Stairways are a practical necessity in many homes. Because they are located in primary locations in the home, you can use them to give your home a more unique and defined style. Use options like paint and vintage wall art if you need your design to be cost-effective. If you need your wall decor to stand the test of time, allow a carpenter to create custom paneling.

Whatever your budget and style, you can find ways to give your stairway a custom look that makes it one of a kind.

When we decorate stairway walls, we give our homes a creative touch that is unique and personal. We think of a stairway as a way to get from one floor to the other, but a stairway wall can rise above the practical. With their ample wall space stairway walls offer an unexplored area where you can add extra storage, create a striking gallery, or amp up the color of your home.

Take a look at these stairway wall decor ideas to see how you can turn your blank wall into your home’s best asset.

Create Extra Storage

Use the extra wall space of a stairway to create needed storage. Store items like books, or create deeper shelving to display small items like bowls, sculptures, and plants.

You can also use the space between the stairway levels to create an integrated shelf. For this you may play off the exposed framing of the house’s design to extend the surface of the stairs to create the shelf.

Gallery Wall

Use a stairway wall to create a gallery of your favorite artwork or pictures of your family vacations. You can use an eclectic mix of sizes or use the same shape and color wall art for a more unified look.

One idea can be utilizing pictures of a similar size and subject. The uniformity of the design can then be relieved by the addition of the mirrored wall sconces.

Add Depth with Millwork

Using molding or millwork is a gorgeous way to add interest to a staircase wall while still keeping a low profile. Millwork has amazing versatility. You can create a look that is traditional or contemporary. Molding is also great to use if your staircase is used by little ones. You can add interest to your staircase so that you can forgo items that can be knocked down. Painted molding is also easy to clean.

The millwork paneling can be used to create a grid-like pattern. It can be painted to complement the trim in the home; this way it will blend in but still create an elegant and formal style.

You can also use vertical wood slats to create the contemporary millwork for a stairway.

Use Paint

Paint is one of the most ideal stairway wall decor ideas if you are on a budget. Use a bold-colored paint to create a fun accent wall or use paint to create the look of more expensive molding. Whatever you choose, don’t be afraid to experiment. You can vary to the look of this stairway wall decor without breaking the bank.

Wallpaper Ideas

Wallpaper offers endless possibilities for stairway wall decor. It is optimal for stairways because it does not take up valuable floor space, and it offers color and depth. It also has a wide range of styles. It can complement contemporary as well as traditional and historic home styles.

Create Texture

If you own a more industrial or rustic style home, a textured wall might be the element you need for decorating stairway walls. Use brick or stone veneer for industrial spaces or rough wood for rustic and farmhouse homes. You may choose to cover the entire wall, or, cover just part of the wall if cost is a concern.

Store Collections

One of the most useful wall decor ideas for stairway areas is as a placeholder for collections. This serves a dual purpose of creating an interesting display while negating the need for extra storage space. If you collect baskets, bowls, or animal heads, a stairway wall can make an ideal spot for display. Group items together to create a dramatic display or place items along the entire wall up the stairway.

Keep it Simple

Some stairways look the best with no decor at all. Therefore, if your stairway has a beautiful design, too much decor may distract from the elegance of its shape.

Mirrors

Some stairway walls lack windows, so it can be helpful to reflect light from other sources. Use mirrors provide added dimension to stairway walls. Group them together to create a gallery-like display, or use one large statement mirror to create one focal point.

Architectural Features

Some stairways are high and benefit from larger wall decor. These can be ideal for large found objects like window frames, doors, and shutters.

Oversized Wall Art

If you want the simplicity of design style but don’t have a cool architectural object, use oversized wall art to give your staircase style. Oversized wall art makes good stairway wall decorations because they are simple yet chic and stylish.

Lighting

Some stairways need just lighting to give them all the decor they need. You can add lighting along the wall in the form of sconces. Also, you can use overhead statement lighting that adds interest to the area overall.

Mix it Up

It can be difficult to decide on just one approach to decorating your stairway wall. Therefore, it can work well to mix different methods.

There are many design options that work well for stairway wall design, but the challenging part is choosing the right one for you. Consider the style, stairway shape, time and budget to help narrow down the ideas.