Decorating your house is what makes it feel like a home. But what if your staircase feels like a missed opportunity for style?
In this article, I’m sharing some inspiring modern staircase ideas so that you can make this functional feature look beautiful and tie your design together.
1. Cubby Storage
I just love a design that’s as smart as it is stylish. Why let that amazing space under the stairs go to waste? This cubby hole storage solution is so cute and fits perfectly with a modern staircase design.
The wooden storage bins are a lovely touch that complements the wood steps, and they make for such efficient organizers. It’s a total game-changer!
2. The Modern Spiral
Spiral staircases are such a fantastic option because they save so much space while also acting as a super decorative feature. For this design, the steps and rails are all built around a central column.
This particular modern spiral staircase is so chic, with its black column, warm wooden treads, and a super trendy stainless-steel railing.
3. Silver Railings
Talk about understated luxury! This combination of wood and silver is just gorgeous. This curving foyer staircase feels so grand, featuring deep, dark wooden treads, risers, and a stringer board.
It’s all pulled together with polished wood handrails and a sleek silver balustrade. This is just magnificent styling with nothing but the most superb materials.
4. Black Steel Spindles
This look is so modernist and sleek, yet beautifully minimalist and gorgeous. I love how the clean lines and efficiency of the vertical spindles just perfectly complement the minimalist style.
The cool black metal creates a wonderful balance with the warm and modern feel of the wooden treads, risers, and that lovely accent wainscoting.
5. Glass Panels
Glass panel balustrades are a huge favorite in modern staircase designs, and for good reason! They are so sleek and minimalist and will easily fit into any design theme you can dream up.
This updated farmhouse staircase design features warm wood on the tread, risers, and newel posts, with a modern twist from the clear glass panels.
6. Bookcase Screen
This is such a great idea, especially for smaller homes that might be prone to a bit of clutter. It’s functional and so decorative!
This all-in-one balustrade, screen, and shelving unit is a total win. The bookcase creates a screen for the stairs, while the shelves give you tons of space for storage and displaying your favorite things.
7. Natural Elements
I feel like going back to nature is a huge theme in so many modern staircase designs right now.
This rustic-modern staircase design is a perfect example, with its varnished wood treads and risers paired with a charming wicker staircase screen. It creates such a down-to-earth sophistication that I just adore.
8. Elegant White
Okay, this is what dreams are made of. Marble, silver, crystal, and a beautiful curving staircase. This foyer just screams elegance, luxury, and timeless design.
The whole white-themed interior is stunning, but the showstopping crystal chandelier, marble flooring, and that staircase with its marble steps and stylish silver railing are truly next level.
9. Black Marble Elegance
The elegance you get from marble just lends so much luxury to a sleek and innovative staircase design. This all-black staircase is crafted from black marble slabs for the steps.
I love the no-riser, no-stringer design, which is highlighted by accent lights tucked into the front edge of the steps. The final effect is just so dramatic, elegant, and luxuriously modern.
10. Patterned Riser
This is such a simple way to upgrade a modern minimalist staircase into a seriously stylish and gorgeous home feature.
This very modern and minimalist staircase gets a fashionable boost from its patterned risers. The black striped riser tiles are a perfect match for the sleek black metal balustrades.
11. Suspended Steel
This precast steel staircase takes minimalism to a whole other level. It’s been stripped down to feature just the treads and risers.
The staircase itself is attached to the wall on one side and then held up by a really cool staircase screen on the other. It’s so unique!
12. Glass and Wood
So sleek and modern! This glass and wood staircase is all about elegance and minimalist efficiency. The solid glass panel railings have a subtle tint, which I love.
The whole system features floating treads that are each attached individually to the wall, completely skipping the stringer for a much more streamlined appearance.
13. Stair Carpet
I know, I know, carpet can sometimes feel a bit dated in the world of minimalism. But the grand styling and super streamlined carpet design here make it work beautifully for this graceful curved staircase.
The delicate grey metal balustrade is a perfect match for the carpet design, tying it all together.
14. Indoor Pocket Garden
An indoor pocket garden is such a lovely way to add a refreshing touch to your home. And the space under the staircase is honestly the perfect spot to grow one!
It has enough space and is out of the way of foot traffic, but it’s in a busy enough area where the plants can be displayed and really appreciated.
15. Farmhouse Modern
This is how you give a charming farmhouse staircase a modern revamp! Those traditionally carved or bulky spindles have been replaced with much sleeker and more streamlined cable railings.
The wooden newel posts and treads are kept to hold onto that rustic charm of the iconic style. I just love this blend.
16. Modern Concrete
There’s something so edgy and raw about this look, it’s both dominating and modern. Leaving concrete walls and floors bare in all their cool grey glory is such a hit among modern staircase designs.
This fashionable precast concrete staircase has black flat steel edges and a matching handrail, and it pairs perfectly with the bare concrete walls and floors of the home’s interior.
17. Shelves and Storage
I’m all for putting that prime real estate under the stairs to good use! This staircase design has a built-in storage and display system that gives you so much space for organizing, keeping, and showing off your favorite things.
It’s an ideal solution for smaller homes and works perfectly for stairs located right in the living room.
18. Step and Slide
Why not bring some playground fun right into your home? I think this is such a cool idea.
This stair and slide combo is amazing for homes with kids or, let’s be honest, for anyone who is forever a kid at heart. This quirky addition to a traditional staircase will totally redefine fun and what it means to run down the stairs!
19. Glass and Chrome
This look is so sleek, modern, and luxurious. It’s absolutely perfect for a white interior! This glossy and stunning glass and chrome staircase would definitely impress anyone who sees it.
The white staircase features bold black treads, solid glass balustrades, and shiny chrome steel for the railings and newels.
20. White Delight
This is the perfect staircase for an elegant and modern farmhouse interior. I love that the classic features of the charming farmhouse design are all here.
You’ve got the white wooden spindles and handrails, bare wood treads, and those lovely patterned risers. It’s a beautiful combination.
21. Tiled Risers
If you want to add some color and interesting detail to your modern staircase, adding patterned tiles to the risers is such a fantastic idea.
This quick and easy upgrade will instantly take a boring and forgettable staircase and turn it into something vibrant and totally personalized. I’m a huge fan of this.
22. Sleek Steel Treads
This sleek and ultra-modern staircase would fit right in with any modern and minimalist interior design scheme.
The black steel treads are attached directly to the wall, which makes them look like they’re floating black spikes. It’s so edgy, unique, and absolutely spectacular.
23. Steel and Concrete Minimalist
You’ve got two of the strongest materials coming together in one staircase here.
This modern and formidable minimalist design showcases the coolness of bare concrete for the steps and the focused strength of black steel panels for its balustrade and rails. It’s a powerful combination.
24. Square Landings
This is where modern minimalism meets pure elegance. The design is all based on the square, with one square corner of the room dedicated to the staircase, which is defined by a square platform.
It’s so clever how half of the platform has the first few steps leading to the first square landing, while the other half is a blank space left for décor and accents.
25. Cord Stair Screen
I am just obsessed with this combination. You get the coolness of concrete plus the edgy look of the black cord stair screen.
The design uses really common materials like bare concrete and black cord, but it achieves such stunning results. It’s modern, elegant, and so creative.
26. Rustic Modern
What a beautiful rustic look in a modern setting! The warm tones of the bare wood are really on full display here, and they’re complemented perfectly by the clean and uncluttered lines of the modern minimalist design.
Those thin steel balustrades that extend all the way to the ceiling also serve as a cool staircase screen.
27. Chic Black
This two-flight staircase is absolutely grand-foyer-worthy. It has solid wood slab steps stained a deep black, clear glass balustrade panels, a middle stringer, and crisp white handrails.
The streamlined design is the perfect complement to the white minimalist interiors of the foyer. So chic!
28. Modern Coastal
This space feels so bright and refreshing, modern and welcoming all at once. The updated coastal staircase features that charming white-and-wood combo with sleek black metal railings.
And to complete the whole interior, that fascinating golden candle-type chandelier is just the perfect finishing touch.
29. Crisscrossed Black Railings
Here’s a great way to add a bit of fun and randomness to the sleek, clean look of modern railings. The balustrade panels are so eye-catching, featuring black spindles and crisscrossed metal wires.
The modern look is perfectly complemented by the wooden handrail and the crisp white interiors.
30. Minimalist Stair Screen Wall
This ingenious staircase design is so clever, incorporating steps with shelves and platforms.
The minimalist stair screen wall can also double as the handrail and a base for living room wall décor, like the television, framed pictures, and other wall accents. Talk about multi-functional!
31. White on Brick
This is such an elegant and rustic look, yet it’s modern and beautiful at the same time. The exposed brick wall adds so much color and charm to the design, while the solid white color of the stairs is sleek and contemporary.
The stairs also include pull-out cabinets underneath and don’t have balustrades, but feature a simple handrail attached to the wall.
32. Floating Glass Treads
How magical is this? It’s fascinating and so incredibly modern. This almost invisible staircase design is made entirely of glass!
The streamlined construction only includes the steps and the balustrade, all crafted from glass.
The floating glass treads are attached right to the wall, while the clear glass balustrade panels also double as the handrail. Stunning.
33. Grey Metal
Modern styling meets some seriously inspired engineering here. This middle stringer staircase design really relies on the sleek look and strength of metal.
The grey metal middle stringer is perfectly matched by the rails and the wall. I love how the warm wood tones of the treads counter the cool metal, while the silver cable balustrades emphasize the modern look.
34. Stairs and Storage
So clean, efficient, and modern. This minimalist staircase features a shelving system instead of a traditional wall.
The matching stairs and storage design beautifully incorporates functionality with modern styles and trends. There’s no clutter and no unnecessary fluff, just a beautiful and functional system for both stairs and storage.
35. Floating Minimalist
This staircase has been stripped down to its absolute basics, and I love it. It features simple floating treads and a minimalist handrail that even has a light feature built in.
While most of the treads are floating, the first three steps are set on a solid platform, which cleverly includes storage too.
36. Wrought Iron Rails
This is such a stunning combination of rustic and modern. This design manages to bring together the charms of rustic style with the coolness of metal.
It showcases polished wood slabs for the treads, risers, and handrail, but the eye-catching focal point is definitely its gorgeous wrought iron balustrade.
37. Black Modern
This elegant black curved staircase is just incredible, spanning the full two-storey height of the entryway. The thin vertical steel railings really highlight the curve, creating a sense of fluidity and grace.
To complete the gorgeous interior, you have glass orb lighting, a cowhide rug, a round table, and clean white walls.
38. Green and Rustic
This is a great combination of rustic and coastal vibes. The wood treads and newel posts bring in so much rustic charm, while the bright seafoam green risers add a cool seaside feeling.
Plus, there are handy pull-out storage compartments that occupy the space under the stairs. The glass balustrade panels are the perfect touch to highlight the modern styling.
39. Mesh Railings
So stylish and minimalist! The most captivating feature of this industrial-themed staircase is definitely its eye-catching black mesh railings.
The sleek metal mesh comes with black iron edges that cleverly serve as both the handrail and the newel. It’s such a cool detail.
40. Concrete Treads
What a unique and innovative design! This staircase features a single one-piece inclined riser, a clear glass balustrade, and cool concrete treads.
The unique solid triangle treads come with a matching concrete landing. And to finish it off, the single sleek chrome handrail is attached right to the wall.
41. Riser Lights
Having good staircase lighting is an absolute must for safety. This white and sophisticated staircase has its lighting installed strategically right on the risers, which efficiently illuminates all the treads.
The staircase also features a solid glass panel balustrade, warm wooden treads, and classy wainscot panels on the wall for a polished look.
42. Modern Cable Railing
The thin cable wire railings on this staircase are barely noticeable, which gives the illusion of so much openness.
I think it perfectly complements the clean lines, neutral colors, and the “functionality over fluff” mantra of modern minimalist design. It’s simple and so effective.
43. Industrial Spiral
I love the combination of black steel, sleek lines, and an elegant form. Spiral staircases are so innovative and are just amazing space savers.
This sleek and modern spiral staircase is made completely of metal.
The center column is a steel pipe, the balustrade and handrails are made of flat bars, and the treads and risers are perforated metal panels, all finished in a super fashionable matte black.
44. Modern Industrial
This cool and modern interior design combines the warmth and charm of rustic accents with the raw, edgy touch of an industrialist look.
This staircase and home office combo is so clever, featuring wood treads and a desk paired with a perforated steel riser. A wall made of vertical steel cords separates the work area from the treads, which is a really neat detail.
45. Grand Foyer Perfect
This is just grand, magnificent, and absolutely timeless. This staircase is a total showstopper and the perfect focal point for any grand foyer.
It features a classy and cheerful black-with-white-polka-dots design for its carpeting, which injects a fun touch of quirkiness into the otherwise stately foyer.
46. Glass Spindles
What a perfect way to match the luxurious polish of marble floors and treads with the crystal glow of glass. This classy black and white staircase is the focal point of a chic foyer.
Its design feels restrained yet so luxurious, and it includes black risers, marble treads, curved handrails, and those gorgeous glass spindles.
47. Shabby Chic
The whole technique of adding something old and used to home interiors is so on-trend right now. Shabby chic is charming, captivating, and just beautiful.
This recovered and re-installed cottage staircase has all of its original charms retained, and it creates a gorgeous contrast to the modern home interiors.
48. Rainbow Stairs
Why not get some color into your modern interiors? Using your staircase is a perfect way to inject some fun and bright colors into your home.
This attractive and modern staircase features all the colors of the rainbow on its steps! It’s such a joyful look.
49. Classic Blue Curve
This design has such graceful lines, elegant accents, and a timeless feel. The beautiful staircase is a worthy focal point in this elegant white foyer.
The gorgeous design includes an elegant and graceful curve, wide, welcoming treads, a carved handrail, and a sweeping blue carpet that perfectly matches the equally stunning chandelier.
50. Marbled Luxury
Marble and luxury will honestly never go out of style, even with minimalism being so popular in modern staircase design.
This updated marble staircase features delicate grey marble for the tread and riser, brown-tinted glass balustrades, and pretty lighted risers. It’s a perfect blend of classic and modern.
