Staircases are almost always focal points for the spaces they are in. It’s in their nature. Whether it’s their look, functionality or something else about them, stairs are always eye-catching. The things that can make a flight of stairs stand out are extremely numerous and very diverse. We’ve challenged ourselves to find 69things that can make a staircase special and these are our findings.

Built-in storage

Stairs take up a lot of space no matter what type of staircase you choose for your home. That’s why concealing some storage inside of them is a wonderful idea. Looking at these brightly-colored stairs, you wouldn’t suspect that there’s anything hidden within.{found on spotless}.

The same thing goes here. This time the stairs hide pull-out drawers which are perfect for the storage of shoes and lots of other things. Let this design created byZugai Strudwick Architectsinspire you.

The carved out slits give away the fact that there’s something unusual about these stairs. Not only that they offer storage for all the shoes but there’s also a secret pull-out wine rack in there.{found onElia Barbieri}.

In case you want to keep the stair treads small and simple, you can have some storage hidden in the side of the staircase. It can be like a secret wall nook similar to the one thatFraher Architectsdesigned for this staircase.

Another possibility for staircases with floating stairs or other similar designs is to have some storage integrated into a platform that is basically just an elongated bottom tread.{found onPost Architecture}.

Another possibility is to put all the storage on the side of the staircase or on the adjacent wall that supports it. Here you can see a combination of pull-out shelves and open compartments.L’atelier mieldesigned such a staircase for one of their projects.

Glass stairs

A lot of staircases are made of wood and while they too can hide lots of interesting features, a staircase made of glass tends to be more intriguing. These ones are particularly interesting thanks to their origami-inspired design.{found onIncorporated Architecture & Design}.

Geometric forms

These wedge-shaped stairs are pretty intriguing as well. They look slender and sleek but at the same time they have a solid look. Their clean and minimalist forms are a perfect fit for contemporary decors. This was a custom design by3ndy Studio.

Industrial staircases

You have to admit that an iron staircase kind of stands out no matter where it is. Industrial staircases are usually imposing but not in an opulent kind of way.

To tone down the cool and rough look of the metal frame, you can opt for wooden stair treads. The combination is a pretty common one in industrial interiors. Reclaimed wood would be a great fit.{found onGiles Pike Architects}.

Built-in bookshelves

When you think about it, staircases and bookshelves go hand in hand. A lot of interesting combinations can be created and one example is this floor-to-ceiling bookcase which hides an interesting feature: a camouflaged flight of stairs that offer access to the loft space.{found on Craft Design}.

If the need for storage is greater than the need of a traditional staircase, this design could work wonderfully. The stairs are big and they each offer lots of room underneath for several rows of books.It’s a design bymlnp Architectswhich really inspires us to think outside the box.

The stairs and bookshelves combo is very nicely balanced here. The bookcase is a series of open geometric compartments of different shapes and sizes and the stairs are hanging and appear to be floatingLuigi Rosselli Architects}.

A similar combination is displayed here. The different is that the stairs are partially supported by the shelving unit forming continuous lines but also by the rods on the other side.{found onMaxwan Architects}.

It’s hard to say where this is mainly a bookcase or a staircase. Both functions are equally well integrated into the design. This interesting combo is the work ofMarc Koehler Architectsand it perfectly describes the concept we had in mind.

These out these interesting stairs which seem to be made out of individual box-like modules. The row of modules placed against the walls doesn’t really double as anything else. The other row, however, offers storage inside the hollow modules.{found onGeneral Assembly}.

It’s a little bit easier to have the stairs built with longer treads so they can accommodate books underneath them. This staircase also adds a slide to that mix.{found onMoon Hoon}.

This is a perfect combination of stairs and geometric shelves. The unit is designed with a zig-zag shape and a partial shell that serves as a staircase. The stairs are also supported with ropes attached to the ceiling.

Colorful design

If you want your décor to be playful and fun, one way to achieve that is by painting an otherwise simple staircase. Each stair is a different color and together they form a beautiful rainbow.The inspiration here is provided by a project designed byAndy Martin Architecture.

Stairs without railings

Staircases usually have railings and for a design to lack this feature instantly means that there’s something special about it. The stairs in this case are wide and solid enough to not need the railings.{found on Nuca Studio}.

You can give up the handrails on a staircase if the simplicity of the design suits the décor and is in sync with the theme of the space. This, for instance, looks like a really zen or forest-inspired design with beautiful earthy colors.{found on ESTUDIO 30 51}.

You’d have to maintain a pretty good balance when using these floating stairs since there are no handrails or other safety features. Nevertheless, the look is amazing.{found on feedback-studio}.

The railings would have interfered with the minimalist and graphical design of this staircase as well as with the surrounding décor which in this case is very zen-like and relaxing.Ecostudio Architectsdesigned this particular staircase.

Technically, these stairs don’t lack railings in totality. The two levels are linked by a continuous and flowing design and the only independent treads are the three bottom ones.{found on Arquitectura en Movimiento Workshop.}.

Here there was really no need for railings since the staircase is physically attached to the floor-to-ceiling bookcase. Each tread is individually attached to the shelves.{found on Sergey Makhno}.

I have to say that this staircase looks really natural like that with no railing. The stairs have a sculptural design and the fact that they’re attached to the wall further increases their minimalist charm. Check out the inspiring projects bySAOTAfor more ideas.

Being so well-grounded to both the wall and the floor, these wooden stairs offer lots of stability and they kind of make the user more confident in their safety.{found on multiPlan arhitekti}.

This staircase is black just like the wall to which they’re adjacent and this allows them to be inconspicuous and to appear less space-consuming. The lack of railings definitely helps with that.{found on Remy Arquitectosand MYOO}.

We’re not going to discuss the safety of these stairs because we’re more interested now in the looks. We like the openness of the design and the fact that the lack of railings makes the whole more airy.It’s a design bySDeG.

Since the railings would have obstructed the magnificent views, they weren’t included in the design of this staircase. At the same time, the staircase’s clean and simple look contributes to an overall very open and bright décor.{found on Architrend Architecture}.

Stairs for pets

If you have a small dog it could be cute and nice to have the staircase designed with a special extension just for your pet. In fact, it’s a cute idea no matter what size your dog is. Just picture yourself and your dog walking up the stairs, each on your own lane.{found on 07BEACH}.

Sliding stairs

Here’s an interesting feature for a staircase: a sliding design. That basically means that you can slide the stairs to the left or right to free up some floor space when needed or for an entire different reason. This is something thatMcLaren.Excelldesigned for a custom residence.

Built-in nooks

Some staircases are big and robust enough to be able to accommodate a pretty large nook underneath them. In fact, you could even have your very own home office under the stairs with a desk, shelves and everything. There might even be enough space there for a hidden closet as well.{found on Hugh Jefferson Randolph}.

Another idea is to have a cozy seating nook carved out under the staircase. It can be a space you can use while reading or a space that the kids can use when they’re playing.

White stairs

Being a high-traffic area, staircases are usually designed to be resilient. That’s why white is not a very common color. Nevertheless, white stairs look amazing. They have this pure and delicate elegance and makes them look unique every time.

The contrast between the white stairs and dark brown accent wall is a very beautiful and elegant one. In addition, the glass railing is a perfect match for this design.

Another beautiful contrast is displayed here where a white staircase is complemented by a living green wall. That’s quite the accent feature for a residential space.

A very pure and simplistic design was chosen for this staircase. It has white stairs and a white railing with a thin black outline and a really soft curving form.

White stairs can turn out to be an excellent design option for homes and spaces that are small and need the white backdrop to look more spacious and open.

White is also a color that can make a staircase look more lightweight and a little less robust. It’s a strategy that works for loft apartments or homes with a small footprint.

Given how narrow this staircase hall is, white seems like the only suitable color that could make the space feel less claustrophobic. At the same time, all the white emphasizes the bright natural light that comes from the window at the top of the stairs.

These are the wedged stairs that we looked at a while back. They happen to be white as well so we’ll have a closer look at them in relation to the textured brick wall that offers it support.

The color is actually the least interesting thing about these stairs. This is a hanging staircase that’s completely off the ground.

Red stairs

Red is a powerful color that’s perfect for staircases that want to stand out and to become focal points. These hanging stairs are the perfect example. They’re not only brightly-colored but also quite unusual.

See-through stairs

When you want to preserve a view intact or to bring more light into a narrow and dark staircase hall, it can be a good strategy to opt for see-through stairs. They can be made of glass or some other material that lets light pass through the threads.{found on Burnazzi Feltrin Architects}.

Commercial designs

In stores or other large commercial spaces that occupy more than one floor, the staircase is an important design element. It can be the thing that sets the space apart from others just like it. This staircase is definitely memorable.

Floating stairs

The thing about floating stairs is that they look really sleek and they’re less visually-imposing than other types of stairs. These ones, for instance, were designed byAnother Apartmentand they lookmore like an abstract modern sculpture than a staircase.

Organized in pairs of two, these floating stairs have a really edgy look. They give the space a really sophisticated look. In addition, they bring in an elegant contrast.{found Kuadra Studio}.

The floating stairs match the walls and the floor and this makes them fit perfectly into the décor. In addition, the rods that go up to the ceiling look really sleek as well.

Cantilevered stairs

Crafted out of composite resin and with a tubular steel structure, these stairs are cantilevered from the wall and look really cool and eye-catching. The treads are made of white oak.

Emmental stairs

The idea behind the Emmental stairs was to create something unique and with a playful look for a residence in Budapest. The stairs themselves are simple and the interesting part is the series of circular holes carved into the two walls.{found on Biljana Jovanovic}.

Stairs built of wood

Wood is probably the most commonly used material for staircases. It’s a material that has a really nice and warm texture which is appreciated in most interior designs. A lot of interesting combination can be created by using wood together with glass or metal. Check out this graphical design byFrancesco Librizzi. It’s just what we had in mind.

This is a staircase that starts up as a spiral and then joins up with a narrower stair with alternating treads. They’re both made of wood and the transition between them is really smooth.{found on Coffey Architects}.

The design of these wooden staircase looks really familiar. That’s because they look a lot like giant jenga blocks. They have built-in shelves and storage compartments and they look like a large sculpture.{found on Studio Farris}.

Suspended stairs

It may look like these stairs go all the way down to the floor but they actually stop just above the desk. The lower structure is completely independent even though it features the same style as the stairs.Designed byHaasnootthis staircase – desk – shelving combo is one of the most intriguing ones we’ve seen.

There’s a really interesting optical illusion here. The stairs are suspended but the pattern on the wall makes it look as if they continue down to the floor. It’s a pretty cool design.{found on Parisian architecture studio}.

A staircase can be large without looking very robust or occupying a lot of floor space. In fact, if the stairs are suspended, the floor remains totally unused and this allows the overall décor to look very open.{found on Toledano Architects}.

The fact that these stairs are suspended from the ceiling definitely helps maintain a spacious and open décor. In addition, the staircase forms an interesting combo with the wooden unit sitting on the floor.

Spiral staircases

This is more than just a simple staircase which provides a link between two spaces. It’s spiraling design is more complex than that and includes railings with built-in planters and seating lounges.{found on London designer Paul Cocksedge}.

Spiral staircases are among the most space-efficient of all types and this is a wonderful example. Sitting in a corner, the staircase is both space-saving and sophisticated.{found on Kazunori Fujimoto Architect & Associates}.

Concrete stairs

A concrete staircase might seem like a cold feature to have in a home. However, that’s not always the case. These concrete stairs are a nice fit for the modern space they’re in. In addition, the room is really large which makes the stairs seem less robust by comparison.

Twisted designs

As you can see, this isn’t actually a spiral staircase. It’s actually just a little bit twisted. It fits well in the corner and you can tell that it’s been custom-designed by51 Architecturefor this space in particular.

Alternating tread stairs

Alternating treads on a staircase are an interesting feature. They make a simple design look more interesting and they can actually also be more comfortable to use.