Stairway

In a high-traffic area such as a staircase, lighting is paramount. Good stairway lighting can help you more easily and safely navigate the steps while also enhancing the overall aesthetics of the area.

In our collection, you’ll find a wide variety of different stair lights to choose from. Get creative and light up your stairway in a way that expresses the personality of your home or business.

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Why Good Stairway Lighting Is Important

Interior stair lighting is a crucial aspect of your indoor design scheme. First and foremost, staircases can be quite dangerous if they are not well lit. You have the potential of tripping, falling and injuring yourself if steps are difficult to see. 

If your staircase is not properly lit, it can also simply be difficult to navigate the steps, period. Not being able to see each step can lead to missteps which also poses its own danger. 

Furthermore, dark staircases are not very inviting. This is especially true in public settings. You can make guests feel safer and less at risk when navigating stairwells in the dark by ensuring they are properly lit.

Why is Wall Lighting a Good Idea For a Stairway?

Staircase lighting has a primary function: providing good visibility. Wall lights ensure that the illumination is carried between the step lights and any ceiling lights in the space, offering consistent stairway safety lighting. This will ensure the stairs are easy to navigate for you and your guests.

Wall lighting can also enhance the aesthetic appeal of the space. Using stylish sconces, you can dress up any negative space along the staircase, adding visual appeal and plenty of illumination. 

Stairways also tend to be a bit cramped and narrow compared to most other areas of the house. One of the best step lighting solutions you can incorporate into your stairwells is wall lights. With them, you won’t have to worry about hanging pendant lights getting in the way when you walk. You also won’t need to rely on table lamps on the stair landings. 

How To Use Recessed Lighting in Stair Risers and Walls

Recessed wall and step lighting is a space-saving solution for smaller stairwells. By recessing lights into the steps themselves, you can save space on walls on either side of the stairs. 

This will light up the steps individually, oftentimes from a light source that appears to be hidden, resulting in a modern minimalist aesthetic. This will provide focused illumination that casts light directly down onto the step for clearer visibility.

Similarly, you can recess lights into the walls on either side of the staircase. In doing so, you won’t have to worry about running into lights mounted on the walls of narrow staircases. This gives them a low-profile look and functionality.

Whether you include them on the stairs or in the walls, recessed lights will provide stylish, subtle lighting that enhances both the appearance and the safety of the staircase.

How To Control Lighting on a Stairway

Stairwells see a lot of movement and traffic, and they need to be easy to control in an instant. There are a few ways that you can control stair lights indoor fixtures.

Movement sensor stair lights are perhaps the most efficient way to control the lights. Motion sensor lighting will sense movement in the area, turning on when there is motion detected. After a period of stillness, the stair sensor lighting will automatically turn back off. 

You can never go wrong when using standard wall switches. Using a wall switch at the top and bottom of the stairs, you can easily turn the stairwell lighting on and off. These are among the most common types of stairwell light controls. 

If you anticipate the staircase being used during certain times of the day and night, you can set them on a timer. A timer will automatically activate and deactivate the lights according to what you say, so you can enjoy totally hands-free, convenient lighting. 

If you want to control the stair lights in even more ways, one of the best methods would be smart lighting. Smart lighting connects to any smart home system you may have installed, giving you plenty of options for controlling the illumination. This includes everything from timers to activating the lights with your voice. 

Setting your staircase lights on a dimmer switch allows you to maintain control of the brightness or dimness of a light at any given time. You can control the atmosphere and ambience of the stair lights with just the twist of a dial, letting you dictate the mood of the area. 

When it comes to energy efficiency, light sensors are another fine choice. If you want to conserve energy, consider using light-level sensors. These sensors will note the light levels throughout the day and turn on and off accordingly. This is especially beneficial in staircase areas that receive a lot of natural light during the day. 

What Types of Ceiling Lighting Can You Use Above a Staircase?

You can use a wide variety of ceiling lights above a staircase. Ultimately, it comes down to preference and the limitations of your staircase. 

Recessed downlights are among the most popular types of staircase lighting. They recess into the ceilings and sit flush with it, leaving no obstructive fixtures in the way as you walk. These create a clean, modern look while saving space in smaller stairwells. 

Flush mount ceiling lights are a good alternative if your ceiling can’t support recessed lights. These sit right against the ceiling and shine light downwards in a way that is similar to recessed lighting. 

If you want to prioritise directional and adjustable lighting, track lighting is a great choice. You can adjust the track heads to focus on different areas of the staircase, especially if it has any unique architectural features. Track lights are also good for illuminating works of art on the walls. 

Staircases that have a lot of tall, vertical space can benefit from pendant lights. Hanging pendant lights can fill in all of that empty space and give the staircase a fuller, more in-depth appearance. You can choose small pendant clusters or opt for a large, dramatic statement light here. 

Similarly, sophisticated staircases can benefit from a chandelier hanging down in that vertical space. They are especially well suited to large entryways or grand staircases. 

LED lights are slowly but surely replacing halogen and other traditional light bulbs as the years go on. This is true when it comes to staircase lighting as well. Modern stairway illumination prioritises LED lighting over halogen bulbs, and for many good reasons: 

  • ENERGY EFFICIENCY – LED lights use 80 percent less energy to create light than halogen bulbs. By using less electricity, these lights become more energy efficient than their traditional counterparts.
  • NO HEAT EMISSION – Unlike halogen bulbs that get their light from heat generation, LED bulbs output no heat. They stay cool to the touch, which is good for stairway lights that you might accidentally bump into on your path.
  • ECO-FRIENDLY – With their limited energy usage and recyclable materials, LED bulbs are simply better for the environment. Using them can help lessen your carbon footprint and overall environmental impact.
  • LONG LIFESPAN – Compared to halogen bulbs that run for only 1,000 hours, LED bulbs last a considerably long time. They are rated to run for tens of thousands of hours before needing a replacement.
  • COST-EFFECTIVE – A combination of a less frequent need for replacement and a reduction in energy usage means you will spend less money overall on your LED hallway lights through the years.

Stairway lighting ideas are diverse and broad, offering you many ways to highlight your stairwell. 

Make a Statement

Statement lighting can bring any space more personality and charm, but not all rooms are well suited for it. Ideally, you’ll need a lot of vertical space for large statement pendants. Fortunately, there is plenty of this in tall stairwells. 

Stairway pendant lights can be hung on the sides of stairs in the open vertical space. This draws the eye up the staircase while also filling in that empty space. 

Light the Steps 

Recessed stair lights and staircase wall lights can be used to light up each stair individually. This creates a contemporary and sleek effect that is perfect for those who love modern minimalism. 

You can either place small stairway wall lights on either side of the steps or LED step lights beneath the stairs to achieve this effect. 

Minimalist Spotlights

Installing recessed lights into the ceiling above is another great way to light up stairs. Downlights such as these cast a broader glow over the stairwell. You can then supplement this stairway ceiling lighting with other types of staircase illumination, including stairway wall lighting.

Illuminate Floating Stairs

If you have a floating staircase, place step lights beneath them. This will cause the light to glow from underneath from a hidden light source, giving the space a more artistic appearance.

Stagger Wall Lights

Using wall lights as a part of your stairwell lighting scheme can ensure clear visibility and safety over the entire staircase. Give your wall lights a staggered look to add dynamic depth, drama and texture to the staircase.

Be sure you get your staircase lighting right with these Dos and Don’ts. 

DO: 

  • DO consider motion sensor stair lights. With the lights turning on and off as needed, you can save on energy consumption and ensure the lights only run when necessary.
  • DO be sure it is well lit. Avoid any shadows or dark areas by layering the lights from floor to ceiling. This includes any ceiling, wall lights and individual step lights.
  • DO consider light direction. Be sure that stair lights are aimed downwards to more effectively illuminate the steps.
  • DO use dimmers. Stay in control of the level of lighting day and night with dimmer switches. These will allow you to adjust the illumination levels according to the natural light in the area or simply to your mood.
  • DO select the right fixtures. Choose fixtures that suit your stairwell. This includes both in terms of appearance and design and the specifications of the staircase itself. For instance, consider if recessed lights or surface mounted lights will be better for your unique stairwell.

DON’T: 

  • DON’T cause glare. Choose lights and light directions that won’t shine in the eyes. This can help prevent accidents by ensuring you and your guests have clear visibility while traversing the steps.
  • DON’T cast shadows. Be sure there are no dark spots on the stairs by using various types of lighting layered together for best results.
  • DON’T overlook LEDs. LED lighting offers a variety of benefits that halogen lighting simply does not. By neglecting to install LED lighting, you’ll be missing out on their energy efficiency, long lifespan and cost-saving perks.

Safety Considerations for Stairway Areas

Be sure that your stairs are as safe as they can be by remembering these safety tips: 

  • Ensure uniform illumination – Make sure light is spread across the entire stairwell evenly. Eliminating dark spots also reduces the risk of tripping hazards.
  • Make switches easy to find – Help make the staircase brighter and easier to see by ensuring the switches are easy to locate and use.
  • Avoid glare – To improve visibility in the stairwell, position lights in such a way that they won’t cause glare in your eyes.
  • Pay attention to height – Make sure you aren’t going to be hitting your head on pendant lights by being mindful of the height of the stairs and the length of the lights.
  • Use the right supplementary materials – If you plan to install recessed stair lights, consider using slip-resistant materials as well to further enhance their safety features.

Don’t forget maintenance – Periodically check that all of the lights are working as expected to ensure no dark surprises one evening while trying to traverse the staircase.

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