Stairway Lighting – Complete Buyers Guide

Stairway lighting can enhance the visual appeal of a pathway, both indoors and out. It can also improve the safety of navigating the stairwell, making the area easier to use.

Stair lighting designs tend to focus on both of those elements, with trends in staircase lighting changing often to reflect the times. There are many types of lights that you can bring into your staircase to achieve the desired effect, whether that is simply safety or decorative flair as well.

Here, we’ll take a look at the importance of LED stairway lighting as well as how to get it right.

 

Importance of Staircase Lighting 

A stairway is an area of heavy traffic. Any area that is used as frequently as a stairway needs to be properly lit for safety purposes.

Stairway wall lights play a huge role in the functionality and appearance of a stairwell. With proper illumination through staircase lighting, outdoor and indoor stairway lighting alike becomes easier and safer to navigate, which, as stated, is important for heavily travelled areas such as stairwells.

Stylish staircase illumination such as low level wall lights can bring modern charm to a stairwell while also assisting in visibility. Every stairway is different, which presents you with unique opportunities to make yours entirely your own.

There are many stairway lighting ideas you can incorporate into your specific stairwell to enhance the visual appeal. There is a wide variety of stairwell lighting options that you can use, including:

• Hanging pendant Lights
• Banister lighting
• Stair riser lights
• Wall mounted lights
• Recessed wall lights
• Recessed Step Lights
• Under-step lighting

 

Why You Should Use LED Lighting on a Home Stairway  

LED indoor stairway lighting is the smartest, most efficient choice for your indoor stairway. Having LED lighting provides a number of benefits over traditional lighting methods, such as incandescent and halogen bulbs. Such benefits include:

 

• ENERGY EFFICIENCY. LED lighting is most famous for how efficiently it uses its energy. LED bulbs turn more of their energy into light than traditional bulbs, which rely on heat to generate the light. For stair lights that will likely be on and off most of the day, energy efficiency can go a long way toward reducing your electricity bills.

 

• LONGER LIFE. LED bulbs are known to last for tens of thousands of hours as opposed to the 1,000 hours or so of halogen and incandescent bulbs. With a longer life, you won’t need to replace them as often, saving you time, money and effort.

 

• COST SAVING. By not having to replace your bulbs often, and by reducing your electricity bill, LED wall lights for stairways can save you money in the short and long term alike.

 

• LED lights come in a number of lumen counts and colour temperatures for you to work with. The range of options makes it easy to create the perfect environment in your indoor stairwell–one that blends seamlessly into the lighting of the rest of the house.

 

 

Are Stairway Lights Easy to Incorporate? 

Just like any other kind of light, the ease of installation comes down to your personal knowledge and the fixture type. Certain lights, like surface mounted lights, may be easy enough for you to install on your own.

More complicated LED lights, such as recessed stairway lighting, may require a qualified electrician. It is generally recommended that you hire a professional for your installation to prevent the risk of electrocution or improper installation.

 

How much is too much?

Stairway lighting options are plentiful, but just because there are many choices doesn’t mean you should cram all of them into the stairwell. Overlighting a staircase can cause glare and can be generally unpleasant.

The amount of light you will need will depend on individual factors, such as the size of the staircase. Small staircases can sometimes benefit from step lights alone. Larger stairwells, on the other hand, may need some supplemental lighting, such as staircase wall lights.

 

Why Integrate Stairway Lighting With a Smart Home System?

Connecting your indoor lights to your smart home is one of the best indoor staircase lighting ideas you could ever have. Smart lighting improves upon the convenience and practicality of stair lights. From decorative accent lighting for indoor stairways to functional ambient light, smart systems make them easier than ever to control.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of smart lighting is the ability to control the lights in various ways. You can control it through voice commands, a smartphone app or a timer. Even when you’re away from home, you can be sure the lights are working for your family at the push of a button.

You can also automate the lights through the smart home system. Through timers and motion sensors, you can trust that the lights will always be on when you need them most. This is especially useful in situations where you don’t have your hands free for light switches, such as carrying groceries or children.

Smart lighting puts you in control over the appearance of the light, too. You can set scenes for different times of day, such as turning on stairway lights automatically around the time you get home from work.

Beyond that, being able to have the lights on only when you want them to be can make the LED lights even more energy efficient. You can further save on energy and reduce your costs even further by automating the lights.

 

How To Use LED Wall Lights on a Stairway

Interior LED wall lights are a great way to light up your staircase and add style to the room at the same time. Most staircases find themselves adjacent to a minimum of one wall, so it’s easy to incorporate them. Walls also provide easy access for wiring, making the process even more convenient. Recessed mini wall lights are great for lighting the angle of the stairs along the treads or for installing beneath a handrail.

You could also use up and down wall lights for staircase effect lighting by shining lights above and below the fixture, creating a warmer and more artistic feel. Wall-mounted spotlights will not just light up the treads but will wash light over the floor and create a more atmospheric appearance. For a narrow staircase, you can use flush Mini LED lights along the base or recessed wall lighting on the walls to provide illumination without making the space feel cramped.

How To Use Pendant Lighting on a Stairway

Hanging pendant lights can be used both to add drama to a staircase or to keep it simple. It ultimately comes down to the kind of light you choose. To figure out the right ceiling pendant lights for your specific space, consider the following:

• TYPE OF STAIRWAY. Do you have a standard, curved or spiral staircase? Curved or spiral stairs tend to need different kinds of light than a standard one.

• WALL DECOR. Be sure that your LED pendant lights in the stairway go with the rest of the decor.

• CONSIDER THE NATURAL LIGHTING. Think about the way your stairs look in the evening, afternoon and morning respectively. Add lights where they are most needed based on that fact.

• CEILING HEIGHT. The stairway’s height should be considered when choosing the fixture, as should the height of the ceiling. The best height for a hanging pendant is typically around eight feet off the floor. If the foyer is open, you can hang the light at eye level or just a bit lower when you look at it from the second floor. Be sure to take into consideration how the light bulbs will be changed due to having to work around steps where it will be hard to place a ladder. Even though LEDs will last a long time, you never can predict the future.

• FIXTURE SIZE. Because pendant lights come in various shapes and sizes, you’ll need to look at the overall size of the stairway and surrounding room to determine the right size. It is recommended that you measure the width and length of the room and add these figures together. The total will be the diameter size the pendant light should be in inches.

 

What Are the Best Places to Put Switches for Stairway Lights?

It is a good idea to have a switch for the staircase lights both at the bottom and at the top of the stairs. This makes the illumination accessible to those at the top and bottom so there is no need to stumble up or down the stairs in the dark. When it comes to the landing, switches should be centrally placed, so they can be reached with ease from any of the rooms that lead onto it.

 

How Bright Should Staircase Lighting Be?

Before you start looking at the lumens of the light fixtures you’re interested in, you should first pay attention to how much natural lighting is available in the hallway during the day. It’s a good idea to monitor the hallway lighting throughout the day to see how the light shifts as the sun moves and plan using this information.

Since the stairway lights will be used more at night and at dusk than any other time, having lights that are bright enough to see by without glaring is important. The light should be able to illuminate the stairs so that you can see where you’re going but should not be so bright that they are harsh on the eyes. One of the best ways to ensure that the lights are pleasant is to pay attention to the lighting colour. Warm white LED light with a 3000k rating or similar is generally a good choice for this; the light is warm and gentle without sacrificing the brightness needed to see.

 

 

How to Incorporate the Lights into the Surrounding Décor

The staircase is a part of your home and is likely visible from the moment you walk in the door. With proper use of stairway lighting fixtures, indoor décor can flow easily from one space to the other. Choose fixtures that match the surrounding area, such as metal or black on black.

 

Consider Wall Décor

If you have a lot of empty wall space, such as on a staircase landing, adding art and other wall décor can help spruce it up. Using spotlights, you can create a gallery-like feel in your hallway and give it plenty of personality.

 

Layer Your Lighting 

Much like other areas of the home, it is important to layer the lighting in your stairwell. Wall mounted stair lighting paired with ceiling lighting can take care of the ambient and accent layers of lighting, making the space seem more cohesive and better lit.

 

Incorporate Low Level Lighting

Choosing recessed lights for your staircase will immediately give it a nice, warm glow while highlighting the stairs themselves. When they sit low to the steps, LED stair tread lights can easily shine light over the area you will be stepping on, making the space safer to navigate at night.

 

Don’t Neglect Wall Lighting

Surface mounted LED wall lights can fill in the empty spots on the walls of your hallway, enhancing its appearance. They can also break up the appearance of a long and monotonous hallway with lights scattered throughout.

 

Focus on Contrast

You can incorporate visual intrigue into the staircase by contrasting its lines with the light you choose. For instance, staircase ceiling lighting that hangs from a long wire can provide straight lines against the curve of a spiral staircase.

 

Atmospheric Wall Lighting

Stair case lights can also be used purely as accent lighting to dress up the transitional area in your home. Atmospheric wall lighting that has a unique and decorative appearance can lead guests up the stairs while giving them something beautiful to behold as well.

 

Add Some Whimsy

By draping the staircase with fairy lights hanging vertically, you can add a lighthearted look and feel to the space. Fairy lights are a bit playful, while providing a small amount of light.

 

Wall Colours for Your Stairway

Ultimately, the colour and décor that you have in your stairwell come down to preference, but there are a few common colour schemes you can consider when lighting your own.

 

• GO DARK AND BOLD – If you have a short staircase where you want to add drama, having dark wall colours can help you accomplish this. Black walls with golden light fixtures, for instance, bring about an air of elegance and can transform your space into something sophisticated and moody.

• BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL – For long hallways in open, airy spaces, using brighter, lighter colours may benefit you. Having light-coloured walls such as blue, cream or light gray can make the space seem larger and open.

• NEUTRAL HUES – If you are someone who likes to change the décor and stairway lighting often, having neutral colour options is a good idea. By choosing hues that work well with various accent colours and details, you will always have a clean slate waiting for you to change things up.

 

Advice on Lighting a Stairwell with Different Architectural Styles 

Different architectural styles will call for different kinds of stairwell lighting fixtures. Stairwell lighting trends come and go, but you can be sure your stairwell always looks its best by choosing fixtures that suit its architecture.

 

Contemporary and Modern Stairwells

Modern stairwells often have clean lines, neat angles and generally minimalistic appearances with neutral colour palettes.

To complement this style, opt for sleek fixtures with simple or geometric shapes. Choose monochromatic finishes such as brushed nickel, chrome or black. Also, place them symmetrically to really sell that contemporary look.

 

Classic and Traditional Stairwells

Stairwells that are rich with ornate detailing and wooden finishes have a classic elegance. Complement this style of architecture with decorative fixtures that are as intricate as the stairwell itself.

Choose warm colour temperatures between 2700K and 3000K to suit the traditional feeling. Use chandeliers and wall sconces together for a layered and traditional appearance.

 

Urban Industrial

Urban stairwells tend to use a lot of brick, stone or concrete that works with the metal for a more industrial look. Industrial modern stairwell lighting can add brilliant personality in such spaces.

Suit this sort of space with metal fixtures finished in iron, copper or brushed steel. You may also wish to use Edison bulbs or even caged light bulbs to give it that old school look. Keeping the wiring exposed will also lean into the industrial vibe you are going for.

 

 

Tips for Planning Staircase Lighting

There are many ways you can go with staircase illumination. However, there are a few general tips to consider when doing so.

 

1. PLAN AHEAD – You are going to be seeing and using these lights every single day, so be sure that you like what you see. Avoid the risk of creating a stairwell that is too busy, too brightly lit or not lit well enough at all when planning the placement. You should also figure out how many lumens you’ll need each light to emit to achieve the desired effect and safety.

 

2. STAY PRACTICAL – While it’s natural to want to go all out with your staircase lighting, remain practical about what you are doing. Don’t go overboard and cause glare, as that can reduce both visibility and visual appeal. Similarly, think about the inevitable maintenance of the lights and ensure they are placed somewhere that is easy to access.

 

3. KEEP IT CONSISTENT – Use similar lighting styles and light colours throughout the entire lighting scheme. Doing so will give your staircase a well-balanced look and allow for a seamless transition between the downstairs and upstairs.

 

Overview – Do’s and Don’ts of Stairway Lighting Design

 

As you start to plan out some of your staircase lighting ideas, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure the result is exactly as you imagined it.

 

DO: 

• DO plan ahead of time. Before you even look at the fixtures, take a moment to plan out where you want the lighting to be. Consider stair riser lights, staircase wall lighting and staircase pendant light options, and decide where you want to place them. It’s always a good idea to sketch out your staircase and lighting plan before you begin.

 

• DO research modern staircase lighting ideas. Trends are ever-shifting when it comes to LED stair lights. Take a moment to see which trends speak to you the most and plan the lights around them.

 

• DO illuminate the stairs evenly. Since stairways are heavy-traffic areas, you don’t want any dark spots. Dark spots can pose a safety risk, and you don’t want anyone falling down the stairs. Be sure that there is plenty of illumination, from the hallway staircase lighting to the step lights themselves.

 

• DO use LED bulbs. Energy efficient stair lighting can be achieved by choosing LED lights over traditional bulbs. LED lights use much less energy than traditional bulbs, which can cut down on energy spending over time. This is especially important in stairways where you will keep the lights on all night, such as outdoor stairwells.

 

• DO get creative. Stairway lighting leaves you plenty of opportunity to express your personal sense of style. From modern, moody low level lighting to oversized statement pendants, you can make the most out of your interior design by giving the stairwell the attention it deserves.

 

• DO consider the size. If you have a cramped stairwell, you don’t want to add any obstructions. Narrow stairs benefit from recessed lights, both in the form of stair lights and wall lights.

 

• DO take advantage of recessed lights. Even if your staircase is sprawling and wide, recessed lights are a great choice. They give a contemporary, stylish look that can breathe new life into a dark and unattractive stairwell.

 

• DO evenly light the stairs. To ensure maximum safety, be sure that the entirety of each step is well lit. This can be done with recessed step lights or wall lights positioned on the side of the steps.

DON’T: 

• DON’T neglect vertical space. Stairways tend to have a lot of vertical space in the hollow area above them. This is especially true with curving staircases.

Stairway ceiling lighting, such as a chandelier or other hanging light, can fill in some of that space. This will prevent it from looking so empty while also enhancing its overall style.

 

• DON’T forget to layer the lights. Layering lights is an important process of lighting any area, and stairwells are no different. To layer lights, you will need ambient, accent and even task lighting.

Ambient lighting often comes in the form of a staircase ceiling light, though on a smaller staircase, you may be able to get away with wall lights. Otherwise, indoor stairway wall lighting can serve as nice accent lighting to cast a warm glow and set a mood while also making it easy to see where you are walking.

If your stairwell has a landing, try to incorporate some task lighting. Place a table lamp by a bench or chair on the landing to evenly distribute the light and provide plenty of illumination.

 

• DON’T stick to one kind of lighting. When you layer the lights, you are given the chance to incorporate more than one type of fixture into the space. Take advantage of that. Use a mix of hanging ceiling lights, wall lights and recessed step lights for a varied and visually interesting look.

With staircases that have open spaces below them, you have an opportunity to bring in additional lighting. Lighting under the stairs can elevate the general appearance of the entryway or foyer while also reducing any dark spots and shadows.

 

• DON’T use multiple light colours. Colour temperatures can be broken down into two main categories: cool and warm. Warm colours tend to work best indoors, while cool colours are often used in outdoor stairwells.

Whichever colour you choose, make sure that you use only that and do not mix. Mixing the lights can cause an unsightly clash and be harsh on the eyes.

 

 

LED Staircase Lighting Ideas