Staircase Ideas for UK Homes: Which Staircase Layout Is Right for You?
Looking for staircase ideas for your home?
One of the first decisions you'll need to make is the layout. Will it be straight, include a landing, or use winders to save space?
It's often difficult to picture how a new staircase will fit into a property. Most people imagine a simple, straight staircase running from one floor to the next, but depending on the layout of the property, floor height and available space, it's rarely that simple.
Planning Your Staircase Layout: Two Key Approaches
Staircase Designed to Fit the Property
The vast majority of the time, the property is either:
New Build: The staircase layout is determined by an architect to create the most space-efficient design to maximise usable floor space and fit the desired number of bedrooms and rooms within the property.
Loft Conversion: The staircase will need to fit in a certain position to work around headroom requirements, as well as existing room layouts and where the staircase enters the loft space.
Replacing an Existing Staircase:I f you’re replacing like-for-like, you would normally use the same layout as the staircase being removed. However, sometimes the purpose of replacing the staircase is to create a different layout that better suits the property. This is often when homeowners begin exploring new staircase ideas that better suit the way they live.
Property Designed to Fit the Staircase
This is far less common. However, when building a property or extension, some clients have a specific staircase layout in mind.
For example, they may prefer the appearance of a straight staircase without turns and wish to design the property layout around a feature staircase.
“T-shape” staircases almost always require a large amount of space, so it’s important to consider the overall building design if this is a feature you would like to include.
So, What Defines a Staircase Layout?
- Where you want the staircase to start and finish?
- What existing obstacles it needs to fit around?
- How you want the staircase to look?
Let’s take a look at the different types of staircase turns.
Straight Staircase
A straight staircase runs in a single, uninterrupted flight from one floor to the next, with no turns, landings or changes of direction.
It's the simplest staircase layout: one continuous run from one floor to the next, clean and uncomplicated.
This is what most people prefer: no turns, with stairs that feel open, modern and easy to get up and down. When designing a staircase with architectural merit, straight stairs are also generally preferred.
However, a straight staircase requires a longer, uninterrupted run. They generally work best in large, open spaces where there's no restriction on space.
Having a straight staircase is also the most cost-effective option and the best choice for future-proofing the property. This is ideal if you're considering staircase ideas that accommodate a stair lift at a later date to improve accessibility.
Quarter Landing Staircases
A quarter landing staircase changes direction by 90° using a flat platform between two flights of stairs, rather than angled treads.
It’s the simplest and most affordable solution for a staircase that needs to turn, and most people also prefer the look of a quarter landing over other turn options.
The compromise is space. That flat platform takes up roughly the same area as three treads, yet only counts as one in terms of vertical progress. For this reason, quarter landing stairs are often not the best option for smaller layouts.
Winder Staircases
A winder staircase changes direction using angled, kite-shaped treads rather than a flat landing, making it a more space-efficient alternative to a quarter landing.
If you want or require a 90° turn and space is restricted, a kite winder is the better option. Within the space of the turn, there are three treads, so effectively no space is lost by adding the turn.
Kite winders are by far the most common type of turn seen in UK properties. Their compact footprint makes them particularly well-suited to smaller homes, loft conversions and renovations where space is at a premium.
However, they are only permissible within private homes and are more expensive than quarter landing turns due to their greater complexity in manufacturing. If you are considering a winder staircase, it is also worth noting that UK building regulations still apply, and the going and rise of each tread must remain within permitted limits.
Other common names for winder stairs:
- Winder box stairs
- L-shape stairs
- Dog leg stairs
- Triangular tread stairs
Half Landing Staircases
A half landing allows the staircase to turn 180° on a flat platform, making it the most space-inefficient of the standard layout options.
From an aesthetic perspective, most people prefer a half landing. It's worth remembering, though, that within the space of a half landing, you could have two quarter landings or winder boxes, so you're potentially having to find space for four more treads somewhere else. Instead of two kite winders (six treads), a half landing only accounts for one, which is what makes it so space-demanding.
They do look good, though, and, if you have the space, it's an option worth considering.
Comparing The Turn Types:
Not sure which layout is right for your home? The table below summarises the key differences that can help you decide.
| Turn Type | Straight Staircase | Quarter Or Half Landing Staircase | Winder Staircase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Can easily fit a stairlift. Consistent tread length. Looks great. |
Flat landing nicest to stop on for a rest. Looks elegant with a turn. |
Space efficient. Suits UK properties due to small footprint. |
| Disadvantages | No direction change(s) | Space inefficient. Landing often needs additional support. |
Not as nice to walk up as a landing. Hard to fit a stairlift. Not allowed in commercial buildings. |
| Cost | Cheapest option. | Cheapest option with a turn. | More expensive due to a more complex manufacturing technique. |
Other Layouts
Straight, quarter landing, winder and half landing staircases cover the vast majority of UK homes, but they aren’t the only options available.
Multiple Turns & Turn Types
It's worth noting that it's totally normal to use multiple turns and turn types within one staircase to create your staircase layout to work around any obstacles, such as walls or headroom, as well as the direction you enter and exit the staircase.
T-Shape Staircases
A T-shape staircase splits into two separate flights after a central landing, with exits on both sides. These are also known as "bifurcated staircases."
They're generally used in two scenarios:
- A technical reason is required, such as the first floor being different heights on each side.
- To look impressive. T-shaped stairs, when done right, look imposing.
However, there is a huge space penalty, as you're essentially doubling the number of treads after the landing.
When you've got a feature T-shape staircase, the hallway is usually designed around this and has to be huge. As such, they're only ever likely to feature in gigantic hallways, though they do look amazing.
Seeing What Works Before You Decide
It's surprisingly difficult to judge a staircase layout without first planning it out.
Most building projects have an architect who (hopefully) will have planned the staircase layout, and you can transpose that into a tool like our StairDesigner. If there are no pre-existing plans and you are trying to work out how to replace an existing staircase, you can try different layouts in StairDesigner to add or remove turns and adjust the number of treads in each section.
StairDesigner lets you design your staircase from scratch, choose your materials and balustrades, and get an instant price, all in one place. Once you place your order, you'll receive full plan drawings and 3D images to check and sign off before anything goes into production.
Ready to get started? Design your staircase online today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, winder staircases are legal in the UK under current building regulations. However, subject to the following conditions:
- Only in a domestic property (house/flat).
- Kite treads equal to or greater than the size of the straight treads.
For more information, see section 2 of our building regulations guide. Alternatively, use our StairDesigner to plan regulation-compliant winder staircases.
