a reading area under an open staircase that leads to a basement

15 Unique Open Staircase to Basement Ideas for an Astonishing Interior

Do you know what open staircase to basement is? If you have not heard of it before, you must understand that it is a style type of stair used to connect the basement to any space above it.

Open Staircase to Basement

The most significant characteristic of this staircase is the absence of risers. FYI, it is something that brings benefits to the interior design.

The first benefit is that it gives a more open feeling applicable for any room size but works the best when used in small space. Because there are no risers in the design, you can see the interior through the staircase.

The second benefit has a relation to light. The risers’ absence makes the light from the room to brighten each tread of the staircase. This way, you should not be worried about getting tripped on your walk on the stair.

The thing that is affected by the light that passes through the open staircase is not only the treads. Generally, the stair design is also good in channeling the light around the same basement floor of even the upper floor when the material is see-through like glass.

Right now, there are quite a lot of open staircase styles available. Although so, if you think that something unique can make your interior look astonishing, you are in the right place.

In this post, we will share with you 15 unique open staircase design ideas that you can use for creating access to the basement area. Each of them looks stunning, so you will not regret reading this post. Check them all out in the following.

1. Basement Open Staircase with Home Office under It

a contemporary no-riser basement staircase with an office under it
a contemporary no-riser basement staircase with an office under it. image © hartstudio.net

One thing that makes homeowners love to use an open staircase as access to the basement area is because the open feeling that it creates. It makes it possible to create a room under the stair.

The picture that you see above is a really good example. This staircase comes in a U-shape, and it has stringers on both sides of the treads. Its material is wood with a combination of metal on the railing.

As shown in the picture, there is a basement office located right under it. The ceiling here looks rather low.

Thanks to the open staircase design, the place does not look cramped. It means the office under it is still comfortable to use for work. This idea is good to follow if you are interested in creating a home office but do not have any other space than in the basement.

2. Unique Semi-Floating Open Staircase with Vertical Cable Balusters

a very unique semi-floating open staircase to basement with combination of glass and cable balusters
a very unique semi-floating open staircase to basement with combination of glass and cable balusters. image © william_roy.houzz.com

This next inspirational idea that we found tends to be on the visual side. We said so because you can how unique it is.

We can call an open staircase for a basement like this as the semi-floating one. The reason is that one side of the wood treads is attached to the stinger with rail while the other side looks floating because it is supported by cable balusters that work at the same time as a guard.

A design like this gives an even more open and spacious sensation to the basement area. Of course, the benefit of having more light spread in the room is another thing that will follow.

Another thing that we love from this open staircase is the fact that there are three different colors included in the design. Those are black from the stringer and railing, wood color from the treads, and grey metal color from the cable balusters. All of them make the design even more unique.

3. A Wooden Open Staircase with Comfortable Basement Reading Area Below

a reading area under an open staircase that leads to a basement
a reading area under an open staircase that leads to a basement. image © totalconcepts.net

If previously, we have an open staircase paired with a home office under it, this time, we have something similar. The difference is that the room built under the stair is a reading area.

The main ideas here are the same. Those are maximizing the use of space under the stair and making sure that it still gets the open feel.

The thing that we love the most from the photo above is the use of medium-tone wood for the open staircase. Although the species it looks compatible with the other medium wood tones, including the one used for the custom open bookshelf and interior trim.

As a part of the interior color scheme, it also looks amazing. Something like this is suitable for a modern minimalist or mid-century style.

4. Spiral Open Staircase Surrounded by Corrugated Metal Wall

a spiral open staircase with corrugated metal surround in a rustic basement
a spiral open staircase with corrugated metal surround in a rustic basement. image © highcamphome.com

Are you building a rustic basement with space limitations? If yes, here is an inspiration that you need.

The open staircase that you see here is in a spiral shape. It does not only have an open style but also does not come with any railing.

The material of the staircase here is wood for the treads. Other than that, metal is another dominant material since it functions as tread bases and the column.

The colors in the staircase design fit in the interior color scheme nicely. It is, particularly, for the wooden treads.

Another thing that we love from this design is the round corrugated metal walls surrounding the staircase. It is not merely about the round shape that seems to follow the form of the stair. It is also about how it creates a textured metal look that is best also for the interior style.
One thing that you must not forget about this design is that it does not seem suitable for a family with kids. The thing that we concern the most is safety value.

5. Frosted Glass Treads in a Basement Open Staircase Design

a unique glass open staircase in a contemporary basement design
a unique glass open staircase in a contemporary basement design. image © hobbsinc.com

For you who love an open feeling in your basement design, it seems that this open staircase styling is the one you need. The reason why we said so is that it is made mostly of glass material.

You can take a look at the picture for the detail. The most significant thing that you can see here is that the staircase looks perfectly fit in the white-dominated basement interior.

Another prominent thing that we are sure you also notice since the first time you see the picture is the glass guard. It provides perfect protection without making the place looks limited at all.

how the treads look like from the upper floor
how the treads look like from the upper floor. image © hobbsinc.com

If you see the treads from above, you will find out that it is also made from glass material. However, it is not a clear one because it is frosted.

Something like this can still give an open feel to the interior. Besides, it can also create a different sensation when you step on it.

If you look closely at the picture, you will notice that each tread comes with built-in lighting in the design. This detail is necessary when the stair area is rather dark, especially at night.

6. Industrial Open Staircase with Metal Rail

a wooden open staircase with metal rail for an industrial basement
a wooden open staircase with metal rail for an industrial basement. image © troutdesign.com

This next idea is excellent to pick by those who are the fans of industrial basement design. The main point that you must pay attention to from the open-staircase here is the material options. Of course, the choices must represent the industrial style.

If you do not know what to choose, the ones you can see in the pick can be good examples. There are two materials used here; medium tone wood and metal.

The wood is used as the treads and stringers. Something unfinished, or at least the one that comes with a clear coat, is a better choice for the industrial basement.

As for the metal material, the choice and the option shown in the railing design that you can see in the picture are already perfect. It is a black-painted metal.

For this part, we love how the designer chose the expanded metal material for the center of the railing. Although so, you must know that many other types of metal rails are perfect to use for an industrial-style open staircase for the basement.

7. Basement Open Staircase with Trendy Curving Design

a large and trendy helical open staircase leads to basement
a large and trendy helical open staircase leads to basement. image © waschastudios.com

If you want a trendy basement look that also has a luxury touch in it, this helical open staircase design is a perfect option to consider. Although so, first, you must realize that it has a rather large size, so it is suitable only for a spacious basement, or else it will only take too much space.

As we told you earlier, there is something trendy and luxurious about this open staircase design. It does not matter what the color and the material are.

We want to discuss a bit about the one that you see in the picture. This one looks stunning, not only because of the helical shape.

If you look closer, it seems to have two main materials in the design. Those are dark-stained wooden treads and metal railing.

The fact that we love is the color choices in the open staircase design. It fits in the interior color scheme perfectly.

8. Wooden Open Staircase with Metal Railing for Basement

wooden open staircase with coordinating color with the metal railing
wooden open staircase with coordinating color with the metal railing. image © pro.com

This time we still want to talk about colors used in designing an open staircase that leads to the basement area. Here, we want to talk about the straight-shape stair shown in the picture specifically.

At a glance, it looks quite simple. The elements consist of wooden treads, a stringer, and a metal railing.

The thing that arrests our attention the most is the color theme. The treads and the railing of this open staircase have a different tone. However, they coordinate with one another excellently. It proves that a small staircase can look astonishing too.

9. Basement Open Staircase Paired with Built-In Lighting on the Wall

a trendy wooden open staircase paired with built-in lighting on the wall
a trendy wooden open staircase paired with built-in lighting on the wall. image © suttonsuzuki.com

We already mentioned about built-in lighting feature in the open-staircase for the basement previously. Although so, let us talk a bit more about it by using a different example.

If previously, the lighting is built as a part of the treads; this time, it is a bit different. In this example, the light is made inside the wall on one side of the stair.

Although the design is different, the function of the lighting feature is the same. It is to light your step whenever you walk on the stair. It sounds simple, but very useful.

Now let us talk about the open staircase design in the picture. Other than the built-in lighting feature, we love how the railing looks. It has the curves that enhance the trendy value of the staircase to the next level.

10. Natural Wood Open Staircase Straight to the Basement

an open staircase from natural wood material
an open staircase from natural wood material. image © tr-architects.com

Here is another inspiration that is suitable to follow if you love rustic basement design. In the picture above, there is a straight open staircase that is all made of wood.

The wooden material of this element can fit in the rustic environment dominated with bricks and stones. Besides, it brings a natural feel to the environment too.

11. Black Open Staircase for Bold Design Fans

all-black open staircase design for basement area
all-black open staircase design for basement area. image © BAAN Design

Do you like black more than any other color? If yes, you should be grateful because it is something that you can effortlessly include in any interior style and color scheme. Of course, the same things are applied when we are talking about an open staircase for the basement too.

The all-black open staircase contains boldness and simplicity at the same time. You can take a look at the picture if you need an example.

This open staircase can steal the attention in the off-white basement. If you want to create an even more wowing visual, you can combine a pure white interior and an all-black staircase instead.

12. Resin Treads and Glass Railing in an Open Staircase Design for Basement

the combination of resin treads and glass railing in an open staircase
the combination of resin treads and glass railing in an open staircase. image © zeroenergy.com

Here is another stunning design that we could not miss. It is excellent to pick when you want to build an interior with enough natural light.

The open staircase that you see in the picture leads to the basement below. As you can see, the railing is from glass, and it does not block any light from the upper level or the window on the same floor.

It gets even better because the treads are from a resin material that, at a glance, looks like frosted glass. Another detail of the open staircase design can channel the natural light excellently in the interior.

We particularly love the resin treads. There is something stylish from it.

13. Open Staircase with Framed Glass Railing

a wood-framed glass railing in a contemporary basement open staircase
a wood-framed glass railing in a contemporary basement open staircase. image © grahambuilders.com

Glass railing is an element that often comes in an open staircase design for the basement area. Many people love it since it offers a visually spacious effect.

If you also love the glass rail but do not want it to look seamless, there is a trick you can do that at the same time can enhance the style value of the interior element. It is none other but the one which rail comes with the frame.

The design variation can be various. For example, the treads and the railing frame can be from two different materials.

If you want a coordinating look, you can try something like the one shown in the picture. It is the same material and color for both of the treads and rail frame.

14. Floating Open Staircase with Metal Guard for Modern Basement

a modern basement floating staircase with open-style and ceiling-height guard
a modern basement floating staircase with open-style and ceiling-height guard. image © hufft.com

Are you in love with a floating staircase design? If yes, the open basement staircase can also have the same look.

The picture above shows an amazing example that will be a perfect choice for a modern basement interior. The floating staircase has wooden treads with a metal frame.

Another detail that we want you to pay more attention to is the cable guard. It is not only the one that has the same tone with the treads frame. More importantly, it is a detail that adds a trendy value and more texture to the interior design.

15. Simple-Looking Open Staircase from Concrete

simple yet stunning concrete open staircase directing to the basement area
simple yet stunning concrete open staircase directing to the basement area. image © roundaboutstudio.com

Here is another choice you can consider for a modern interior. It is a simple-looking concrete open staircase for the basement.

Something like this looks amazing when paired with the white floor.
However, it looks the best when the match is concrete flooring with a coordinating look as the one you see in the picture.

About the design, there are some variations you can find. The one you can see in the picture comes with a metal base and beam to support the treads’ center.

Another detail that you can get inspired by the picture is the railing. It is from seamless glass material that matches the simple appearance of the concrete treads.

16. Closing

All the examples that we have shown you in this post prove that an open staircase to the basement can be made in various designs. The combinations of the details, such as the tread, stringers, railing, built-in, or lighting, are endless.

The sure thing that you must remember the most is that when you are about to choose the type of open-staircase as access to the basement area is you cannot consider only the interior style. You must also think about something else carefully. Those include the room size, the lighting in the environment, and the staircase design’s aesthetic value.

When you succeed in choosing the right option, the staircase will function not only as access but also as something that can enhance the interior view and styling. That is why you must take your time before making a decision. A consultation with some local architects or designers can also be done if you need more professional advice.