to renovate a tired-looking staircase or stair railing. Painting your staircase is one of the most cost-effective and creative ways to transform it. Again, it’s important to consider the design of your staircase wall as well as the rest of the room’s decor to ensure no colours clash and the final design looks great. If your staircase is a wood colour, black or white bannisters are very popular choices. Refer to a colour wheel if you want to know what colours combine well together. Alternatively, you can paint your staircase in a variety of different colours if you want your staircase to be the feature piece of the room!

Works well with: painted stairs, stair rods and carpet runners

Again, painted banisters look great if you have a wooden staircase. Just be sure that the colour you paint your banister complements the carpet runners and bars of your staircase. 

Stair Banisters that Take a Backseat

In some cases, you may not be looking to make your stair banister or hand railing the main focal point of the staircase or the room. This might be the case if the rest of your room is adorned with bespoke trim work and staircase wall designs or art. Having a banister that pops out might make the room, or at least the staircase, look a bit too loud and messy.

Instead, consider a thinner staircase railing that is able to fade into the background. Choose a stair banister idea that features thin rail designs as this will allow other design elements of your staircase to take centre stage. 

Works well with: painted stairs, stair rods and carpet runners

A simple stair runner and rod would work well with simple staircases and banisters if it’s able to merge and complement the simplicity of the banister. For example, a white banister and a cream carpet runner would work well.

Wrought Iron Stair Railings

This type of stair railing works well in both domestic and commercial spaces because of its simple, yet powerful appearance. Wrought iron is becoming increasingly popular because of its versatility and striking design. It requires minimal upkeep because it’s designed to look rustic and it’s relatively affordable compared to other stair banister ideas. 

Wrought iron stair railings look great when installed on wooden, metal or concrete stairs in both domestic and commercial spaces. Combine your wrought iron railing with dark woods for the best aesthetics.

Works well with: stair rods and carpet runners

Again, painted banisters look great if you have a wooden staircase. Just be sure that the colour you paint your banister complements the carpet runners and bars of your staircase. 

Floating Staircases

Floating staircases are becoming very popular in modern homes because of their unique design. As their names suggest, floating staircases are designed to make the treads look as though they’re floating. This means the risers are removed leaving the treads exposed. Despite the floating design, it doesn’t limit your stair banister ideas. You can opt for floor to ceiling banisters, a curved banister or a traditional L-shaped banister. As long as the treads join to both the supporting wall and the banister, you’re free to choose whatever design you like. 

Works well with: stair grips, painted stairs

Floating staircases are best left untouched when it comes to additions. The beauty lies in their simplicity, but if you did want to add in some stair grips for safety purposes, consider buying some that are the same colour as the stairs.

Custom Railings

If you’ve opted for a metal railing design, you can experiment with the design and style of the actual railings. Some like their railings and balusters to look like blades of grass or tree branches for a natural design – which would look great with a wooden staircase. 

Works well with: stair rods and carpet runners

Custom railings should be the focal point of your staircase, but there’s no reason why you can’t install a carpet runner or door bars. Be sure it matches with the intricate design and doesn’t negate the intricacy of the railings.

Intricate Banisters

A similar concept to custom railings, intricate banisters are banisters that feature an ornate or traditional styling. This works with both metal and wood banisters and there are a range of styles to choose from online or you can get them custom-built. Intricate banisters are great for attracting attention without blocking incoming light. Intricate banisters can be installed to fit any type of staircase, including floating, L-shaped and curved staircases.

Works well with: stair rods and carpet runners

Again, intricate banisters are a work of art and don’t need any further additions. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to decorate the staircase wall or treads, but it’s worth noting that this may detract from the design of your banister.

Looking to Complete Your Stair Banister Idea?

Once you have decided on a stair banister idea, why not go the extra mile and consider your staircase design? We actually have DIY guides on how to paint your stairs, DIY stair wall design ideas and we even sell a range of carpet runners and stair rods to complete the look of your staircase. 

Take a look at our carpet runners and stair rods and bars today to help complete your stair design idea.