The space at the top of your stairs is often an afterthought in the house design because few people plan for the space at the top of the stairs. Most people do not take the time to look at the space at the top of the stairs, but it is a feature of the house that can be decorated to make the most of the space. A well-decorated landing area at the top of the stairs can create a breath between the floor and make the whole house feel more intentional with every turn.
The best landings in a house can perform two job at the same time. The best landings usually solve a problem in the space and give the individual that home an opportunity to add a small amount of their own personality to the space before they enter the next room in the house. One of the most common problem in a landing area is that it takes up an awkward and empty space in that area.
Getting the decoration of the space at the top of the stairs right is important. The eye will comfortabley move from one floor to the next without any stuttering. Not only will the house feel calmer with a well-decorated landing area, but the house will also feel more expensively with a well-decorated area at the top of the stairs.
This is true even if the individual owner of the home did not spend very much money on decorating that area. Below are eight ideas that can transform the space at the top of the stairs. Each of these idea will suit a variety of individuals with different tastes, budgets, and with different shapes of their awkward landing area.
Eight Great Ways To Decorate Your Landing
1. Framed Prints or Gallery Walls
Place a series of framed prints or a series of framed photograph in the area. Such a display of art can create a visual story that continues from one floor to the next. Choose all of the prints to have the same color or to depict the same subject matter.
The repetition of these element will create an visual rhythm that draws the eye to the stairwell. This idea works especially well for individuals who have narrow stairwell landings because there is no room for any other decorum for that narrow landing area. Gallery walls are an idea that can work well for individuals with various visual tastes because the gallery wall requires almost no space on the floor.
Individuals can always adjust the placement of the frames as they acquire new art. There is no need to repaint the walls each time an individual makes an adjustment to the gallery wall. All individuals have to do is measure the area before they begin to hang the wall and hammer the walls to add the frames.
2. Slim Console Table
Place a slim console table against one of the walls in the landing area. Even if the console table is only twelve inch in depth, it can provide a place for a lamp, books, and a plant. The vertical lines of the legs of the console table will add architecture to the area.
The addition of the legs of the console table provide architectural feature because the stairs already include a variety of their own horizontal architectural elements. Paint the console table to match the trim in the area or use a contrasting color to draw attention to the console table in the landing area. Console tables can be used in the landing area because they can provide a piece of decor for which there is no other use for the space.
That space can be used to place one’s keys, mail, or coffee for when they are tie their shoes. Console tables also cast a shadow that helps to break up tall walls in the landing area. Keep the console table to only include one or two item so that the area does not appear to be filled with items that are not in use.
3. Tall and Narrow Plants
Place a tall and narrow plant in one of the corners of the area. Plants like fiddle-leaf fig or snake plants will do well in this area. One of the benefit of using a tall plant is that it can fill the corner of the landing area without taking up the walkway.
Additionally, the green color of the plant will help to soften any of the hard edge of the banisters or stair treads. Place the plant pot on a low riser, if necessary, to place the plant at eye level. Placing plants in the area is another idea that is beneficial for a variety of individuals because the landing area usually does not have any natural light source.
However, using houseplants does allow the individuals to add some of the organic shapes to the space. Use a variety of houseplant that are naturaly tolerant of low light in the area. Rotate the placement of the houseplants every few weeks to ensure that each side of the plant receives an equal amount of light from the nearest window in the house.
4. Reading Nook with Built-in Bench
If the landing area is wide enough, create a reading nook by placing a built-in bench. Place a cushion and a few throw pillows on the bench along with a reading light that is mounted on the wall. Built-in bookshelves above or next to the reading nook will display an individual’s favorite book.
The built-in bookshelves save floor space that would otherwise be taken up by shelves for the books. Creating a reading nook is another idea that will work well for a variety of individuals. A reading nook will give the landing area a purpose and will not leave that area as wasted square footage in the home.
Additionally, using a reading nook solve the problem of where to place books on the main rooms in the house. The tradeoff of using a reading nook for the landing area is that it takes away some of the open space for individuals to circulate in the area. However, this decorative idea is a good one for those who have homes with stairs that do not experience much traffic.
5. Dramatic Pendant Light Fixture
A dramatic light fixture can be added to the landings. Place a pendant light in the area that is noticed when individuals are in the landings but high enough to clear people’s heads when they are walking by. Choose a fixture that includes interesting features such as sputnik chandeliers or glass lantern that will cast shadows onto the walls of the stairwell.
Adding lighting to the area earns a spot on the list of ideas because the standard landing usually only includes one flush-mount ceiling fixture. A flush-mount ceiling fixture does not do much for the mood in the space. However, adding a statement pendant light will change the entire personality of that stairwell after dark.
Additionally, the added lighting will not blind individuals who are walking down the stairs. The wattage for the light should be low.
6. Panel Molding or Wainscoting
Add panel molding or wainscoting onto the walls of the area. The molding can be painted the same color as the trim in the area or it can be a deep navy color that adds visual interest to the area. These added layer of molding give the otherwise inexpensive decor of the area a more expensive visual appearance. Adding molding to the area provides visual interest for the area and ties it visually to the staircase.
Molding prevents the area from feeling like a pause in the stairs. The work required to add molding is minimal because it is mostly just painting the area and waiting for the paint to dry. This decorative idea is one of the higher-impact do-it-yourself ideas.
However, if an individual has heavily textured wall in the area, an extra preparation step is required prior to adding the molding.
7. Decorative Stair Runner
Place a runner in the area that echoes the color of the runner in the stairs but change the pattern or the color of the runner. Place the runner on the landings to ground the area and to allow individuals to soften their footfalls on the area.
Additionally, the runner will act as a visual marker to indicate to others that this area of the home belongs to the rest of the house’s design. Place a runner in the area to add warmth to the hard flooring in the area. Additionally, hard flooring can develop wear mark due to the individuals who use the stairs.
A runner will hide some of those wear marks.
8. Tall and Lean Mirror
Place a tall and lean mirror in the area that leans against one of the walls or that is hung at eye level. Such a mirror will reflect the stairwell and any window that are on the lower level of the area.
Mirrors are an idea that will work particularly well in those landings that do not have any natural light in the area. Mirrors will multiply the light that is in the area. Additionally, mirrors provide one last chance for an individual to check their appearance prior to exiting the home.
However, do not place a mirror in such a position that it will reflect the busy pattern on the walls of the stairwell.
9. Bold Wallpaper
Add bold wallpaper to one of the walls in the area. The pattern of the wallpaper can be large-scale or it can be a subtle texture like grasscloth.
The area at the top of the stairs allows for bold pattern in the wallpaper that may be not used in the main areas of the house. Adding wallpaper to the landings earns a spot on the list because wallpaper will add an instant sense of drama to the area. The wallpaper will also cover any imperfection with the drywall on the walls of the stairs.
Imperfect drywall is one of the most common issue with the stairwell walls. The main tradeoff in using wallpaper is the commitment that the individual must make to the area. Once the individual hangs the wallpaper on the landings, there will probably be no turning back until the next house renovation.
A decoration idea for the space at the top of the stairs will quietly elevate the design of the rest of the house. Each idea listed will provide an individual with a way to turn the overlooked area into a feature of the home. Whether an individual chooses only one of these ideas or several of them, the key is to treat the area as valuable real estate instead of the leftover portion of the house.
Tonight, take a walk up the stairs to the landings. Look at the area with fresh eyes. Your next move in the landings may change how the rest of your house feel.
