Decorating around a staircase can be a big challenge for any decorator, amateur or professional. Choosing how to decorate your staircase can be simple if you follow a few simple steps, use your imagination and think practically.
The first step is to measure your space. If you want to hang art on a long wall, measure the length and the height. Find the center point in both directions, and mark a line from one end of the wall to the other with chalk at eye level. Even if you are just painting or putting up wallpaper, you will need exact measurements when you purchase materials.
Prepare your space next. If you are painting, tape off any trim, moldings, windows and ceiling lines with painters tape and protect your floor with a drop cloth. Have a rag handy for wiping away spills as they happen. Lightly sand the entire surface you are going to paint to make sure it is smooth, and then wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any dust. If you have chosen a dark color for your walls, start with one or two coats of a tinted primer to make sure your current wall color doesn’t bleed through and to get better coverage with your color coat. After applying primer, apply two or three coats of color. Cover large areas with a roller and cut in around painters tape with a brush. Carefully remove painter’s tape before the paint dries to ensure a clean line. When paint is completely dry, paint trim after taping off walls. If you are hanging wallpaper, consider where the pattern will fall before gluing.
Artistic Endeavors
If you are hanging art, consider your decorating style: For example, fleur de lis artwork lends a traditional feel, while jazz metal wall art may feel more contemporary. In the following examples, we’ll look at eclectic, traditional and shabby chic spaces – if your style preferences are somewhere else, consider how you can bring elements into your stairway wall.
Traditional
This traditional staircase has many classic architectural details, as well as a calming, timeless color scheme. The homeowner has chosen to hang prints in matching frames at equal distances on the wall. Symmetry and balance are important details to consider when decorating in a traditional style. Faux finishing techniques give the impression of expensive panels on the lower walls, but are in fact an inexpensive alternative.
Eclectic/Bohemian
This wall is a hodgepodge of art in a variety of frames, hung in a free-form pattern. The way the pictures are hung mirrors the curve of the staircase, and highlights the homeowner’s unique, playful style. Other details represent a variety of styles, typical of eclectic decor. When attempting to hang photos like this, it helps to trace the frames on pieces of paper, taping them to the wall in different patterns and arrangements until you are happy with the flow and general shape. It is easier to work with templates than to have to fill in nail holes later.
Cottage/Shabby Chic
If you love bright and joyful cottage style and lack proper storage, consider this cute solution for your stairway. Striped wallpaper, brightly painted shelves and color coordinating storage containers make this functional nook a pleasure to behold. The sweet cream paint on the stairs and the country basket tucked underneath add to the charm and whimsy of this area. To recreate at home, measure carefully to ensure shelves are equally spaced vertically – this homeowner used every other stair tread as a guide – and that the horizontal length of the shelves does not create a hazard when going up and down stairs.
Jessica Ackerman of WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, is an interior designer who illustrates how simple it can be to use wall candle holders and contemporary metal wall decor.
Tags: color, creative decorating, design, home, stais, style, theme, top, wall art, wall decor
