There are two main ways to achieve a polished concrete floor: by applying the grinding process to a slab which has already been laid, or by adding a new slab. While the former is more sustainable, as it works with what already exists, it can be more expensive if the slab isn’t in good condition and it leaves you with less room for creativity, as the concrete which is already set is virtually impossible to modify or customize.

Laying a new slab, however, allows you to pick between colors, as well as finishes and decorative touches, such as grinding to show the stones beneath the slab, or adding your own materials before it dries. The final finish will depend on the slab and grinding grades, generally becoming shinier and smoother the finer the grinding used, which is applied progressively, is.

Polished concrete flooring has a number of benefits when compared to other flooring options. First of all, it is more cost effective than most, especially as it needs slightly less treatment and maintenance.

Aside from that obvious benefit, concrete offers many others, such as the ability to create a uniform, shiny look, which can easily transition between rooms and to the outside, ease for cleaning, as once sealed, it only needs to be wiped down weekly, and the ability to enhance light and warmth, thanks to its reflective features, which is excellent as it eliminates the need for extra lighting if the room benefits from a great deal of natural lighting already, and also for those who are planning on installing heated floors, as it conducts the heat nicely, thus enhancing the effect.

Also, polished concrete floors are long-lasting, not prone to cracking or breaking, and they are also more sanitary and appropriate for those who suffer from allergies, for whom carpeting, for instance, can be a nightmare to live with.

The fact that a non-slip coat can be added to polished concrete flooring only enhances its versatility, allowing it to be used both indoors and outdoors, for instance beside and in a swimming pool, as it is not prone to become slippery when it’s wet, making it safe for everyone to stand and walk on, even when exposed to the elements. The fact that it doesn’t stain easily or need a great deal of maintenance after being sealed is also a great advantage in this case, as outside flooring is exposed to the elements, and swimming pool maintenance is a great ordeal in itself that includes a number of chemical processes, which in turn could damage a material which is less resistant.

Aside from that, there are several other decorative options that can be taken when laying new slabs of concrete, such as mixing different aggregates’ – the stones and other materials used to make concrete – or staining, even stamping the concrete, to create unique patterns or make it look like other materials, such as marble and granite, creating the same look for a fraction of the cost, which can be quite an advantage when working on a tight budget. Stained and stamped concrete floors look particularly stunning in the outdoors, especially when creating a patio or lounging area, where the minimalist, lounge furniture really allows the flooring to take the center stage, which is something to take advantage of, as it is the key to achieving the atmosphere you are aiming for.

As for interior spaces, concrete flooring generally gives a very modern look to any room, which can be a useful feature when redoing an older house or building, as it instantly updates the look of the space. It also works quite nicely with a minimalist décor, as it complements the bare elegance of a room, adding to the effect due to its shiny, uniform simplicity, as well as the futuristic look of chrome kitchens, where the prospect of easy cleaning tends to be a major point in favor of concrete floors.

It is also worth noting that, thanks to its clean, sterile look, as well as easy maintenance and relative low cost, exposed concrete flooring is a very popular option for commercial buildings, such as malls, office buildings and even hospitals. Alas, since most of these buildings usually have a very modern, even impersonal atmosphere to them, exposed concrete floors tend to be a perfect choice, as they complement the general feel of the rooms perfectly.

Of course, for all its benefits, polished concrete does have its drawbacks as well. One of them is that it needs to be installed professionally, as the process of laying it down, adding the densifier and applying the correct grinding is quite a precise one, which takes time and skill to ensure a perfect result, as concrete is a tricky material to work with, and any misstep in the polishing process can end up ruining the whole slab.

Also, sealing is definitely necessary to avoid unwanted staining and preserve your new flooring as long as possible, as concrete isn’t naturally as resistant as stone, and it does need to be redone every couple of years to maintain the look and features of the floor, at the risk of losing its best properties if this small maintenance task isn’t performed in a timely manner.

Other drawbacks polished concrete flooring has are quite minor, such as easily showing imperfections like small cracks or naturally being a cold surface if not artificially heated, which may be deal breakers for some keen perfectionists, but should not sway your opinion unless you really are one of them, since the benefits which make polished concrete such a popular option at the moment largely outweigh them.

They are the latest trend in DIY interior design and as the price of printing comes down picture walls are soaring in popularity. You can create a photo wall for a few dollars. Most dollar stores will have photo frames, and im sure you can find access to someone that owns a normal printer – This is literally all you need! Although you can obviously go a little more crazy with it if you want to!

Regardless of how much money you throw at the wall – they can be a little tricky to get right, and photo walls can often look more like a kids art project than a perfectly designed home gallery if not crafted with love and care.

In this article we will cover all the little hints and tips that you need to know to create a photowall that will brighten up any boring old wall. So, lets get started!

Who says you cannot fill up the whole wall with pictures?!

What pictures should I use on my picture wall?

This is probably the most important part! What do you want to display?

The most obvious choice is probably family photos. They can be used to remind you of all of best points in your life – almost like a personal highlight reel. They are great because they are obviously a very personal thing that will warm the cockles of your heart every day.

An elegant picture wall

However you may want to mix it up a bit – and family photos are certainly not the only option you have available. If your photo wall is going to be in a place that gets quite a few visitors, then perhaps you will want to provide something that may be a little more interesting for them?

You can create a themed photo wall – is there a large part of your life that you want to make a feature? Perhaps you lived abroad for a few years? Perhaps you have dedicated your life to a hobby or passion? Any of these things can be used effectively.

Monochrome frames and pictures produce spectacular results

Search around online for images that are related to whatever your theme is and use them. Make sure you click large images when using google image search. We must point out here that many of the photos you will find online from a simple image search will probably be copyrighted – but to be completely honest, unless you are planning on creating your picture wall in a public place, the owner will probably not mind / find out. If it is something you are concerned about – use flikr to get some images. You can ask the owner’s permission.

mix in some artwork and empty frames for added interest

(This also applies to family album photo walls – you can get quotes online in image format that can look lovely in a frame – which can break up the photos a little bit adding another layer of interest to the wall.)

It sounds a little silly – but don’t limit yourself to just pictures on a photo wall! You can use all manner of bits and bobs that can add a very interesting effect to the wall.  Think about things like mirrors, clocks, plates, trophies, certificates, blackboards (with chalk!), pin boards, and even flags.

this frame that actually has something painted on the wall behind it makes for an interesting concept

You can go nuts with this and use as many trinkets as you have pictures (or more than you have pictures!). Instead of a looking like a gallery wall it becomes almost like a scrapbook or collage wall, which is a great effect – but not to everyone’s tastes. You don’t have to go nuts with the trinkets however – a large mirror or clock can make an awesome centrepiece to the photo wall which will really add interest to the wall without going too far in the collage direction!

Some other great ideas we have seen if you don’t really have a theme in mind are things like using album art. Think about all those old CD’s you have lying around – I am guessing most of you have them stashed in the attic and use your ipods to listen to your music now? Why not dust off the cd’s and use the front covers and album art in frames? The effect is certainly striking!

A perfect geometric shape

On a budget and don’t have a theme? Then perhaps you can pick up a set of watercolour paints and make your own pictures for the wall! It is much easier to make interesting abstract patterns with watercolours than you would think. When framed they can look beautiful.

Do you have kids? Why not give them a bunch of paints for the day and let them go wild. When framed in nice frames a picture wall that consists of purely children’s paintings can create an amusing yet endearing focal point to any room.

this tree mural on the wall really ties the pictures together

What Colors Should My Photos Be?

The frames will be the main thing that tie the color scheme of the wall together (if you decide to have a color theme at all). We will discuss this in more detail later on in the article

The main options you have with regards to the color of the actual photos are limited. You can pick monochrome or sepia tones for your photos which will create a very uniform look to the wall. Uniform does not mean boring – but is is certainly more subtle than using color photos.

Color photos will obviously be a whole range of colors (unless you specifically choose otherwise). There is nothing wrong with this and it creates an awesome effect. However if you are worried that it may look a little too haphazard and disorderly – try using photos that have a predominant color in all of them – it will really tie them together. This being said, the frames are really much more important than the pictures when it comes to the conformity of the pictures on the wall.

How Should I Arrange My Pictures On The Wall?

There are two main ways of arranging your photos and pictures on the wall, while there are many variations – they essentially boil down to two methods. You can either go for a random sprinkling with no definite shape. Or you can be very precise with your positioning and create a uniform square, circle, or any other shape you desire.

The random placement method is a lot easier in practice to do, and creates a very homely scrapbook feel to your picture wall. The actual hanging of the frames on the wall is also much easier as you do not need to be anywhere near as precise as when you are going for a geometric shape.

However the shaped approach does create a much more purposeful feel to the photo wall, and looks much more “professional” than the random approach. This does not mean the random approach is any worse than the shaped approach – it is just a different look that is a lot less “polished” in appearance.

The random placement method does also not have to be totally random – you can arrange your pictures in a “kinda” circle shape for example. A great middle ground between the two main types or arrangement.

As a rule of thumb In contemporary homes shaped picture wall usually look the best – whereas in vintage or traditional homes you can get away with being a bit more random. This however is certainly not a hard steadfast rule – and both methods of picture placement can work with any type of décor.

The placement of the frames within the overall shape is something that also needs to be considered. This is not so much of an issue when you are going for the random shape method as you just put the images where you think is best. However with a defined shape you need to plan which pictures are going to go where, and get the sizes of the frames correct. This will take a little effort and planning but the end results can be great.

Behind the couch is a great place for a photo wall

Which Room Should I Put A Picture Wall In?

If you are reading this you probably already have an idea of where you want your photo wall to go. The truth is a photo wall can go just about anywhere. One of our favourites however – are stairway picture walls. Go for a random shape that follows the stairs up, don’t put the pictures too close the stairs – and you cannot really go wrong. A great way to add interest to an otherwise boring part of the house. You can even combined a staircase picture wall with some staircase lighting to create a very dramatic gallery like effect.

Simply stunning

What Frames Should I Use For My Photo Wall?

This is what will make or break your photowall – the choice of frames is arguably more important than the pictures. The frames are what people will notice when they look at the wall from afar, they will create the overall feel of the wall, and are something you should give considerable amounts of attention to. It all depends on what kind of overall effect you want to produce with your wall.

The most modern and contemporary type of photo wall will have frames that are all the same size, color, shape, and design. It creates a very uniform look that will fit in with the most contemporary of homes.

If you want to keep it contemporary but not go over the top – then pick frames of the same color, but choose different sizes. Some can be deep frames, some shallow, some thick, some thin. This creates a uniform appearance without looking too clinical. A kind of organized collage effect.

Why not go totally nuts and cover two walls in pictures?

If you wish you can look into getting frames of the same base color but in different shades – for example – light brown, dark brown, tan brown. It creates an effect that is a great middle ground between random and contemporary.

You can also play around with the mount of your pictures. Make your frames mounts different thicknesses to increase the randomness – keep them all the same to stay contemporary.

If you want to go very chic or vintage, then choose all kinds of different frames – this is where you can go wild if you want and make the wall very personal. But be warned – doing it this way will certainly produce a very DIY and scrapbook effect – not that this is a bad thing, but it will certainly not look contemporary.

An interesting picture wall layout – keep a perfect line in the middle of the frames and the rest of the wall will take care of its self

This can look especially good in photo walls for children’s rooms. Get the brightest colors you can and you will create a fun and interesting feature that your children will grow to love and possibly add to as they grow up.

And finally – if you are short on space going frameless is always an option. You can get your photos printed on canvass and remove the space required for loads of frames – While this will cost you quite a lot more than normal picture, you can create very dramatic effects.

So there you have it – absolutely everything you could want to know about photo walls. Below we present to you our favorite picture walls for ideas and inspiration.

super chic!

This monochrome room with the monocrhome photo wall almost looks like an optical illusion

A perfect grid makes a stunning effect

Why not get pictures of your ancestors and create an “ancestor wall”

Different frames, of different materials and sizes add interest to any gallery wall

Pastel color paints on the wall and white frames creates a delicate effect

Another awesome photo grid example

It can be hard to decorate hallways properly – this is one of the easiest ways to get it right

The vivid colors of these prints contrast perfectly with the white couch

Another awesome monochrome example

Picture walls dont have to be dense – look at this fine sparse example

Painting on the wall to create a “frame” to your picture wall should spark come creativity

Opting for canvas prints instead of framed photos can help you save space if your wall is pretty small

Why not get a minimal clock and create the hours out of photo frames?

A nice and long rectangular picture wall

How about the inital of your famlilies surname amoung some family photos on the wall?

The same frame style with the same mounting card creates a great effect

These four rectangular strips are an unusual but effective way to add interest to your stairs

A mixture of frames makes this wall very unique

A perfect grid of colorful pictures can be made contemporary with matching frames and mount card

Go nuts with the variety of frames on offer!

Get a large picture to put in the middle of a photo wall to create a centerpiece

Someone has plenty of pictures they want on display!

An awesome album art picture wall

Using the mounts and frames within a strict color scheme can really tie the whole wall together

You dont even need frames – why not group the pictures together by color and make a collage wall

To create an awesome staircase picture wall simply follow the line of the stairs and dont hang them too low.

This unusual circular centerpiece really adds some drama to the wall

An extreme example of how a photo less wall can look great – in the right room

Awesome!

Lots of tiny picture frames covering a whole wall is a great way to create a real focal point with a picture wall

Did we inspire you to create a picture wall? Please take a picture and post it in the comments below! We would love to see what you have created and may even feature it in the article!

In this article we conduct a thorough bamboo flooring review – taking you through the pros and cons of this new and exciting type of flooring.

Pros – The Benefits Of Bamboo Flooring

Pro – Bamboo Flooring Is Very Durable

Bamboo is a super durable flooring material – it rates incredibly high on the janka hardness scale which is used to score the hardness and durability of materials. Without going into the boring technical details I will just compare it to traditional hardwood flooring below.

The durability of your bamboo flooring will depend on the age of the bamboo when it was cultivated. The longer the bamboo has been allowed to grow – the stronger it will be.

As long as you take care of it, bamboo flooring works perfectly in the kitchen

There are two types of bamboo flooring – the first is natural or engineered bamboo flooring. This is basically bamboo that has been cut down, dried out, and machined into planks or tiles ready for use as flooring. Engineered bamboo flooring rates higher on the janka hardness scale than most hardwoods – and as such, it can withstand the effects of daily usage in the home with ease.

The second type is strand woven bamboo flooring. This type of bamboo is super strong. It is basically bamboo that has been moistened and torn apart into long fibrous strands. These strands are then treated and glued back together with an industrial strength adhesive. The result is a dramatic increase in strength to the (already super durable!) material. To put it in perspective – there is only one type of wood that rates higher on the janka scale than bamboo when It has been strand woven. It is quite literally nearly bullet proof.

Bamboo flooring is resistant to moisture and mould. As it is grown in the humid jungles of Asia – it has developed a natural resistance to the environment there. However when the plant (which is technically a grass) is cut down and treated it does loose a little bit of this resistance. What this basically amounts to is that it will be able to withstand any amount of moisture that a hardwood floor can. Like a hardwood floor just simply keep it dry and it will last you for years and years.

In fact bamboo flooring is so durable that many manufacturers will offer a lifetime warranty on their products. Which you will struggle to find with hardwood floors. Not all will give a lifetime warranty however – and some warranties will last between 25 and 40 years. Which is still a huge amount of time when compared to hardwood.

Pro – Bamboo Flooring Is Good For The Environment

One of the main things that attracts people to bamboo flooring is the fact that it is very environmentally friendly. Bamboo takes only around 6 years to grow fully, and can actually be harvested in 4 years if the grower wishes. Compare this to the average growing time of a hardwood tree like oak for example – which takes 30+ years to reach maturity. This basically means bamboo is much more sustainable and can be harvested without much of a long term impact on the environment.

in its natural state, the patterns in the grain of bamboo look stunning

Pro – Bamboo Flooring Is Quite Cheap

The cost of bamboo flooring is another reason that so many people are attracted to it. You will find that it is cheaper than many hardwoods in is traditional form, and its price is comparable to hardwoods in its strand woven form.

You can expect to pay in the region of $3-$6 per square foot of engineered bamboo flooring. And strand woven bamboo flooring can cost you anywhere between $4-$8 per square foot.

These prices are without installation – which should be taken into account. However getting a bamboo floor installed will not cost you any more than getting a hardwood floor installed by any reputable builder. Bamboo flooring is installed nearly always as a floating floor. This means it is not actually attached to the floor or walls in any way. A soft layer of insulating foam is placed underneath to help keep in warmth and to stop the floor from slipping. The bamboo is then layered on top of this insulating layer and is measured perfectly wall to wall to ensure a snug fit.

Pro – Bamboo Flooring Is Easy To Maintain

The maintenance of bamboo flooring is very easy, and is not any different to the maintenance required with hardwood flooring. Just keep it clean and dry and it should offer you years of usage without hassle.

Just like with hardwood flooring, it requires occasionally re staining. The frequency of which you will need to do this varies, and is dependent upon the species you have and the quality of the UV protective stains and coatings that have been applied.

While carbonized bamboo is less durable than other types of flooring. There is no denying that it looks amazing

Generally the more layers of protective coating the better. 3 layers is the minimum that you should accept – 6 or 8 layers is what you should aim for. Be sure to ask your supplier how many layers of stain have been applied and ask them how often it will need to be reapplied. In either case – you will not have to re stain your bamboo floor any more than you would a hardwood one.

Pro – Bamboo Flooring Comes In Many Colors

The wide range of styles and colors available are a great selling point for this material. You can leave it in a natural state and enjoy its natural beauty or you can go through every shade down to black. This is particularly good if you want the deep dark effect of carbonized flooring without the weaknesses that are associated with it.

Strand woven bamboo flooring looks very uniform and creates a contemporary and modem feel to any room. But due to the strand weaving process it does mean there are no more natural markings. There will be little to no variation in the floor tiles or planks – and this can be used to quite a stunning effect. You can compare it to chipboard in a way (although this is far more beautiful, it is the same kind of reforming process).

On the other hand you can opt for engineered bamboo which creates a very natural look to any room. This will look less modern than stand woven flooring yet will still be very fresh. However as engineered bamboo flooring is a much more natural product than strand woven bamboo – you will have variations in color and grain making the overall effect much less uniform. This is not always a bad thing and many people enjoy this effect.

You can opt to have a UV coating on your bamboo that is nearly transparent. Which creates a very light and airy feel to a room

Pro – Bamboo Flooring Is Pet Friendly

Because of its high levels of durability it can be easily used in any home with pets. A concern for many dog and cat owners who are looking at getting new flooring is how much their pet’s claws will damage it. This is not an issue with bamboo flooring due to its super high density. And while you may have the occasional scratch or scuff over the lifetime of your flooring – it will certainly not be a regular occurrence.

Cons – The Disadvantages Of Bamboo Flooring

Con – Carbonized Bamboo Flooring Is Weak

Carbonized bamboo is a type of bamboo that has been heat treated to make it darker in color. This is undoubtedly a very attractive look that many people aspire to have in their homes. However the actual process of carbonizing the bamboo severely weakens it. It is much less durable than engineered bamboo and is actually quite low on the janka scale. To put this in perspective some softwoods have a higher hardness rating. Which means carbonized bamboo flooring should only be used in areas that will not get a high amount of footfall or usage, and certainly not with pets.

While trying to keep a vintage or trasitional look to your home. Bamboo flooring can look a little out of place

Con – Bamboo Flooring Can Be Bad For The Environment

While bamboo flooring is environmentally friendly in the sense that it is able to grow fast – it does actually have some rather hidden and less attractive consequences for the environment. One of the main issues is deforestation. The increase in demand for bamboo has made growing it an attractive prospect for land owners in Asia. Which has resulted in some deforestation to allow planting of bamboo. While this deforestation is nowhere near on the scale of say the deforestation in the amazon for hardwoods – it is certainly something that should be considered if you are looking to be as green as possible.

Nearly all of it is grown in Asia where it is naturally found. The prefect growing conditions mean that a huge amount of flooring can be produced each year. However the issue with this is that it needs to be transported to the USA and Europe on big cargo ships – which very environmentally unfriendly. In today’s global economy it is hard to find something that has not been on a cargo ship – but it is also something that should be considered.

The chemicals that are used to make strand woven bamboo flooring are also something that not many people are aware about. Some less reputable Chinese bamboo manufactures can actually use formaldehyde in the flooring to strengthen it and make it long lasting. While this certainly has the desired effect formaldehyde is an extremely toxic chemical that presents a health danger to those working with it. There is not any risk for the consumer as it is benign when the treatment process has been completed – but it is very bad for the environment.

Just look at the colors that are present in this engineered bamboo floor. Stunning!

Con – The Quality Of Bamboo Flooring Varies Massively

A big issue with bamboo flooring is that there is no standardized grading system for the material. Bamboo is marketed and graded in different grades ranging from A grade to D grade. However this literally means nothing.

Manufacturers and suppliers can (and do) rate their own bamboo with whatever grade they like. So a grade A plank of bamboo flooring from one manufacturer could be the same quality as a grade C plank from another manufacturer. For this reason you should only ever look at the grades of bamboo to compare them with other types of flooring from the same manufacturer.

Installation of bamboo flooring requires no more effort than hardwood flooring

This also means that you can unexpectedly buy poor quality bamboo flooring. As previously mentioned this stuff grows fast and shoots up at an incredible rate. However when it is young it is soft – and many unethical businessmen in china will simply cut down the bamboo too early to get a quicker rotation of crops on their land.

If you do get low quality material, you are going to be in for a world of trouble. It can go mouldy and crack easy, if it is strand woven the strands can come apart and your floor can be totally destroyed.

To navigate this minefield when shopping around it is important to read online reviews and testimonials to ensure your supplier is reputable. If possible get a recommendation from someone you know in person.

Con – Bamboo Flooring Could Go Out Of Fashion

At present bamboo flooring is very fashionable and is rising in popularity year upon year. While we don’t think it is very likely – it is possible that this is just another fad. And due to the fact this flooring is going to last you 30+ years – it is an investment that may outlive its desirability.

This is an advantage that hardwood flooring has over bamboo. It is a simple fact that hardwood flooring is timeless, and in fact it almost improves with age. This may very well not be the case with bamboo.

Con – Bamboo Flooring Can Look Too Modern

Bamboo flooring can look great in any modern home – however its uses can be quite limited in homes that have more of a traditional or vintage style to them. We have not seen many cases where it has been used with a traditional style of décor to a good effect.

While I am sure it is technically possible to pull it off – a hardwood floor would cost you around the same price and would be a much safer option to ensure you maintain the traditional feel to your home.

When combined with furniture that is stained in the same color – the effect of bamboo flooring can be incredible

So there you have it, our review of bamboo flooring. We have weighed up the pros and cons and will leave the ultimate decision for you to decide.

Our personal opinion is that when used with the right style of décor this type of flooring can be an amazing alternative to hardwood. It has all the required properties to be a viable material for a long lasting floor and is certainly the right price.

What do you think about bamboo flooring? We would love to hear some of our reader’s reviews. Please leave a comment in the section below!

Here is our ultimate guide to staircase lighting which will guide you through all the options – the things you must know, and the things you must not do.

Where do you want your staircase lighting?

By the stairs right…? Lol (Joke!). There are four main types of staircase lighting. Each creates a dramatically different effect, and have their own set of pros and cons.

Tread Level (Foot Level) Staircase Lighting

Think of staircase lighting and this is usually one of two things that comes to mind. These are lights that are mounted at foot level and can create very dramatic effects. The lights are essentially embedded into each step.

They can be placed at the side of the step angled inwards to create dramatic sweeping beams of light and shadow. This is a particularly nice effect with carpeted stairs, as the effect creates an almost “showroom” feel to the area, without becoming too contemporary. (However if contemporary is what you are after – they can equally be used to create that feeling, just not usually with carpet).

A soft light creates dramatic shadows that do not overpower the room with a modern feel

They can be placed in the front of the step to create a uniform and clinical look.

This may be a little extreme – but you can see the effect it has.

And, If your stairs allow. They can be placed under the slight lip that some staircases have. Which creates an incredibly attractive down lighting effect of the steps. This is particularly attractive in converted basements which typically have dark corner stairs. The combination of the down lighting with the shadowy corner is an incredible combination.

See what i mean?

Wall Mounted Staircase Lighting

The next main option is wall mounted lighting. As the name suggests these are spotlights that are embedded into the wall with varying frequency to illuminate the entire staircase. They are far less dramatic than tread level lights, but are still a unique and attention grabbing feature – certainly better than ceiling lighting.

The main issue people have with wall mounted stair lights is that they can look a little unsightly in the daytime when they are not in use. This can be mitigated by putting them near tread level – but they are still usually visible.

Step level, but wall mounted lights.

Ceiling Mounted Stair Lighting

Ceiling mounted lighting essentially boils down to spotlights above your stairs. While they can create an attractive effect – they are not what most people would consider “staircase lighting”, and their appearance is far less dramatic than other types (for a price that is in the same ballpark as wall mounted lighting).

Understair Lighting

A fourth (less common) option is to use under stair lighting. Unless you are getting a new staircase, or building a new home – this is usually not an option (unless you are lucky!). However this creates perhaps the most dramatic effect of all types of staircase lighting.

A slight gap is left between the stairs and the wall, allowing light to seep through. Certainly an ultramodern look that will grab people’s attention. Spiral staircase lighting is particularly effective if lit from underneath on each tread. From the bottom it can create an almost chandelier type effect which is very dramatic.

How easy is it to replace the lights?

Maintenance is an issue that is often overlooked in staircase lighting. While most people opt for long life LED bulbs – they can and do break (however occasionally that may be). If your lighting is fully flush to the stair treads it may be an issue to replace them.

This can often involve removing part of the step to access the back of the light. It sounds dramatic – but you would be surprised how often this can happen.

Wall lighting is easier to replace as it does not have to be flush to the wall, ceiling lighting is just as easy (as long as you don’t mind navigating the stairs with a ladder).

This is a great example of how underlighting the stairs can work.

Will they look right?

It can be surprisingly hard to get the correct look out of your lights. This is less of an issue if you are going for a contemporary modern look – as this is the effect that is almost generated by default. The clean sharp lines of the stairs combined with the dramatic beams of light and subtle shadows can really be quite stunning.

However if you are looking to install staircase lighting in a country home or somewhere you do not really want the contemporary look – you can run into issues.

As mentioned above, carpeting works best at alleviating the contemporary look as it softens the square sharp lines. The best option to keep the homely feel is to usually go for angled tread mounted lights, with soft yellowish LED’s that are not too bright. Because as you will see below – choosing the right bulb is just as important as choosing the right location for your lights.

What color light to do you want?

You will be hard pressed to find staircase lighting that is not lit by LED bulbs. Mainly due to their very low energy consumption and incredibly long shelf life. Unfortunately LED’s do not come in a huge range of colors (at least in the white spectrum), so tinted glass covers are usually in order.

As a rule of thumb – the whiter the light, the more modern your lighting will make your home look. Ultra white LED’s can create a futuristic almost spaceship like effect when combined with the white stairs. A modem art gallery comes to mind when combined with hardwood stained stairs.

Perhaps a little extreme – but there is no denying these multi colored steps look amazing!

If ultramodern is not your style, then various levels of tint can be applied to make the light turn into softer shades of cream and yellow. Brightness is everything here, the brighter the LED’s – the more modern your home will look. Keeping a reasonably low amount of lumens is the best option to keep a homely feel.

You can even get crazy with it if you like! Perhaps you are lighting up the stairs to a man cave or a child’s play room (is there a difference between the two?) Green, red, blue, orange, whatever colour you want can be obtained – and the results speak for themselves.

Wireless Staircase Lighting

As you can see there are quite a few options available, all of which are reasonably large projects to undertake. But because we live in the future – a solution is here. Wireless staircase lighting allows you to get the effect you want – without the construction work (cost) that is traditionally associated with it.

They obviously have their benefits – the main one being that you do not need to make any major modifications to the walls and floors of your home to lay down wiring. However they are battery powered. Which will mean replacing batteries reasonably often with daily use.

You will also have to manually turn all of the lights on one at a time, when you want to use them. They are usually push button activated and you simply push the light in to turn it on.

If this is something you are prepared to do, or you only wish to light your stairs when you have guests over, or on special occasions, then perhaps it is not too much of a hindrance. But if you are planning on using them daily – you will probably wish you had gotten hardwired lights.

Accessories

Many people like to use their stairway lighting to act as a nightlight. However the issue can be that stair lights that are just bright enough when people are awake – can be far too bright for use as a nightlight. For this reason it is possible to get a dimmer switch installed so the intensity of the light can be adjusted at will – it is a minimal extra cost that is highly recommended.

Natural wood stairs looks stunning when lit.

A timer can also be incorporated into the switch which can let you automatically program when you want your stairs to be lit up. Some advanced systems even allow you to control both the brightness and the timer from an app on your phone.

How do I go about getting staircase lighting?

If you are going for wall mounted or ceiling mounted lights, the process is much the same as any other project – call an electrician. They will have experience in light fitment, and there is not really that much specialised work that needs to be done (regardless of what specialist lighting companies will tell you). As long as you do not go for super high wattage with the blubs, and have a good idea of what style and density of light placement you like by looking around online – it is fairly straight forward.

However for tread level lighting you really do need to call out the professionals… Obviously it is much easier to install tread lighting into a staircase that is being replaced (or even easier if you are building a new house). Retrofitting tread lighting into a staircase that was not designed for it can be a tricky task if not impossible.

Lighting professionals will advise on you if it will look right, spacing, brightness, wear, maintenance, and a few other factors that are a little out of the scope of this article.

So there you have it, our complete guide to staircase lighting. Did we miss anything out? Do you have any comments or questions? Please leave a comment in the box below!