These modern wood stairs have a white base and light wooden steps, accessorized with a black, horizontal five-rail banister. A fir-bough garland is wound through the railings of the banister and wicker plates create a neutral gallery wall.
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Do not just believe that your stairs are a liminal space – a space between the upstairs and downstairs of your home. It is important to recognize that your stairs are also a key design element in your space. This list of carefully curated ideas showcases perfect examples of how to make a wooden staircase anything but boring. A mixture of colors, textures, and wood tones works best. Most ideas here pair a wooden step with a white riser or a white banister with black balusters.
Balusters are also not something to be ignored; rather than accepting the most basic shapes, embrace twirled wrought iron, rounded or diamond details, just something to catch the eye and excite when walking up or down your stairs. Allow yourself to embrace the reality of ascending or descending your staircase of dreams. Scroll on to see some of the wonderful things you can do with modern wood stairs.
02 of Wooden Stairs With Mirror Gallery Wall
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These modern wood stairs demonstrate the effectiveness of a fully wooden staircase. The white wall and shiplap accent wall paired with black accessories, such as the trio of round mirrors attached to the wall going up the stairs, allows the wooden staircase to glow warmly in the space.
03 of Winding Wood and White Staircase
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This winding staircase demonstrates the simplistic impact of wooden steps with white risers in an empty space. The plain walls, white doors, and wooden floors mean the focus is on the shape and seductive curve of the staircase itself.
04 of Wood Stairs With Rectangular Banister
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These farmhouse stairs look fabulous with clean lines and straight black balusters. The rectangular wooden banisters help to give the staircase a modern edge. To decorate the cream walls on the stairs, a colorful gallery wall sits beautifully on the landing part of the stairs. A stoneware ornament sits below.
05 of Pristine White and Wood Stairs
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This white staircase looks pristine in this white two-story space. White walls allow the light wood of the steps to gleam, and white risers with white banisters complete the look. Paneling has been added to the staircase sides to add a textural detail, and a large white trim window sits between the two flights of stairs.
06 of Wood Stairs With Carved Newel
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These classic stairs have wooden steps with white risers, a wooded banister with white balusters, and a wooden and white newel. Carved details have been used to create interest and detail in the newel and post. Beyond the stairs is a light blue door decorated with a yellow wreath.
07 of Modern Wood Stairs With Vintage Mirror Wall
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This lovely set of modern wood stairs displays a gallery wall of vintage gold mirrors going up the staircase, making the space look larger and more opulent. A small fir tree decorated with gold baubles sits on a step, and a white faux fir tree rests a few steps down.
08 of Staircase With Diamond-shape Baluster Detail
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This magnificent staircase showcases wooden steps with white risers and a wooden handrail with black balusters. Added diamond detail on the balusters elevates the look. The staircase winds around corners, making it a truly spectacular sight. Beige walls ensure the stairs are the focus.
09 of Staircase With Twirled Black Rail Banister
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These light wooden stairs have a beautiful black rail banister, which includes twirled spokes of wrought iron, as well as curved, decorative pieces. This elevates the look of the staircase into a more decorative experience. A white corridor leads to a black side table and hanging wall clock.
10 of Wooden Staircase in Vintage Room
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- thelittledovehome
A small staircase that turns the corner of this vintage house has rustic wooden steps, that pair nicely with the vintage greige rug and the pink and gray leaf pattern wallpaper. A retro side table holds a beige lamp and a pencil sketch portrait in a frame.
11 of Rich Wood Staircase With Black Rails
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This resplendent staircase comprises rich, wood stairs paired with a slim black rail. The railing goes perfectly with the open frame light shade hanging above the stairs. The room has a beamed ceiling and curved lines to the upper story.
12 of Wooden and White Steps With Black Balusters
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This stunning staircase sits in an entryway with wooden floors and a large chandelier. Wooden steps with white risers form the stairs, paired with a wooden handrail and contrasting black balusters. The white newels give the staircase a grand look.
13 of Elegant Stairs With Curved Banister
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This elegant staircase has wooden steps, white risers, and black balusters with added details worked into the wrought iron. A handrail in a rich, wood shade leads down the stairs, finishing in a gorgeous curve at the bottom. A vintage rug and mirrored cabinet stand regally beyond the stairs.
14 of Tall Staircase With Side Paneling
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This large staircase shows off the squared board and batten paneling on the side, which is a lovely added detail. A black sideboard, holding a rounded black framed mirror sits In front of the wooden steps, a wooden handrail, and white balusters. A large shrub sits on the small landing after the first three steps.
15 of Festively-decorated Wood Stairs
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This festively decorated staircase displays a white shiplap wall with wooden steps and risers. Black railings are perfect for winding a fir-bough garland around and a small Christmas tree glows with twinkling lights at the base of the stairs.
16 of Wooden Stairs With Black Balusters
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This modern farmhouse staircase displays wooden steps with white risers. A wooden banister has slim black balusters, which contrast with the wide steps. A small black-frame chandelier hangs in front of a white front door.
17 of Stairs Decorated With Checkerboard Pumpkins
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These modern wooden stairs sit centered in a wooden hallway with beige walls. The stairs have a black rail that is beautifully complemented by the black checkerboard pumpkins sitting on the stairs. A fig-leaf plant sits in a white plant pot next to the stairs.
18 of White Staircase With Piano
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This modern wooden staircase creates a perfect space for a white piano and matching bench to nestle into the turn of the stairs. The shiplap paneling on the side pairs perfectly with the white balusters. The wooden steps match the banister. The risers are formed of small vertical wooden tiles, which adds texture.
19 of Wooden Steps With Gray Handrail
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This hallway displays delightful, traditional wood stairs, with wooden treads and white risers. A curved handrail is painted a dark gray, with white balusters. It pairs perfectly with the gray wall and gray-blue sideboard with vintage rounded feet.
20 of Simple, Rustic Décor Ideas for a Stair Landing
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A rustic serving tray is leaned casually against a corner wall with black framed portraits along this stair landing with warm wood treads and white risers. Black steel balusters run horizontally with the stairs towards the upper level, matching a pendant light hung overhead.
21 of Staircase in Keeping With House Color Scheme
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This elegant staircase incorporates dark wooden treads with white risers and a handrail in the same wood with black balusters. The balusters have added detail to create a pattern as the rail carries onto the first-floor landing. Wooden floors and cream walls continue through the house.
22 of Dark Wood Stairs With Cherry Blossom
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This staircase is comprised of dark textured wood that looks magnificent against the light gray of the floorboards. A matching banister with wrought-iron detailed balusters continues the look, and a large glass vase of cherry blossom stems sits proudly next to the newel. Another glass vase sits in a wicker tray on the landing.
23 of Entryway Wood Stairs With Black Banister
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This cute entryway shows white walls and wooden floors. A wooden entryway bench is decorated with cushions and a spider plant sits in a wicker basket next to the bench. The bench leans against the wood stairs, which stand out thanks to the black banisters and balusters. Farmhouse-style rounded newels keep the look from being too harsh.
24 of Neutral Staircase With Black Balusters
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This room showcases a beamed ceiling and glossy wooden floors. White walls are punctuated by dark elements, such as French doors or cupboards. The staircase blends beautifully, with light wooden steps and risers, and black balusters with added width detail at the bottom.
25 of White Shiplap Stairwell with Light Wood Treads
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White shiplap runs up the length of this home’s staircase wall. Light wood treads match the wood handrail, while the newel post and treads blend seamlessly with the white shiplap. Black iron spindles along the stairs give the space a grounded look.
26 of Warm Wooden Staircase in Airy Living Room
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This bright and airy living room features a warm wooden staircase with black iron spindles and a gray carpet runner. Tall, paneled walls draw the eye upwards towards the second floor. Comfortable neutral couches are centered around a rectangular white oak coffee table, creating a relaxing and modern space.
