Stair Lighting Ideas: 6 Beautiful Ways to Illuminate Your Staircase
Browsing the web for home décor inspiration, you come across some stair lighting ideas that catch your eye. These staircases are beautifully lit with unique lighting fixtures, creating captivating focal points that draw you into each interior and produce a welcoming ambience.
Looking up at your staircase, you realise its appearance leaves much to be desired in comparison. The space is dark, dull, and neglected, not at all an extension of the inviting atmosphere that you’ve worked so hard to curate in the rest of your home.
Simply choosing the right lighting is all you need to brighten up your staircase and transform it into an eye-catching feature that blends seamlessly with your interior design. Get inspired with these remarkable stair lighting ideas.
Beautifully illuminate your space with staircase lighting
When curating a staircase lighting scheme, we need to think a little differently than we would when selecting lighting for other rooms in our homes. Staircase lighting needs to provide clear visibility so that everyone can use the stairs safely, but it also needs to take into consideration the irregular shape of the space, which is typically narrow and steep.
This means that some classic lighting ideas simply won’t work. However, it does open your stairs up to a whole new and exciting world of lighting designs.
Stair ceiling lighting ideas: Styles to suit all interiors
Ceiling lights above the staircase are a must to ensure the stairs are properly illuminated and safe to use. But despite their practical purpose, stair ceiling lights don’t have to be boring.
From minimalist pendant fixtures to statement chandeliers, there are several beautiful ceiling lighting options that are perfect for giving your staircase a much-needed makeover.
Staircase lighting ideas for low ceilings
When heading upstairs after a long day, the last thing you want is to hit your head on ceiling lights that are far too big for the space. If the ceiling above your stairs is low, make sure to opt for overhead lighting that is compact and minimalist while still maintaining visual intrigue.
Product pick: Stair lighting that spreads outwards instead of downwards is great for low ceilings. Opt for the Black Hoxton ceiling light to add a touch of simple elegance to your staircase.
Left: image courtesy of @home.shil.home
Express your personality with pendant lights
For something bold and fun, pendant lights are an excellent stair lighting idea. Even the most modest of staircases can be transformed into striking features with the addition of pendant lights that complement your décor.
Product pick: With its pleasing shapes and elegant pattern, the Pod multi-pendant light looks stunning in any home interior. Suspend this right above your staircase to create an eye-catching focal point.
‘A stunning cascading pendant light adds interest and grandeur to any staircase, providing a focal point for what can be a somewhat neglected decorative space’, says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, CEO and co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds. ‘Use it with a dimmer switch to adjust the welcoming glow to suit the time of day; you might not want the full effect first thing in the morning or last thing at night!’
Make a statement with a chandelier
Larger staircases and landings offer plenty of room for statement lighting like contemporary chandeliers. This is an easy yet beautiful way to transform an otherwise unexceptional space into one of your home’s most captivating features.
Product pick: For a modern twist on a traditional chandelier style, opt for the Gold Amberley Chandelier. With its magnificent design, this chandelier will effortlessly make your staircase look more elegant and welcoming.
Wall lights for staircases: Discover the right fit for your space
Incorporating ambient wall lighting into your staircase lighting scheme is an excellent way to illuminate the stairs while also adding visual intrigue to the space.
Wall lights can be staggered along the staircase for a decorative flair that is as practical as it is eye-catching. However, it’s important to choose a style that fits your space correctly and complements the overall design aesthetic of your home.
Practical wall lighting for narrow staircases
If your staircase is narrow, you’ll need to find wall lights that don’t hinder the use of the stairs. Traditional wall sconces tend to protrude quite considerably and may create an obstacle, which is not only inconvenient and dangerous but may also make the staircase feel even narrower than it really is.
To make your narrow staircase more open and inviting, choose wall lights that make a statement without taking up too much space.
Product pick: The Gold Belgravia wall light is an excellent option for narrow staircases, with its long and slender design creating the illusion of a much larger space.
Emphasise the grandeur of larger staircases by choosing opulent wall lights that add a timeless feel. The flattering illumination provided by these lights will enhance both your staircase’s visual appeal and the overall ambience of your hallway.
Product pick: Choose the Gold Waldorf Wall Light to introduce a touch of understated sophistication.
Layer your staircase lighting
Just like you would in your living room, consider how many light sources you have illuminating your stairs. Functional task lighting is a necessity when it comes to cleaning and vacuuming the stairs, while low-level ambient lighting is best for creating a calming ambience in the evening, especially in an open-plan space.
Try to aim for at least three different light sources around your stairs to ensure that all bases are covered. Combining ceiling lights, wall lights, and a table lamp if you have a landing, is always a good option in terms of both practicality and style. It adds depth to your space, which cultivates another layer of visual intrigue to the surrounding décor.
Show us your stair lighting ideas
We’d love to see how you’ve incorporated these stair lighting ideas into your home. Tag @dowsingandreynolds on Instagram – we can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!
Feature image courtesy of @cotty_lee
