Spending more time at home lately and looking to upgrade its interior? Consider starting with your stairs. Whether you’re doing so with the intent of listing your home for sale or you just want to breathe new life into your surroundings, updating your staircase is an economical way to enhance your home’s value AND improve its aesthetics in the same step.
So, what staircase updates offer the biggest bang for your buck, and which ones may help your home appeal more to potential buyers?
Adding a new handrail
Your stairs’ handrail is a critical safety feature, and while it serves an important purpose, it also presents a great opportunity to inject your signature style into your stairs. Consider swapping out your handrails to add a touch of elegance to your abode. Adding a traditional wooden rail for will help your home stand out in a crowded market.
Adding new balusters and newel posts
Swapping out your newel posts, which are your stairs’ central supporting pillars, or its balusters, which are typically the narrower vertical supports that appear between the newel posts, can also help breathe new life into your home’s interior. Consider swapping out lower-quality wood balusters or newel posts for more upscale ones to boost your home’s value, or consider switching out one or the other for a more economical home renovation.
Clear the carpet
Hardwood floors have long been a top choice among homebuyers, many of whom wish to avoid the dirt, dust and allergens that collect on carpeted surfaces. If you’re planning to sell your home, having carpeted stairs may make some buyers think twice. If you’re planning to stay there yourself, eliminating carpet makes your stairs easier to clean, which can lead to a more hygienic home environment.
Upgrade your treads
Over time, treads, or the parts of the stairs that you actually step on, can accrue scratches, dents and dings.This doesn’t mean you have to replace the entire staircase, though – on the contrary, you can swap out the treads for new ones to give your home a fresh new facelift without busting your budget. You may want to swap out lower-quality wood treads for more valuable ones, or you may want to replace a lighter-colored wood with a darker one to match the existing furniture or design scheme of your home.
Most of these suggestions are affordable and relatively simple for the average do-it-yourselfer. So, rather than view your home’s staircase as an afterthought, start seeing it as an effective and economical way to add value, style and prestige your home.