Use our basement stairs ideas to design a staircase that fits your space and complements the style of your home. From grand to simple and everything in-between, there’s something here for every type of house, including traditional, contemporary, farmhouse and more.
Consider These Basement Stairs Ideas
If the upstairs hall and basement floor are both carpeted, you’ll likely want to carpet the stairs. If you’re building new stairs or relocating the current ones, consider which areas you’re connecting before you decide on placement. Avoid connecting a noisy area to a quiet one. For example, a stairway from the basement playroom or media room near an upstairs home office or bedroom could prove disruptive.
Build stairs parallel to ceiling joists to save on installation time and materials.
Open the Stairway for an Airy Look
Removing the door to the basement and opening the enclosed stairway created a light, airy feeling in this passage to the underground living space. A bar area with two beverage refrigerators—one for wine and one for kids’ sodas—separates the lower-level family room from the guest bedroom.
Use the Staircase Wall for Storage
The basement stairs idea you select will depend on local building codes, your available space, and the style of your home. If you choose a U-shaped design like this one, consider putting the lower staircase wall to work as display and storage space. These built-in cabinets flank a basement bar area.
Take Advantage of Space Under the Stairs
Take advantage of space under the stairs to create accessible storage. Divided glass-pane doors make this smart understairs hideaway look like it’s always been there. Baskets on the shelves are stylish solutions for corraling miscellaneous things that make their way down to the basement.
Add a Transition to Basement Stairs
Stairs are transitional spaces, and the materials you choose for them convey a subliminal message about the character of the area they lead to. This run of carpeted stairs changes near the bottom to three steps with thick stone treads and stone and dark wood floors. The material shift suits the basement’s function as a wine cellar and entertaining area.
Stencil the Stairs
Add design to ordinary wood stairs with stencils for a personalized basement stairs idea. These treads were painted using floor-and-deck enamel. For safety, avoid high-gloss paints and finishes that may be slippery.
Add Style with a Custom Stair Rail
For continuity, the same stone tile used on the basement stairs continues in the guest suite in this basement. The custom-crafted stair rail features stained-glass inserts and ornaments. Work with a metalsmith to design a custom stair rail for your home.
Make a Grand Descent
This sweeping staircase is more about design than function. A staircase like this makes for an impressive descent from the upper level but also requires a lot of space.
Go Contemporary with Open Stair Treads
Open stair treads and railings of braided stainless-steel cable help preserve lower-level views and a feeling of openness in this basement stairs idea.
Save Space with a Spiral Staircase
Spiral stairs provide contemporary style and usually occupy less room than other basement stair ideas. Typically 4 to 6 feet in diameter, they need little floor space. Building codes often prohibit spiral staircases in rooms larger than 400 square feet, making them unsuitable for larger basements.
Bear in mind, however, that you won’t be able to move furniture or other large objects into the basement via spiral stairs, so plan to add decor to the room another way.
