Whether for practical purposes or for the sake of design, having well-lit stairs is incredibly invaluable. Do you know about two thousand individuals were sacrificed to the lord of the dark stairs every year? Well, that was a morbid start. But it’s true: many deaths are caused by falling off stairs. Hence, the urgency of this article and how pertinent it is for you to read it! In this post, we’ll be climbing through the many ways you can light up your stairs at home or in your cafe. Hold up! If you think that’s all we’re about to get into, you’re wrong. We’re not only all about function but also deeply concerned about form. Light fixtures can add such grandeur to every step you take as you ascend. If you haven’t already, do check out our immensely helpful article on different ways to brightening your space. That being said, let’s get this show on the road – or on the stairs!
ONE : Cove lighting
Cove lighting, while being simple and delicate, is loud and attention-seeking making it a very chic way to dress your stairs. This style of lighting is very forgiving to a novice designer due to its versatile nature. A common way owners do cove lighting is by inserting fluorescent lights under the edges of steps. A structure like this requires planning as the proper recesses needs to be made for the fluorescent lights to sit comfortably without showing. If you’re planning to add cove lighting to your existing steps, a cheaper alternative would be to install cove lights along the handrails or lining them along the inclination of the stairs with a build on partition.
TWO : Wall lights
This point is such a no-brainer that we almost decided against including it in this list. However, we did say we’re interested in form so it would be criminal of us not to go into how you can play around with your wall lights! There are two important points to note when choosing and installing your wall lights: Height and frequency. In terms of height, it is a choice between positioning your lights low and closer to the stairs or a few feet above. Probably the largest deciding factor is the height of your ceiling. Is your ceiling high or low? For those with high ceilings, going for a wall light that is positioned at a higher level will accentuate the stature of your wall and add a little something to the broad, plain surface. On the other hand, if your ceiling is lower, focus more on creating depth by installing lower wall lights. Other factors to take into consideration are wallpapering, photos, and the presence of hand railings.
A second point of consideration is frequency. This is largely dependent on the size of your light fixtures. If they lean on the larger end, opt for a lower frequency to prevent your wall from looking too cluttered. A high frequency is suitable for smaller and less bright lights: they help adorn the walls with a nice, consistent pattern. Some other factors you might want to consider are the darkness of your staircase and the height of your steps.
THREE : Hanging lights
A growing number of homes and industrial style cafes are beginning to sport the classic spiral staircase. While it provides your space with a romantic atmosphere, it also carries a vintage, olden Singaporean vibe to it. To enhance just a lovely feature in your space, a helpful tip is to install hanging lights that fall in the middle of the spiral. The glow will pull the attention of visitors’ eyes and give life to your spiral staircase. The air well creates room to experiment with different lengths of hanging lights. Add character to your stairs by opting for a simple design and playing with varying heights. Note that this is not limited to spiral staircases: staircases with any sort of air well is suitable for this style.
For those without a spiral staircase, don’t worry! You have the chance to dabble into the arena of hanging lights by going for a flat design that creates the same ‘lengthened air well’ effect without compromising too much on space. Go for smaller and simpler light fixtures to nail this. An alternative is to install one statement hanging light at the junction or bottom of your stairs. This will prevent you from over-complicating your space but at the same time allows you to inject some personality to a conventionally overlooked area.
Loving how the spaces above turned out? Check out Screed’s wide selection of Edison bulbs and the Yng Five Leaflet Uranium Lamp to get started!
FOUR : Candles
Candles are all the rage now and there are so many different candles retailers popping up around the country. The array they offer is vast: varying in size, shape, and scent! Not everyone will think of adding candles to their steps because of the commitment involved in lighting and extinguishing the flames. Our take: It is worth it! Especially if you’re a café owner! Can you imagine your clients climbing up to the second floor with the sweet scent of vanilla wafting in the air and the romantic glow of the flickering light? It will give them such a sweet experience! We personally love the affordable options the guys at Yankee Candle has to offer. Complement your candles with little potted plants to add colour and variation to the your staircase ornaments. Take your scent game up a notch by placing natural room scents with you candles! We love the The Yummy Life‘s post on this DIY!
If you’re not a fan of scents, IKEA offers unscented candles at a dirt cheap price. Another plus point of candles is the amount of space it allows for personalization. You can find candle holders to match the theme of your space or DIY a candle holder. Adorn them with flower petals or slot them on candle stands: for inspiration, check out Screed’s Pinterest board of candle DIYs! Don’t forget to follow us while you’re at it (you won’t regret it!).
Hot tip! Opt for lemongrass, rosemary or marigold scented candles to ward off the bugs – Yes, this include those pesky mosquitoes! Say no to involuntary blood donation! Public safety announcement: Use a decorative candle bulb to provide a safer environment for children to wander around.
FIVE : Standing lamps
Standing lamps are an unconventional choice for most designers when it comes to dressing up staircases as there is the tendency for it to look like clutter. However, if you follow our advice on frequency, you’re one step closer to nailing the lamp and stairs look. Not only do standing lamps present a safer alternative to using candles, they’re also an opportunity to incorporate the staircase into the overall theme of your space without burning a hole in your pocket! Not to mention the flexibility you get from not having to permanently mount something onto your staircase and walls. Was that a sigh of relief from commitment-phobics? Glad that we can help!
For those who are deathly worried about clutter, especially on the floor, one great way to utilise standing lamps is to install shelving spaces for the lamps to stand on. These shelving units can be easily purchased from IKEA and self-installed. If you play around with placement and levels, it might turn out to be your very own wall art! Get creative here. The shelves also allow for side decorations with your lamps or can be entirely replaced with a photo frame – your call!
We hope that this article has enlightened you on how you can brighten your stairs in a stylish and exciting way. There are many more ways you can add sophistication and light to your stairs, so comment down below if you are eager for more! If you tried out any of these ideas or have your own idea to share, post the picture up on FaceBook and tag us in your post! We love to see your recreations.
