ᐅ Staircase – Which Material and Design?

I need to decide on the appearance and materials for the staircase. It’s a double quarter-turn staircase in a terraced house, connecting the ground floor to the upper floor. Are there any “no-go’s” or some tried-and-true tips for this type of staircase?

The staircase will be enclosed and built over a WC and some storage space.

Now I have to choose between various types of handrails and how they are installed, the materials (beech or something else), and the colors (it can be painted in any color).

My main concern is that the staircase doesn’t look bulky in the hallway and appears somewhat elegant or visually pleasing. Is that easier to achieve with vertical balusters or with ones that run parallel to the staircase?

Are there any basic design rules (like “dark walls make the space look smaller” or “white clothing makes you look bigger”)?

I know it’s really a small detail. Choosing the staircase has been the hardest part so far.

I believe no one can make the decision about your staircase for you; it depends entirely on your personal taste and the interior of your home. Just search online for different staircases—you might find something suitable. Personally, for a terraced house staircase, I would make sure it doesn't become too dark.

Best regards,
Sabine

Consider installing the built-in closet under the stairs. In a terraced house, the hallway is probably not very large. Since there is no opening under the stairs, the hallway can look and feel noticeably cramped. We also don’t have a large hallway and decided against it for this reason.

Other than that, there are no limits, and personal preference is probably the most important factor.

If solid wood is used, I would prefer beech over pine. Beech is harder and darkens less over time. I also find black steel stringers with natural oiled oak steps very stylish. For the handrail, I prefer matte metal rods rather than high-gloss polished ones or wooden rods. A wooden handrail feels pleasant to the touch, while a metal handrail always feels like a strip club with a pole dancer. White lacquered surfaces scratch quickly with frequent use—unless you always walk barefoot indoors.
Derstappen in Lützow makes nice stairs. Check out their website.

We have white stringers and oak treads and handrails. It looks very elegant. I can only recommend it.

@Nordlysman are you mainstream

There are safety regulations for stairs that don’t necessarily apply to a typical single-family home. Keep that in mind. If you want to follow them strictly, the design can quickly become unattractive. Vertical balusters then look like prison bars, horizontal ones appear bulky if spaced according to those rules. Glass is expensive and requires maintenance.

Google, Pinterest, and your budget. Your general contractor will also be able to show two or three standard models.

The simplest option would be a steel stringer; at least consider a stringer design, as nordlys also mentioned. It’s more modern and looks a bit higher quality.