'Builders will often see the most straightforward solution in terms of how easy it will be to build but not necessarily the best design solution for your home.' - Hugo Tugman, Architect Your Home

Materials and Styles
Wood may be the material that springs to mind, but concrete, steel and glass are also used in contemporary designs. Or try combining wooden treads with steel or glass balustrades – simply stunning! Before you make up your mind, think about who’s going to be using the stairs as hard, unforgiving surfaces and minimal banisters without much grip may not be the ideal solution for households with children or elderly relatives.

The most common types of staircase are straight, curved, and cantilevered, where just one side is fixed into a supporting wall, and banisters are glass or slimline steel, giving the effect that the stairs are floating in space. This is a fabulous way to make your home look bigger, but you’ll have to do without storage underneath, so consider which is more important to you. Spiral stairs take up little room so suit limited spaces, and are often found in mews houses and period cottages, as well as in loft-apartments. However, they’re not child-friendly and it’s tricky carrying furniture up and down them, so go for alternative styles if you can.

You may not need to replace your staircase completely to give it a more up to date look. Think about opening up your hallway by replacing solid banisters with stainless steel or wooden spindles, or opt for a minimal approach with sheet glass sides – though you’ll need plenty of elbow grease to keep them gleaming and fingerprint free.