15 Chic Stair Railing Ideas to Update Your Staircase
Every stairway comes with a stair railing that someone thought was the perfect choice. But if it's not your preference, you can change it! Stair railing design is an important consideration—it varies from traditional to modern to rustic to classic, and your staircase should have the railing that matches YOUR interior design style. Giving your staircase railing a makeover will change the entire look of your stairs, and it is totally worth the time and money!
These chic stair railing ideas will inspire you to update your stairs and create the staircase of your dreams. The right railing and a few updated stair parts can instantly update a boring basic into a beautiful staircase. You won't believe how one small design change can have such a dramatic impact!
Let's look at 15 stair railing ideas to inspire you!
Classic Pool Cue Balusters
Last year, we completed a full staircase makeover, including installing a stair runner and completely updating our wood stair railing by replacing the balusters/spindles. We chose classic wooden pool cue balusters to replace the ornate iron balusters that were just NOT our style.
We painted the new spindles the same blue color we used for the DIY board and batten in the stairwell, transforming our entryway! By totally revamping our stair railing with a contemporary look and making it our style, our staircase now blends with the rest of our home beautifully.
Modern Black Cable Railing
This DIYer gave her whole stairway a dramatic renovation, but the gorgeous wood and iron railing system is what really makes the design. I love the clean lines, modern look, and how open it makes the space feel going into the living room. The thin metal allows lots of light through and keeps the whole staircase from feeling too heavy and dark. This is a great option for small spaces.
Updated Iron Balusters
Lauren replaced her old, ornate wrought iron balusters with a much more simple solution—modern iron stair railings. She reused the same wood handrail and updated it by painting it black. These changes revamped the look of her foyer and were exactly the right design to match her home decor and style better.
Metal Stair Railing with Glass Panels
This staircase is totally non-traditional, but I absolutely love it! The funky, eclectic style in this old house works perfectly with the modern stair railing. The industrial feel of the metal railings and glass plays perfectly with the brick, and that stripe is the perfect added touch of flair! These are more than stairs—they're statement pieces. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and away from traditional design when you are thinking about new stair railing ideas.
Modern Farmhouse Metal Stair Railings
This picture-perfect home has metal railings that are unexpected but look absolutely perfect. The horizontal black metal balusters, white walls, and light wood stair treads leave the staircase feeling open and airy. You can't go wrong with horizontal barristers if you're looking for modern stair railing ideas. It's the ultimate simple design that makes a home feel fresh.
Wooden Handrails with Metal Balusters
A wood banister with metal balusters and a lower metal handrail gives this modern wooden staircase a cool look. The metal portion doesn't look like indoor stair railings, but the wood softens up the industrial look and balances it perfectly with the wood stairs, making it a cool and creative contemporary design choice.
DIY Oak Banister Makeover
This DIY'er gave their wood railings a complete overhaul! They changed out the balusters and the handrail and created a new newel post for a totally updated look. Home renovations like this DIY stair makeover can seem scary, but they are actually very doable, and the end result is gorgeous! It feels like a brand-new space without changing the original layout of the home.
Sweeping Curved Staircase
I love the drama of a curved staircase, and this gorgeous traditional set of stairs brings it. The black stair risers and black railing with the white spindles are perfect—the dark color showcases the curve while the white lets the artwork and light fixture show.
Custom Wood Railing and Balusters
Custom woodwork on your staircase adds interesting details. The specially designed stair rails and balusters in this home play off the board and batten perfectly, giving the staircase that special touch. Even though it is all white, the architectural design and details provide lots of texture and set the stair railing apart.
Modern Design in an Old Home
This designer updated their staircase by painting just the handrail and newel posts black. They pop against the bright white walls and spindles, offering the perfect accent to modern chic art and cool lighting. It's such a fresh look with great aesthetic appeal.
Some stairwells don't have the space or architecture to support balusters under the handrails. That does not mean you cannot give your banister a makeover and bring it up to date with the style of the rest of your home!
Modern Handrail with No Balusters
Our old house had a modern staircase design and a unique handrail. Whenever I posted a picture of our DIY carpet to hardwood stair renovation or showed the flat banister in another DIY, someone asked me how we made it! It was original to the house's previous owner, but we did paint it to match our trim so that it really stood out. I loved that the unique staircase railing design added an interesting focal point on the stairs.
Chunky Handrail on Plank Wall
This staircase already had the perfect handrail in place, and their DIY only improved it! They added the plank wall detail, and I love that it mimics balusters. The gorgeous wood stain treads with the black stair rail and white wall are classic! It's a perfect balance of timeless appeal and sleek, modern simplicity.
Rounded Handrail with Brass Accents
This chic DIY handrail dressed up the classic look of a white oak banister with brass end caps and brackets. I love the ingenuity of taking something not very exciting and adding accents that completely change the look. It dresses up the stairwell and looks perfect with the runner.
Lucite Handrail
This banister is the stuff of design dreams! Haneen replaced the boring, plain handrail with this Lucite handrail with brass brackets, and the change is dramatic, giving the look of glass railings. If you want to dress up your space instantly, Lucite is a great way to do it!
Simple Handrail On One Side
This basement staircase keeps it very simple, but it works! One side is open and totally without any handrail, which keeps the space open and not too tight. The other side is just a white-painted stair rail attached to the wall. Sometimes, simple really is best. In this case, the plain stair rails let the painted runner on the stairs take center stage! It's a great contrast with the dark color of the floor.
Are you feeling inspired by these incredible stair railing ideas?! I hope you have discovered one that will blend in with the aesthetic and style of your home. There's just no reason to live with a stair railing someone else picked out years ago that isn't your style! Bring your indoor stairs up to date and choose a new handrail that fits your style and makes your stairwell a beautiful focal point for your home.
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