How we utilize space is becoming increasingly important, not only because the population is increasing but also because we are moving closer to one another. Today, over 54% of people around the world live in cities (UN figures), which is expected to climb to 60% by 2030.
Clever storage and some productive feng shui are good ideas, but a large area that you may be under-utilizing is the stairs.
Stairs offer a lot of potential for; saving space, making functional use of space, or opening space up.
Fulfilling this opportunity for creativity, staircase manufacturer Pear Stairs cater to individual needs, giving you a say on every aspect of your stairs.
Space Savers
An elegant and intuitive solution to the problem is to use space saver stairs. These stairs take up half the footprint of regular stairs while offering easy access to basements, cellars and attics.
They can also be an alternative solution for those who have just had enough with fold-away ladders.
While you may have to check local building regulations to see whether space savers are an available option, there are no other choices that offer the stability of space savers in such a compact package.
One intuitive individual used them to circumvent restrictions that prevented them from increasing a property's floor size. Space saver stairs allowed them to utilize vertical space and reach a new mezzanine floor. You can read more about the project here: https://www.pearstairs.co.uk/casestudies/casestudy-352
Along with being convenient, space savers are highly customizable. Just like the many other styles of staircase on offer, you have a variety of materials and accessories to choose from.
To go with your practical space saver stairs, you are going to want an accompanying hand rail that keeps things compact.
This is where a rope hand rail could come in for a chic look, or potentially a tightly fitted Mop stick Handrail for a smoother finish.
Drawers
A more unusual, but very creative, design that we I have seen from time-to-time includes fitting drawers into the staircase. This lets your stairs pull double duty, providing both access between floors as well as convenient storage space.
In this case study, the client had a tight space to work with and only a short flight of stairs, but they managed to maximize the area's utility with drawers: http://www.pearstairs.co.uk/casestudies/casestudy-131
Staircase manufacturers like Pear Stairs are always happy to hear of new and creative stairs designs, so do not hesitate to give us them a call if your needs are outside of the box or if you just want to see what is possible with your project.
Glass, Open Risers and Light
As well as being functional, it is also important that space does not appear cluttered. If our living areas are too busy we can feel overwhelmed and potentially claustrophobic. Thankfully there are several design options for stairs that overcome this crowded feel.
Incorporating glass into the stairs with glass treads, risers or balustrade gives natural light the opportunity to flow around the room and make it feel spacious.
Glass is a versatile material in stairs construction and offers an array of aesthetics depending on how it is used.
Totally transparent glass offers a clean and minimalistic look, while semi-opaque glass brings an element of privacy to the product. For those who are looking to add a bit of flair there are also colored options that retain a bright appearance and cater to personal preferences.
For more staircase ideas take a look through this collection of over seven hundred case studies on the Pear Stairs website (www.pearstairs.co.UK/casestudies) or use their design tool, Stair-Creator, and see what you can make.
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