Interior Designers Name the Staircase Styles They Say Are Dated

This article was prepared from the source material provided, which consists of a design feature quoting interior designers Peter Spalding and Jan Odesanya.

Overly grand staircases, ornate scroll railings, floating steps, glossy cherry treads with white risers, and LED strip lighting are among the staircase styles interior designers Peter Spalding and Jan Odesanya say have fallen out of favor. The two designers shared their assessments in a recent design feature, offering both specific criticisms and practical alternatives.

Spalding, an interior designer and co-founder and chief creative officer of Daniel House Club, singled out movie-style double staircases and dramatic spiral staircases as immediate no-gos. "They are usually too prominent and grandiose, and seem to suggest they're headed to a grand ballroom instead of a few beds and bathrooms," he said.

Odesanya, founder of Mondän & Co Interiors, pointed to ornate scroll details on bannisters and railings, a look she said became popular in the early 2000s. While such details fit historical architecture, she argued they clash in modern spaces. "You could walk into ten different homes and see the same overworked scroll patterns, often in a house with no architectural link to European classicism," she said. "The problem is when we lift a detail out of context and paste it into a home it doesn't belong to. That's when it tips from 'character' to 'caricature.'"

Floating Stairs and Glossy Finishes

Floating staircases, which Odesanya said have had their "Instagram moment," are both unstylish and impractical in her view. "They're a maintenance headache and, frankly, a safety hazard for most households," she said.

The finish on each step can also date a home, according to the designers. Odesanya described a shiny red-orange cherry step with crisp white risers as once the height of "formal," but now something that "timestamps a home instantly, like spotting a flip phone in someone's bag." She suggested matte wooden finishes, softer neutral paint on risers, or a minimalist, tone-on-tone look as more timeless alternatives.

LED strip lighting notched under the nosing of a stair tread is another dated choice, Spalding said, adding that color-changing versions are worse. He recommended wall-mounted step lights instead, noting that simpler stairs tend to be more attractive and timeless.

The Carpet Debate Remains Open

Carpeted stairs—whether wall-to-wall or wooden steps with a runner—remain a point of disagreement. Odesanya defended wall-to-wall carpet for stairs, citing grip, warmth, and a soft landing if someone misses a step. Spalding preferred a custom runner, which he said is "always tasteful if properly installed" and helps dampen noise and add traction to wood treads.

Both designers agreed that bare wooden stairs pose a style and safety issue. The verdict on carpeted stairs is still unresolved, and the designers suggested choosing based on climate, household needs, and personal style.