The staircase should fit harmoniously and naturally into the overall stylistic concept of the room
The railing of a country house staircase is a multifunctional and important part of the staircase structure as a whole, which should not only ensure safety when going upstairs, reliably protecting against falling, but also be aesthetically attractive, fitting harmoniously and naturally into the overall stylistic concept of the room.
Unusual staircase with glass railings in a modern interior
Staircase with elegant railings in art deco style
A railing is a fencing for staircase flights, which, on the one hand, protects the person climbing (descending) from falling, and on the other, serves as a support when climbing, which is especially important for older people. The fencing structure consists of the following elements:
Art Nouveau railings
- balusters are support posts to which the handrail is attached. They perform both a practical (load-bearing) function and a decorative one.
- handrails are an element used as support when moving up stairs. Can be installed on two or one side of a flight of stairs, and can be attached either directly to the wall or to balusters
Victorian style wrought iron staircase
- fence fillers - an element that fills the space between balusters. Often they perform a purely decorative function and in some designs, especially in modern styles, fillers are completely abandoned. However, if there are children in the house, they are required for installation - their presence significantly increases the safety of moving up the stairs.
According to current regulations and standards, the minimum height of handrails on stairs must be at least 90 cm. If the width of the stairs exceeds 1.25 m, handrails must be installed on both sides.
The presence of fillers significantly increases the safety of movement on stairs
Advice! If there is a child in the house, then the distance between the balusters is selected so as to exclude the possibility of sticking their head between them.
Railings for stairs: selecting material
If the design of the staircase is simple in execution and there are no special design requirements for the railings, then they can be made of simple materials. Another thing is a staircase of an exclusive design or which acts as a central detail, bearing the main decorative load in the interior - here the railings will have to meet increased requirements. Otherwise, the simplicity and unpretentiousness of the railing design will spoil the whole effect. Therefore, it is important to choose the right material from which the staircase railings will be made (photos make it possible to compare different options). In this case, it is important to follow two rules - compliance with style and unconditional compliance with safety requirements.
Railings must be in style and meet safety requirements
Types of railings based on material used
Another important criterion is the division of stair railings according to materials of manufacture.
Moreover, it does not matter whether the staircase railings were built in a country house, an ordinary residential building, or in a work premises.
The various options are described below. After reading them, you can analyze which ones are most suitable for you.
Wooden stair railings
Wooden fencing has been the most popular for many years. This can be explained by the fact that everyone wants to create maximum naturalness and environmental friendliness. They have a neat appearance and are resistant to wear - this explains their long-term popularity.
Moreover, at the moment, various types of wood are presented on store windows: from cheap to expensive, from light to dark.
Pay attention! You can make a railing for a staircase out of wood yourself - it’s cheap and doesn’t take much time.
Metal railings
Another popular material is metal. Of course, the peak of popularity of metal railings occurred at the beginning of the 21st century, when renovation work was being done in many office and shopping centers. However, interest in this type of material still exists. This comes with a number of advantages:
- Long service life (minimum 50-60 years).
- Aesthetically beautiful and modern.
- Ease of use - such fences do not require constant maintenance.
- Corrosion resistance.
- Fire safety.
Like any material, metal also has its drawbacks, of which there are very few - scratches may form on the surface during prolonged use.
Therefore, metal fences should also be treated with care so that they retain their functionality for many years to come.
Another beautiful option would be wrought iron railings. This can be cold (simple shape of products, popular among external fences) or hot (elegance of shapes and unique lines in design) forging.
The positive qualities of forged products include:
- Uniqueness of shapes and design.
- Long service life.
- Resistance to unpleasant influences.
There is only one disadvantage - the high cost of such an exclusive product.
Forged products have a number of advantages
Glass railings
Staircase with glass railings – minimalism in the house. Yes, it is not only beautiful, but also practical.
The advantages of such fences include:
- Easy to Install - Installs quickly and easily.
- Large selection of “materials”.
- Transparency.
- Long service life - at least used for 50 years.
- Easy to dismantle if damaged.
The disadvantages of glass material include:
- High cost.
- Difficult to maintain.
- Fragility.
As a rule, two types of glass are used for such fencing:
- Laminated - a sheet of glass glued with a transparent film.
- Red-hot - heated to a high temperature, after which it is blown with air from several sides and quickly brought to normal temperature. After this treatment, the glass is distinguished by its strength.
Plastic railings for stairs
Plastic fencing is cheap and practical. In addition, plastic fencing is quite popular due to its easy maintenance and durability. Moreover, the material itself is very difficult to damage.
The types of handrails in plastic stair railings include: round, oval, rectangular.
Combined railings for stairs
Nowadays, it has become popular to create not only ordinary, but also decorative fencing for stairs and railings, combining several materials.
A very popular combination is metal with wood, metal with glass or glass with wood - all these materials provide a huge number of combination options that look interesting and unique.
Metal railings
A very popular option, in no small part due to the large number of design options - from simple, minimalist ones, consisting only of posts and railings, combined by welding, to very complex structures. They can be made of steel, iron, aluminum, and also in combination with other materials - glass, PVC, wood. You can use any type of metal profile - from fittings and simple pipes to profiles with complex patterns. They are very durable, resistant to dynamic and static loads - even the thinnest handrails can withstand high pressure. They can be used both indoors and outdoors. At the same time, metal stair railings (photos will serve as proof of this) in addition to the main one - protective, also do an excellent job of decorative function.
Metal railings are a very popular option.
Metal railings in a country style interior
Bright and interesting staircase in retro style
Features of materials and options for their application
The choice of material for making railings for stairs in a private house often depends on the style of interior design. If the rooms are decorated in a loft, hi-tech or minimalist style, chrome-plated metal products would be an ideal option.
Many parts can be purchased ready-made, but before that you need to carefully calculate the dimensions of all structural elements. We should also not forget that the railings are used very intensively, so the coating will quickly wear off.
It is better not to use aluminum for the manufacture of railing parts, as it resists mechanical stress very poorly, becomes dull and leaves marks on the hands.
The best option for a modern interior would be stainless steel. Railings made from it will be strong and durable. They will be able to maintain a presentable appearance for many years.
Forged staircase railings look very beautiful in the house. They will fit well into the stylistic solutions of Art Nouveau and Provence. The base of the structure is assembled by welding, and the artistic forging elements are installed last. It is quite difficult to make them at home, so it is better to purchase ready-made ones or order them.
The most affordable and easiest to use material is wood. It is the easiest way to make handrails for stairs with your own hands.
Wrought iron railings
They are often installed to favorably emphasize the chosen style of decorating a room, so they are most often used in the style of Rococo, Baroque and traditional classics. In addition to elegance and beauty, forged elements look elegant and sophisticated, which is often lacking in wood fragments. Typically, such railings are easy to perceive and visually “transparent”, thus the staircase does not consume space. Forged staircase railings will get additional charm if you use gold, silver or platinum finishes.
Wrought iron railings perfectly emphasize the Mediterranean style
Forged railing elements look elegant and sophisticated
Forged staircase railings will get additional charm if you use gold, silver or platinum finishes.
Stainless steel railings
Perhaps the most reliable and durable, primarily due to the manufacturing features. Such railings are usually made using the welded method, i.e. They are not collapsible, so they can withstand very heavy loads. In addition, they are durable - the stainless steel coating will reliably protect the metal from corrosion, plus no periodic touch-up is required. Stainless steel railings will harmoniously fit into modern (high-tech, minimalism) interiors.
Due to the manufacturing features, stainless steel railings are very reliable and durable
Very stylish railings in the form of spread mercury
Stainless steel railings will harmoniously fit into a modern interior
