How to: Move the staircase If you think that moving your staircase is like moving a mountain, think again. While I won’t deny that it’s a big job, it can make all the difference to the flow of your home. So, before you completely wave off the idea, read some of the benefits below. The results can be well worth the effort and the investment. Image courtesy of iStockphoto. You wouldn’t think twice about removing walls to open up a room, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that moving your stairs can foster the same result. If you’re gutting your interior, this is the ideal time to consider a change ofIf you aren’t planning a major home renovation, be prepared for a big job that may involve reviewing how your home is supported. Builders and contractors will often quote on the easiest and most cost-effective solution but if you think outside the box, assessing the flow of your home and how the stairs relate can be a good lesson. If you want to open up your interior but don’t want to absorb the cost of moving your whole staircase, taking down the walls of an existing stairwell can have a huge impact.

There is also the option to replace traditional stairs with a spiral or floating style to add architectural interest to your home. Mean Green Vacuum CleanerOpening up a stairwell can bring in natural light and create the illusion of more space. Fete T-ShirtsIt’s an idea especially worth thinking about for smaller houses.Weather Curtains For Patio Image courtesy of iStockphoto Moving a staircase is tricky to cost out because there are a lot of variables to decide on before you being the renovation. Here are a few things to think about before you renovate: Are you replacing the stairs with traditional wooden ones or are you looking at something more modern like concrete, metal or glass? Is this a custom project that requires an architect and a team of designers or is this something that you can plan on your own with your builder?

What walls need to come down and what additional support needs to be added to your home’s existing structure? This is a really big decision that isn’t impossible to make; it just needs to be carefully thought out before you actually make the move. Before you decide on a design that’s big on looks, make sure it’s not light on code. There are formulas and code builders that architects must use to determine the number of risers that a staircase needs to be functional. The average stair height, or riser, is 7-¼" but can be anywhere between 5" and 7-⅞". To figure out how many steps are needed, take the distance between the two floors that the stairs will be joining and divide it by the height of the riser. For safety reasons, it’s also important to keep in mind that railings must be at a height of 35" and spindles, or balusters, must not be more than 4" apart. A crisp and calm all-white bedroom is a dream in itself A dream getaway with classic coastal style.

A bright and beautiful living room. Everything in this slideshow If the upstairs hall and basement floor are both carpeted, you'll likely want to carpet the stairs as well. If you're building new stairs or relocating the current ones, consider which areas you're connecting before you decide on placement.Avoid connecting a noisy area to a quiet one. For example, a stairway from the basement play room or media room that leads near an upstairs home office or bedroom could prove disruptive. Build stairs parallel to ceiling joists to save on installation time and materials. Open the Stairway for an Airy Look Removing the door to the basement and opening the enclosed stairway created a light, airy feeling in this passage to the subterranean living space. A bar area with two beverage refrigerators--one for wine and one for kids' sodas--separates the lower-level family room from the guest bedroom. Use the Staircase Wall for Storage The staircase design you choose will depend on local building codes, your available space, and the style of your home.

If you choose a U-shape design like this one, consider putting the lower staircase wall to work as display and storage space. These built-in cabinets flank a basement bar area. Take Advantage of Space Under the Stairs Take advantage of space under stairs to create accessible storage. Mullioned glass-pane doors make this smart understair hideaway look as if it's always been there. Baskets placed on the shelves are stylish storage solutions for miscellaneous things that make their way down to the basement. Design for a Smooth Transition Stairs are a transitional space, and the materials you choose for them convey a subliminal message about the character of the space they lead to. This run of carpeted stairs changes near the bottom to three steps with thick stone treads and floors of stone and dark wood. The shift in materials suits the basement's function as a wine cellar and entertaining area. Personalize ordinary wood stairs with stencils. These stair treads were painted with homemade stencils using floor-and-deck enamel.

For safety, avoid high-gloss paints and finishes that may be slippery. Add Style with a Custom Stair Rail For continuity, the same stone tile used on the stairs continues in the guest suite in this basement. The custom-crafted stair rail features stained-glass inserts and ornaments. Work with a metalsmith to design a custom stair rail for your home. Make a Grand Descent This sweeping staircase is more about design than function. A staircase like this makes for a comfortable descent from the upper level, but it also requires a lot of space. Go Contemporary with Open Stair Treads Open stair treads and railings of braided stainless-steel cable help preserve lower-level views and a feeling of openness on the staircase. Save Space with a Spiral Staircase Spiral stairs provide contemporary style and usually take up less room than other staircase designs. Typically 4 to 6 feet in diameter, they need little floor space.Bear in mind, however, that you won't be able to move furniture or other large objects into the basement via spiral stairs.

Building codes often prohibit spiral staircases leading to rooms larger than 400 square feet. Create Understair Display Space Turn the space under the stairs into a display cabinet for collections. Wire the cabinet for lighting so you can spotlight special objects. Add Style with the Balustrade Golden oak balusters, stair rail, and a support column match the trimwork and cabinetry in the basement, creating continuity with the upstairs spaces. Adding style to the staircase can be as simple as affixing solid rectangles of stained wood to every other pair of balusters, creating pattern and interest. Choose a Distinctive Railing Design White beaded-board wainscoting, wood-tone trim and stair treads, and colorful walls lead the way down these winder stairs. The railing features a gridlike design for safety and style. (The spaces between balusters, whether posts or a grid design, should be smaller than a toddler's head.) Fasten Runners for Safety A short run of straight stairs may be all that's needed to connect a basement to upstairs living spaces.

Here a door can be closed for privacy when someone is using the lower-level suite (not shown) at the bottom of the stairs.Installing carpet on stairs involves stretching the runner tightly over treads and risers and securing the carpet to tackless strips attached where the tread meets the riser. Stair rods or stair clips can be added for decorative effect after the carpet is in place. Break Up the Descent with a U Shape U-shape stairs lined with a Craftsman-style wooden balustrade lead to this basement. This stair design requires more floor space than a straight run of stairs, but it's a good choice when a straight run would be too steep. Instead of a stair rail and balusters, this straight-run staircase features the design equivalent of three parallel handrails. The design emphasizes the strong diagonal of the staircase and maintains an open feeling for the descent into the basement. It also requires fewer materials than traditional posts or balusters would. Suit the Staircase Style to Your Decor