Tips & Techniques

STAIRCASE LIGHTING IDEAS

Staircase

Here are our 8 staircase lighting ideas to inspire you for your home. When considering staircase lighting, the design of the staircase, construction and desired effects are the key elements to consider, along with finish and texture. A staircase is the central spine of your home, linking spaces and people together. It should be functional and sculptural, and staircase lighting can make a real difference.

In most cases, lighting on staircases isn’t purely a decorative theme, it also serves a very real function in terms of safety. Glare should be avoided and maintenance considered, whilst using interior lighting to enhance the form can add beauty and softness.

1. INDIVIDUAL STAIR LIGHTS

A great way to add interest to a staircase is to add wall recessed stair lights such as the Cazalla, Lecco or Lucca 30. This can create a real wow factor whether in stone stairs or more classic carpeted stairs.

view of hall into stairs with lighting to stair treads
2. SKIM LIGHT OVER STEPS

Here you can see miniature wall recessed Lucca 30 have been used every other tread to wash light over the tread. Here they are placed closer to the steps for more of a skimming effect across the tread.

Curved staircase with low level light skimming across every third tread
3. ADD A NICHE OR TWO

A great effect with plenty of impact instead of a wall light would be to create a niche or series of niches as shown here. These can be lit with miniature Polespring 30 downlights to add drama. Combine these with Cazalla or Lecco steplights for the perfect layered scheme for your staircase lighting.

downlit niches on staircase
4. IDEA FOR OPEN RISER STAIRS

For open riser staircases, the light source can be hidden from view under each tread. When not illuminated the Contour LED strip recessed into the underside of the step is invisible. When lit it creates a beautifully soft floating effect. This lights the tread below as well as casting wonderful shadows under the staircase.

hall with underlit stairs and uplit courtyard beyond
5. LIGHT UP ANY TEXTURE

Texture is a great feature to light in your home as it emphasises its variations. This staircase goes from top to bottom of this new build property featuring a brick wall behind. To maximise its impact, we choose to conceal a warm white Contour LED strip either side.  This not only shows off the height but also the warm colour of the bricks.

brick wall behind staircase with lighting from either side
6. ADD AN ELEMENT OF UPLIGHT

Another way to light a textured staircase is to add an element of uplight to make a real feature of the texture. Here Lucca 30 uplights add drama and light your way up the stairs.

uplit textured wall on staircase
7. CONSIDER A DECORATIVE ELEMENT

Another way of adding localised light to a staircase, whether traditional or contemporary is with a pendant in the centre which drops down between the treads. This can bring ambient lighting down the length of the staircase. Think of combining this with some architectural lighting such as adding Contour LED strip to the underside and as an uplight to add further interest.

pendant hanging in traditional staircase with linear led strip behind
8. LIGHT THE DARK UNDERSIDE OF A STAIRCASE

The underside of staircases are often dark forgotten spaces.  Consider adding the same Contour LED LED tape underneath for a glow to this usually dark space. This works well for this sweeping double staircase. In addition, the orchid plants are lit either side with Polespring 40 downlights.

sweeping staircase underlit with orchids either side
1. INDIVIDUAL STAIR LIGHTS

A great way to add interest to a staircase is to add wall recessed stair lights such as the Cazalla, Lecco or Lucca 30. This can create a real wow factor whether in stone stairs or more classic carpeted stairs.

view of hall into stairs with lighting to stair treads
2. SKIM LIGHT OVER STEPS

Here you can see miniature wall recessed Lucca 30 have been used every other tread to wash light over the tread. Here they are placed closer to the steps for more of a skimming effect across the tread.

Curved staircase with low level light skimming across every third tread
3. ADD A NICHE OR TWO

A great effect with plenty of impact instead of a wall light would be to create a niche or series of niches as shown here. These can be lit with miniature Polespring 30 downlights to add drama. Combine these with Cazalla or Lecco steplights for the perfect layered scheme for your staircase lighting.

4. IDEA FOR OPEN RISER STAIRS

For open riser staircases, the light source can be hidden from view under each tread. When not illuminated the Contour LED strip recessed into the underside of the step is invisible. When lit it creates a beautifully soft floating effect. This lights the tread below as well as casting wonderful shadows under the staircase.

hall with underlit stairs and uplit courtyard beyond
5. LIGHT UP ANY TEXTURE

Texture is a great feature to light in your home as it emphasises its variations. This staircase goes from top to bottom of this new build property featuring a brick wall behind. To maximise its impact, we choose to conceal a warm white Contour LED strip either side.  This not only shows off the height but also the warm colour of the bricks.

brick wall behind staircase with lighting from either side
6. ADD AN ELEMENT OF UPLIGHT

Another way to light a textured staircase is to add an element of uplight to make a real feature of the texture. Here Lucca 30 uplights add drama and light your way up the stairs.

uplit textured wall on staircase
7. CONSIDER A DECORATIVE ELEMENT

Another way of adding localised light to a staircase, whether traditional or contemporary is with a pendant in the centre which drops down between the treads. This can bring ambient lighting down the length of the staircase. Think of combining this with some architectural lighting such as adding Contour LED strip to the underside and as an uplight to add further interest.

pendant hanging in traditional staircase with linear led strip behind
8. LIGHT THE DARK UNDERSIDE OF A STAIRCASE

The underside of staircases are often dark forgotten spaces.  Consider adding the same Contour LED LED tape underneath for a glow to this usually dark space. This works well for this sweeping double staircase. In addition, the orchid plants are lit either side with Polespring 40 downlights.

sweeping staircase underlit with orchids either side