9 Staircase Flooring Ideas

Staircases offer a great opportunity to add style and personality to your home – that’s something we know all about at Handrail Creations.

In this guide, we’ll explore a variety of ideas for staircase flooring to inspire your next project, from simple upgrades to complete staircase refurbishments, and from picking up a paintbrush to ripping everything out and starting again. Read on to learn more.

1. Classic staircase runners

Classic staircase runners are one of the easiest ways to refresh your stairs without a major overhaul. They add warmth, texture, and colour, instantly transforming the look and feel of your staircase. You can pick a completely new colour that you use to define the look of your hall, or pick one that matches something else you recently changed, like the walls or hallway furniture. Beyond aesthetics, they provide grip and comfort, and aren’t too expensive to buy and install.

2. Painted stairs

Painting your stairs is another simple but effective way to completely change the look of your hallway on a budget. You could keep things straightforward with a fresh coat of white paint on every riser, use a bold block colour, or even add a design quickly and easily with a stencil. By painting your stairs by hand, you also get total freedom to match your stairs with the rest of your interior.

3. Stained concrete stairs

If you’re planning on going even further, why not consider stained concrete stairs instead? These have a sleek and industrial look that is popular in high-end homes; the interest comes from their simplicity, with subtle variations in colour tone and texture in the concrete. They are also – being concrete, after all – exceptionally durable and low maintenance.

4. Mosaic tile risers

If your staircase feels flat or a bit samey, tiled risers are an easy way to change that. A strip of colour or pattern on each step makes your design choices seem more deliberate. You don’t have to go overboard: something as simple as a repeating motif or soft gradient can work, although if you are trying to cultivate a more “maximalist” space, then a mosaic is only as limited as any kind of art can be! This idea works best when the treads are simple, so the risers can carry the visual weight.

5. Terrazzo stair treads

Terrazzo is a mix of marble, stone, or glass chips that creates a detailed, expressive surface, even when the overall look is pared back. It’s a material with depth – visually and physically – and it holds up well to heavy use. You might recognise it from mid-century buildings, airport terminals, or more recently, high-end retail interiors: it’s one of the best flooring for staircase installs. You can use soft, neutral tones or bolder colours depending on the mood of the space. Either way, terrazzo gives your stairs a sense of intention and permanence.

6. Reclaimed wooden treads

Reclaimed wood has character and warmth that new timber can’t easily replicate. Each piece has its own history, with unique grain patterns, knots, and imperfections that bring life to your staircase. It’s sustainable, too, giving old materials a new purpose and reducing waste. Reclaimed treads work especially well in homes with a rustic, vintage, or industrial look, but they can also add texture and contrast in modern settings.

7. Glass stair treads

Glass stair treads are a particularly exciting design choice: they are modern and striking to look at from the ground, where their transparency lets light flow and makes the staircase seem to take up less space, and have less bulk. Needless to say, though, they really shine when you climb them, and give you the feeling that you’re walking on air.

8. Leather stair treads

Leather stair treads aren’t common, but they lend a space a sense of comfort and luxury that not much else can. Like all good leather, these treads are textured and tactile – warm underfoot like carpet, but soft in a different way, and when well-installed they can be an excellent example of detailed craftsmanship. So, if you’re looking for unusual staircase floor covering ideas, try leather!

9. Brass stair nosings

Brass stair nosings are quiet, refined details that protect the edges of your steps. Their warm metal tone complements natural materials like wood or stone, creating subtle contrast without overwhelming the design. And like all things brass, the metal eventually develops a natural patina, adding subtle character to your stairs as well as complementary colour.

Elevate your staircase with Handrail Creations

Looking to transform your staircase without a full rebuild? Handrail Creations can help. A new handrail or carefully chosen detailing can completely change the look and feel of your stairs without the hassle of ripping everything out. Our bespoke handrails manufacturing process ensures a perfect fit, designed from the beginning to complement your chosen flooring and overall style. Whether you prefer a classic, modern, or unique finish, we work with precision and care to bring your vision to life.