5 Outdated Stair Trends to Say Goodbye to ASAP, According to Designers

There are endless stair layouts, treatments, and finishes to choose from, especially if you’re building a house yourself. But even though they might seem straightforward, not all staircases are considered stylish.

Whether you’re looking for a new home or designing one, interior designers are here to deliver their takes on the most outdated stair trends, plus their thoughts on if carpeted staircases are here to stay.

Overly Grand Staircases

One of the biggest outdated stair trends is also one of the most obvious when entering a home. Overly grand staircases, like movie-style double sets and dramatic spiral staircases, are an immediate no-go for interior designer Peter Spalding.

“They are usually too prominent and grandiose, and seem to suggest they’re headed to a grand ballroom instead of a few beds and bathrooms,” he says.

Want more design inspiration? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest decor ideas, designer tips, and more!

Ornate Scrolls

Made popular in the early 2000s, even homes with simpler staircases often had ornate scroll details on their bannisters and railings. Although they fit in among truly historical architecture, designer Jan Odesanya says they’re out-of-style in more modern spaces.

“You could walk into ten different homes and see the same overworked scroll patterns, often in a house with no architectural link to European classicism,” she says. “The problem is when we lift a detail out of context and paste it into a home it doesn’t belong to. That’s when it tips from ‘character’ to ‘caricature.'”

Floating Stairs

After a few decades of striving for homes that feel more like modern art museums than cozy cocoons, we’re collectively shifting towards comfort in our spaces. As a result, there’s now one type of staircase known for being both unstylish and impractical: floating stairs.

“Floating staircases have had their Instagram moment, and yes, they’re stunning in photos,” Odesanya says. “But in everyday life? They’re a maintenance headache and, frankly, a safety hazard for most households.”

Glossy Wood With White Risers

According to our designers, it isn’t just stair structures that can go out of style; the finish on each step can also instantly date your home.

“A shiny red-orange cherry step with crisp white risers was once the height of ‘formal’,” Odensaya says. “Now, it timestamps a home instantly, like spotting a flip phone in someone’s bag.”

For a more timeless take on the wood-and-white combo, she suggests matte wooden finishes, softer neutral paint on risers, or a minimalist, tone-on-tone look.

LED Strip Lighting

Although having lighting along our staircases is practical and necessary for nighttime safety, Spalding says the LED light strip trend has already seen its last days.

“Having an LED strip notched under the nosing of a stair tread is not cool, and it’s even worse if the lighting changes colors,” he says.

Instead, Spalding recommends wall-mounted step lights, explaining that the simpler the stairs, the more attractive and timeless they will be.

Are Carpeted Stairs Outdated?

One controversial stair trend that could be on its way out? Carpeted stairs— whether they’re in the form of an all-over look, or wooden steps partially covered by runner rugs.

“This one ruffles feathers, but I still like wall-to-wall carpet for stairs, and I won’t apologize for it,” Odesanya says. “On a carpeted staircase you have grip, warmth, and a soft landing if—and when—someone misses a step.”

While our designers both agree that bare wooden stairs are a style and safety issue, Spalding prefers to incorporate the practicality of carpet on stairs with a thoughtful runner.

“A custom runner for your stairs is always tasteful if properly installed,” he says. “Having a runner on your stairs helps dampen noise and adds traction to wood treads, which are easy to slip on.”

The verdict on carpeted stairs is still up in the air, so if you want to cover your steps, opt for the way that makes most sense for the area you live in, your household, and your personal style.