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15 Basement Stairway Ideas to Implement Right Now!

January 3, 2023 by Ashley Mayes Leave a Comment

15 basement stairway ideas to help inspire you to transform your space. Whether you are looking for stair decor and ways to improve your stairs with just decorating or you are ready to get your DIY on and change out balusters or a handrail… there’s going to be lots of inspiration for your basement staircase in this post.

As you probably know, I recently shared my drab to beautiful basement stair reveal. As I was filing away inspiration for my project, I was inspired by other peoples’ homes and how they were making their lower level stairs work for them. Whether it be by adding statement lighting above the stairs or wallpaper on the walls, each space had something I felt inspired by.

I got to thinking how basement stairways can be overlooked and, in general, a hard place to envision how home decor would look. With that in mind, I wanted to share spaces and ideas that inspired me or that I thought would inspire you in transforming your staircase.

Basement Stairway Ideas

15 ideas to transform your basement stairs. Whether you are looking to do a staircase renovation or just want to help the design of the lower level stairs!

Photo Credit: Nesting With Grace

Pretty Utilitarian Storage

No broom closet? No problem. Add functional and pretty cleaning supplies to the wall on a closed staircase. By adding decor with it, you are making the space more intentionally mudroom-esque. This is a great example of a space that most of us would overlook yet this one shows how style can mix with everyday needs.

Photo Credit: With Justine

Eclectic Gallery Wall

If you have a collection of small to mid-sized photographs or art pieces, those can make a fun, eclectic gallery wall. A tip here is to keep the pieces in the color family to make the art wall feel cohesive.

Wooden Handrail and Brass End Caps

We didn't have a handrail to begin with but I think this project could be done even if you already have a plain handrail. Follow the steps to add brass brackets and/or brass endcaps to further "up" the style in your stairwell.

Photo Credit: Ryan Street

Statement Lighting Over Stairs

Not all staircases leading down to basements have the height needed to be able to install a statement chandlier or pendant over the stairs. If height of the ceiling allows for a statment light then I think it's a great idea to add one.

Photo Credit: mernee

Add Wallpaper to Your Stair Walls

Accent walls can be hard to get right so if you want to try wallpaper, consider adding it on the walls of your stairs. It can be a fun way to bring color and interest to your staircase.

Photo Credit: Virginia Sweet Pea

Install Metal Balusters

Modernizing the balusters on a staircase can really up the look in your home. We were able to remove the iron scrolls on our iron railing which is a more intense project than this one of installing metal balusters. Both projects are great and show that you can change the look of your staircase with some grunt work.

Photo Credit: Havenly

Painted Stairs (Risers and Treads)

We had rough plywood under our carpet going down to our basement and knew that we were going to cover them with LVP because we were redoing all of the basement flooring. If you are just addressing your stairs then I think painting the risers and/or the treads can be a great impact for minimal money.

Photo Credit: Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY Lucite Handrail

Need to add a handrail or completely replace one and love that glam look? You could add a lucite handrail to help bring a bit of instant charm to your stairway.

Add a Stair Runner

A few months ago, I shared twelve different stair runner ideas for how to add more interest to your staircases. I think stairs going down to a basement can tend to be dreary so I think stair runners are especially good ideas for this area. See inspiration below!

Photo Credit: At Lane and High

DIY Board and Batten Staircase

Board and batten works for so many different home styles and can instantly add charm in an otherwise forgotten space.

Photo Credit: The House That Lars Built

Floral Vinyl Staircase

I've seen quite a number of staircases that have wallpaper applied on them but this one is actually vinyl (similar to wallpaper though!). I will say that the color combo with the whole vibe of the house is by far the most inpsiring use of pattern on risers that I've ever seen.

Photo Credit: Lemon Stripes

Wall Sconce Over Stairs

I adore wall lighting and, if you have room, I would totally encourage you to consider adding wall sconces going down the stairs. I think it's a nice way to break up the wall space while providing light. A total win/win in my book!

Photo Credit: meganpflugdesigns

Add Stair Rods

If you have wood stairs and feel like they are a bit boring or if you want to more securely fasten a stair runner... consider adding stair rods to your steps. I, personally, adore this look and would totally do it if we have wood stairs down to our basement.

Grid Style Gallery Wall

Personally, I think stairwells can be a great choice for a location to display family photos. Grid style gallery walls generally follow the direction and depth of the stairs. They can be a tad trickier to measure and hang but, in general, design-wise they are easier for the gallery wall to look finished once they are up.

Photo Credit: Frugal Family Times

Install Wood Treads & Risers Over Old Steps

If you are installing wood treads and risers down to a basement, definitely do a bit of research on that choice but here's a great example of how the stairs could look once installed. I wish we would have gone this route, personally!

I would have loved to have tall ceilings going down to our basement so that I could have added a hanging pendant. I find statement lighting so dreamy in all situations. So, if you have ceilings that will accommodate a great light, install one! You won’t regret it.

p.s. Want more stairway inspiration? I have a Pinterest board dedicated to all things stairs. Hop over and check it out.

15 Basemen Stairway ideas sharing a grid gallery wall on stairs
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