Here are ways to hang wall art in stairways depending on the shape of the stairwell that you have. There are great opportunities for gallery walls, stair-stepped art arrangements, and more decor. This post has been updated to show how our new stairway is decorated.
Art In A Straight Open Stairway
In our home in Newport Beach, I “stair-stepped the art with the stairs.” Going with the angle of the stairs, this is easy to see on the first floor. The artwork is comprised of reproduction prints in custom frames with vivid color marbled mats.
Ways to Hang Art In A Square Stairway
In Debbie’s home, she chose to leave the pretty wainscot free of art downstairs and on the landing and put a large-scale canvas painting in the second story. Aren’t the handrails pretty?
So you see it mainly upstairs.
Ways to Hang Art In Stairways Where the Main Floor is Upstairs
This was an easy decision to hang the antique pitchforks at eye level with the main floor and not in the well leading to the garage.
Stairway with Gallery Wall
This is a fun use of the staircase wall with a curated sailing art collection to the ceiling.
Ways to Hang Art In An Open Hallway Second Floor
Here is the stairway in our new home in Florida. We first painted the walls Benjamin Moore Simply White.
The vintage prints and clock faces were collected over the years from flea markets, Etsy and art galleries. They are in similar colors. Place the art on the floor to create the layout. I’ve used cut-out paper templates in the past but I find that “eyeballing” it on the floor works just as well.
Start in the middle and work your way out on the right and left, about two to three inches apart.
The frames consist of black, gold and dark brown.
Mirror On The Landing In A Stairwell
This was a perfect place (possibly the only place) to hang my mother’s antique mirror as it reflects light. I like the juxtaposition of the new, simplified Visual Comfort sconces with the old mirror.
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Carpet On Stairs — Your Opinion Please
Carpeting on the stairs is safer and it would lighten the dark steps. I’d like to go with a coastal feel like sisal or stripes and fairly neutral so we won’t tire of it. What do you think we should do here?
Those are classic ways to hang art on stairway walls.
You may also like Fresh Classic Living Room and Dining Room Before and After.
I love your mirror and sconces and your gallery sall! wall! I remember your vintage clock faces!
We’ve never had carpet or runner on steps…and since my kids were young, they never wore only socks! Way too scary! I might get a runner with baby Louisa! A sisal runner would be perfect!
That’s what I’m thinking, Annie.
Mary Anne as someone who fell down uncarpeted stairs at 8.5 pregnant ( and yes he came two weeks early) I would 100% vote for some type of carpeting be it full or a runner. Also our big dog is 13 and has trouble coming up carpeted stairs if they were not carpeted it would be a nightmare for him. Most importantly as we age slips become more common for any number of reasons and most falls in the home are on the stairs or bathroom. If this house is your ‘forever’ home or even home for the next few years I’d go with the carpet. I worked with hospitalized seniors for many years and most falls were coming down the stairs (though I remember one lady fell going up!)
There are so many pretty options that would suit your home andI am sure Chief would appreciate it!!
Thank you so much, Allison for your input. I really appreciate it.
I really love how the mirror and gallery wall coordinate in a very monochromatic way. Wood stairs can be quite slippery, what about installing vintage oushak runners in a muted distressed colors, with a bit of search you may find different pieces with similar colorings. I’m sure you can place a request at your favorite rug shop. These rug dealers spend their days hunting for carpets, I’m sure they can find you something to suit your colors and specific sizing.
You always have the best ideas, Liana!
I think carpet on the stairs is a great idea, it makes it less noisy and a little safer. Our old house had two staircases, neither had a runner or carpet and I almost fell more times that I can count while wearing flats or socks.
Love all of the beautiful ideas for hanging art, looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful new place.
Yes, especially slippery with just socks on!
When I tore the carpet off our builder-grade stairs and had new hardwood treads and white painted risers put in, my husband was worried about the safety. I insisted it would be ok, but by Day 2 we had each slipped and fallen all the way down the stairs. I ended up putting a beautiful leopard print runner in and honestly, I think it’s what sold our home last year! Animal prints are a classic, but I also think the sisal runner is a lovely idea.
I worry that sisal would be a bit slippery on stairs and I hate having to vacuum them, so I prefer wood, especially with dogs around.
Great post and perfect timing since I am hanging more artwork in our new house too. I vote for sisal on he stairs. I did sisal in our sunroom and love it.
Our small dog injured a knee running up and down our uncarpeted stairs. We didn’t want to fully carpet them or have a runner that detracted from the look of the wood. After much Googling, we installed sisal tread covers with a rubber backing that held in place. They were innocuous in appearance and did the trick.
That’s an idea! Hope your dog is ok. I think our stairs are slippery for Chief too.
Our last house had hardwood stairs with no runner. I loved seeing the wood, but they were really slippery, and my husband and I both fell on them. Our house now has fully carpeted stairs. Safer, but just not as pretty. A carpeted runner seems like the great option. Neutral would be pretty. Sisal? A neutral pattern would also be nice. Love your blog! It’s one of the few that I read top to bottom. 🙂
Thanks Marilyn. If we do it I was thinking of a Diamond seagrass.
I have enjoyed watching your home come together, Mary Ann. Your choices in each room, including the stairway, have been delightful, as well as thoughtful. Very lovely. I am excited to see what you decide about the stairs. With most people, there is rarely a middle ground about carpet. I personally love the look, especially on the stairs. With the wonderful cordless vacuums, cleaning is so much easier. There are so many natural carpets to choose from these day, the hardest part will be selection. Either way, your home is beautiful.
Thanks so much for your comment, Terry.
Good morning, MaryAnn, from the other coast. Your mother’s mirror must give you joy all day long. I love the juxtaposition of the contemporary sconces.
In our former home, we had a wonderful neutral textured carpet running up the middle of the stairs with the beautiful wood showing on both sides. It was the. best of both worlds as well as providing safety. Just something to think about.
Enjoy your pirate adventure. Love hearing about the fun ways you are entering into your new neighborhood.
Warmly, Diney on Mercer Island
Thanks, Diney!!!
I recently removed the previous owner’s runner and had our hardwood stairs refinished. I’m not liking the bare wood so will reinstall a runner. My athletic 20 year old son slipped after the runner was removed! Of course, he was hauling down the stairs, but it helped me decide which way to go. Our stairs have two landings. Not sure what I will do there. Thinking of leaving those bare. I prefer the “Hollywood” method (classic but a bit pricier as it requires more materials) of installing the runner vs the”Waterfall” method (a bit more modern) for our home. You could do either, I think. I went into the carpet store we used previously and specifically asked for runner recommendations. They gave me good recommendations with respect to type of weave, stain resistance, installation, etc., so I would start there and see if that helps guide your decision. I’m not in the habit of commenting on the decor of someone whose style I admire as much as yours, but I kinda like the idea a couple of other commenters had of larger stacked art in place of your gallery wall. I love your gallery wall art, et al, but feel it is a bit too diminutive for that spot. That could be due to difficulty photographing that area. Looking forward to seeing what you choose for a runner, if you do one.
Thanks so much for your input!!
Safety first! Sisal the stairs.
I love a striped runner down the stairs. Pick a low pile, easy to clean, anti stain runner. It will lighten those very dark stairs in your beach house and provide the safety from falling down stairs. An injury at this stage of life can change one’s mobility for ever. I think the level of safety outweighs any cleaning issues.
I tend to agree with Susan. 4 – 6 pieces of art laid in a grid will make a better statement on your stairs and not fight for attention with your gorgeous mirror and sconces. It could even be black & white photos of family. Framed in black like the sconces or antique gold like your mirror will have continuity. It would give you pause on the stairs as you look at your sweet family.
Love this idea, too!
We have carpeted stairs…Have always wanted to change them to wood, but as we have gotten older, I am more concerned about safety. That said, I love your idea of a sisal runner, or perhaps a geometric patterned runner. Can’t wait to see what you decide, whatever it is, it will be great!
Thanks, Cheryl!!
I love your gallery wall! My favorite gallery walls are those with art that is collected and meaningful. You may recall seeing my sisal runner when we did my living room consult. It was done by Myers Carpets in Atlanta. It has been so easy to take care of; virtually all I do is vacuum it for dust and lint. It does make the stairs quieter, and it’s very hard to slip on sisal! I ended up putting sizer on the living room floor and a slightly lighter color and of course the beautiful rug you chose is layered on top.
Yes!! Such a lovely home. We had seagrass in two previous homes with kids and sand and I don’t remember them getting that dirty!
Our hardwood stairs going to the upstairs look beautiful but have been a bit treacherous. At least three people, including me, have slipped on them! We’ve been contemplating a stair runner for them but haven’t found what we’d like. I do question how much harder they could be to keep clean! And the landing? Do you carpet it or leave it uncovered? We have a pretty large piece of original artwork of my father’s over the landing space 😁
I would carpet the landing mid-way if I do.
I have slipped and fallen on heavily carpeted stairs and have also slid all the way down on bare stairs. I still love not having carpet on our stairs. It is so much easier to keep them clean. Carpet on stairs gets dirty so quickly.
I bet you are pretty careful on stairs now, Pam. I’m really torn about what to do.
Love the mirror and sconces placement! I did sea grass on the stairs and really love it…it breaks up the dark tone of the stairs and also reduces the sound of walking up the stairs.
We had carpet on our stairs and removed it after 20 years. This was after our kids were grown. It is noisier but you get used to that and eventually don’t notice, just like when you go from carpet to hardwood floors. It is more dangerous. You are more likely to slip if you are in socks or soft slippers. I have an area rug at the bottom to cushion a complete fall. It is definitely a starker look and you need other things to warm up the space, like those pretty botanical prints you show in this post.
It seems easier to clean without carpet. But I think I would like a runner.
I Have a Pinterest board with some interesting ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/classiccasualh/stairs/
Enjoy Gasparilla! It’s Tampa’s version of Mardi Gras. Don’t miss the “invasion”. Have fun!!
Thank you, Jamie!
Wauww! What an amazing home you have created.
I am new to your blog, but I already want to stay to be inspired every day:-)
Mary Ann,
This is such a great post. I hung art in our California house, but not in any other house! It’s really something to consider. I cannot wait to follow along with all your ideas!
I remember that stairway renovation you did with the pitchforks! I love that!
xx
I’m just as excited as you are about your new beach house, I know it will be fabulous. I love the mirror and sconces and was going to say, eye level on the landing which looks like what you’ve done with the mirror. But whatever you do, I trust your design expertise!
Mary Ann,
I’m excited to see your new beach house and I know it will be fun to see the decor once you get in and begin the process.
Karen B.
That mirror…omg…treasure for “shore” argh!! No carpeted stairs for us…so much eadier to keep clean, IMO. Luv your artwork. franki
Hahaha…argh!
I think the first floor wall and the landing both deserve artwork . Love the mirror idea.
My former home was two story and we had a huge wall that was exposed to the living room below. The home was decorated in Southwestern decor. Hubby had covered the wall in natural western cedar 1×6’s. There was one sconce for lighting. We downsized to a one story a few years ago . Now my hallway is decorated in crucifixes I have collected over the years. Most have come from New Mexico and Texas. They are a variety of sizes and very colorful .
Sounds so interesting, Marcia!
Oh those pitchforks on that big wall are divine! I would replicate that exactly! And what fun to hunt them down!
My client found them at Sonoma Country Antiques…but it was my idea to put them there 🙂
I have been looking for those pitchforks for years and have yet to find them.
Did you see the Etsy link?
I think you should consider hanging 4 to 6 pieces, one on top of the other, centered in the space. Then your eye is tricked by not focusing on either level. Just a thought, am enjoying following the decorating experience.
I like that idea, Susan.
I’m very interested to see how you decorate your beach home. We have a small, second place in FL too and I find I decorate it very differently than our NC home which has a lot of neutrals and classic style. Our FL home has the neutral furniture but all of our artwork, pillows, and accessories are more colorful (blues, greens, pinks) and contemporary. It’s been fun to express myself differently in our vacation home.
That sounds so lovely, Kelly!
Agree with Joy on the logistics of cleaning people! I like the stairwell with the rope banisters. That is really beachy,so are the boat pictures. Mine is on the outside,So no anything that storms could damage,or salt or moisture affect.everything at our beach home is expendable,is case of the “big one” which we have had once, but there might be another one-who knows. One of the joys of ownership of a beach place. But the mountains also have their issues-snow,frozen pipes,bears,etc.Moral,be glad you can enjoy when you can enjoy it. Keep posting the pic. I am enjoying seeing what you are doing with your dream home.
Thanks, Susan!!
I would not like uncarpeted stairs. They are slippery and noisy. If you have a runner you would now have two different surfaces to clean. There are so many nice vacuum options available now to clean carpeted stairs.
Mary Ann, I think the mirror and sconces are a great idea. See you came up with an answer to your own question. You are so brilliant! Kathy
You are so sweet, Kathy.
All I can say is “yes, sure”— keep having fun decorating- you do it so well!
You will create a loving, comfortable home there.
Love that your mom’s mirror will be a feature at the new place.
My only advice is this- sign up cleaning ladies! We’ve had a beach house for 3 years and have only now realized I need to do that- logistics can be worked out.
Good point, Joy. The previous owners kept it immaculate so I will try to get her people!