You see your staircase wall dozens of times each day—might as well enjoy the view! Bring it to life with any of these fabulous staircase decor ideas.

1. Accent Wall

An accent wall is one that features a different color, texture, or wallpaper than the room’s other walls. A stairwell is a good place to add a new color or interesting wallpaper design that might be too bold if used on every wall.

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Beadboard, shiplap, or brick veneer are all good ways to add a textured accent wall to your staircase. If you want a monochromatic effect, purchase a paintable, heavily textured wallpaper for the stairwell and paint it the same color as the rest of the room.

2. Contemporary

Contemporary interior design embraces a “less is more” philosophy. This translates into neutral or monotonal colors, clean lines, and open spaces. Even so, a bold pop of color is not out of place and a staircase wall is a good place to add this decorative accent.

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Metal wall art or panels are excellent contemporary staircase wall ideas. Mirrored surfaces also speak to the contemporary aesthetic.

3. Decal/Paint

Paint and decals are two of the most budget-friendly ways you can upgrade a staircase. Whether you apply them to the wall or the stairs themselves, they’re easy enough for anyone to DIY. Look for word or quote decals, or adhesive tiles for an easy staircase decoration.

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4. Fancy Railings

Replacing a tired stair railing is a fabulous way to update your staircase design. Replace basic wooden balusters with an intricate wrought iron railing. Though expensive, they add an elegance to straight, curved, or spiral staircases.

Clear or frosted acrylic panels or wire railings are another good replacement for plain wood banisters and rails. They add modern, dramatic ambiance to your entryway.

5. Farmhouse

The horizontal wood planks called shiplap add a warm farmhouse vibe to any staircase. Paint them a classic white, cream, grey, or another light-colored hue that compliments your decor.

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White stairs with wood steps and a dark handrail is another traditional farmhouse pairing. Hang farm-themed signs, a simple wreath, and other country wall art along the stairwell to complete the look.

6. Gallery Wall

A gallery wall is a decorating idea that can be tweaked to fit any home decor style. Showcase a collection of framed black-and-white family photos for a vintage vibe, or compose a modern gallery wall from a simple row of modern art paintings.

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Add other accents between framed pieces for an eclectic, bohemian, or shabby chic feeling. Good choices include metal wall sculptures, wood plaques, wreaths, or wall planters filled with greenery. Empty picture frames add another interesting touch to a stairwell gallery wall.

7. Lighting Ideas

Stair lighting is not only a decorative element—it’s also a matter of safety. But since adequately illuminating your staircase is vital, you might as well make it stylish.

Hang a dramatic chandelier over your stairs or line up a row of descending pendant lights. On the stair wall itself, wall sconces are welcome lighting fixtures to install. If you only need a little additional light, hang string lights along the railing.

8. Luxury

Luxury staircase ideas incorporate fine woods, intricate details, and marble or other natural stone finishes. A dramatic staircase is the entryway focal point in many luxury homes and its finishes and details should reflect the same opulence as the rest of the home.

In a two-story entryway, a large chandelier or collection of artistic pendant lights is a must. Add additional lighting with wall sconces or small, step-level lights that illuminate each stair. An exquisite Turkish carpet stair runner not only makes your entryway more beautiful; it helps guard against slips and falls.

9. Minimalist

Your minimalist tastes can be showcased by the simplest stair decoration elements. Paint the wall a contrasting color, or simply hang a perfectly-spaced row of minimalist line drawings.

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Because clutter is the enemy of minimalist design, keep it simple. One dramatic painting or textile centered over a stair landing may be enough in a minimalist interior.

10. Mirror

Framed mirrors or mirrored tiles are dual purpose staircase ideas. Not only do they reflect light and make your staircase feel more spacious, they’re great for a quick hair check as you hurry down the stairs on the way out.

Intersperse small framed mirrors among other pieces in a staircase gallery wall. They will add little sparks of reflected light that draws the eye toward your creative staircase ideas.

11. Modern

Modern decor is simple and streamlined, featuring natural elements such as metal, wood, and stone. Keep your staircase modern by not overdoing the decor.

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Floating stairs can make a strong enough visual impact on their own. Add a new metal handrail with glass panels instead of balusters to turn a basic staircase chicly modern. Horizontal balusters are another great way to modernize a staircase.

12. Painting

Staircase walls are the perfect places to display favorite paintings. Whether you spotlight one or two large paintings, or run a small gallery along the stairwell, let the paintings be ones that bring you joy.

If original paintings are a bit beyond your budget, shop online for replica prints of your favorite pieces.

13. Plants

Planters along a staircase wall add a lot of life to a plain stair design. Hang wall planters on a solid wall and add succulents or trailing vines. Small plants can also be set on small floating shelves, or on the stair surface itself right along the railing. Bigger plants look nice on stair landings.

Much like leaving a Christmas tree up all year and changing the decor to match the seasons, you can run a faux boxwood garland along your banister and change it seasonally. A neutral green garland can be decorated with flowers in the springtime, stars or seashells for summer, and tiny pumpkins and pinecones for fall.

14. Rustic

A rustic staircase could include any or all of the following: heavy woods, distressed paint finishes, metal accents, or railings made from recycled plumbing.

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Other rustic stair wall decor could include baskets or macrame wall hangings. A coastal rustic home could emphasize the nautical theme by replacing wood hand railings with thick, heavy rope.

15. Scandinavian

Pale colors and light woods are hallmarks of Scandinavian decor, so avoid anything too visually heavy when decorating a staircase in this style. Light and airy touches include simple floating shelves, whitewashed wood, and exposed brick painted in soft hues.

A Scandinavian style stair runner might feature a simple botanical print or thin stripes of color. Open wire baskets and potted plants complete the vibe.

16. Seasonal Decor

Christmas stair decoration ideas should be included in any holiday decor scheme. Wind an evergreen garland along the banister and decorate it with ribbon, pine cones, Christmas lights, and ornaments. Match the garland’s colors with your other Christmas decor for a cohesive appearance.

Bows are another Christmas decoration that really make your staircase a foyer focal point. Weave velvet, mesh, or satin ribbon in wide widths around your banisters, then finish the newel post with a greenery swag and matching big bow.

17. Seating

Seating at the staircase base, landing, or staircase top is not only attractive, but functional. These seats are good places for removing your shoes when you get home or waiting for an Uber to pick you up.

Turn stair seating into a design element by adding a small side table, lamp, and green plant. Add a coat and umbrella tree to your bottom-of-the-stairs seating configuration.

18. Staircase Runner

Staircase runners add a lot of style to your stairs. Not only are they a decorative accent, carpet runners also make it safer and quieter to navigate the stairway.

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A striped or patterned stair runner adds color to your staircase, but solid runners also work well. An animal print stair runner is a good way to heighten the drama in your foyer.

If a carpeted runner isn’t your preference, paint a decorative runner. Use a stencil or vinyl letters to decorate each stair riser with a favorite verse or design. If you’re seeking a costal or rustic vibe, a jute runner introduces that flavor to your staircase decor.

19. Statues

Statues are classic staircase decorations in stately manors and estates. Set upon a pedestal at the base of the stairs, or as landing decor, marble busts are a classic choice. Artistic sculptures are also a good choice for grand staircase decorations.

Recessed shelves along a stairway wall are good places for small sculptures and statues. Add a candle display within the shelf cove for a warm, dramatic effect at night.

20. Vintage

Vintage art, antiques, and other aged treasures are excellent additions to a staircase decor scheme—especially if you live in an older home. Look for art that represents the period your home was built while complimenting your other decor.

Place an antique table at the base of your stairs, topped with gold-framed photos and a vase of fresh flowers. Vintage light fixtures and paint finishes help convey time-tested style. Finish the look with a Persian rug in the foyer and a matching stair runner.

21. Wainscoting

Wainscoting is wooden paneling that covers the lower part of the wall. It looks particularly elegant when carried up a staircase from the walls of the room below. Wainscoting is often painted white, but it can be painted any color that suits your style.

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You can find wainscoting panels in a wide variety of styles and heights. Real hardwood panels are the most expensive type, and ideal if you want a warm stained wood appearance. If you plan to paint the wainscoting, you might as well go for a less-expensive plywood, MDF, or plastic paneling.

22. Wall Decor

Anything that can be attached to the wall can be used as a type of staircase wall decor. Inexpensive options include creating an abstract piece of art from nailing together strips of wood painted in different colors.

Display a collection of imported baskets and trays along your staircase for a fun bohemian type of wall decor. Metal flowers and candle sconces are additional interesting elements to add to staircase walls.

23. Wall Paint/Decal/Wallpaper

Wallpaper is an excellent thing to include in staircase decor. A boldly printed wallpaper that includes the foyer’s or living room’s main colors can be the one thing that ties the room together. Use painters tape to paint a striped or random pattern on your staircase wall.

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Wall decals are a popular choice for adding certain scriptures or words to live by on your home’s interior walls. For the best effect, mix flat decal art with dimensional pieces in one cohesive display.

24. Zen

Incorporating Zen concepts into home decor means using neutral colors and natural elements such as stone, plants, and wood. On a deeper level, it can incorporate Feng Shui principles that are intended to balance the energy flow through your home.

Traditionally, stairs have a bad Feng Shui reputation as heavy structures that suppress positivity in the home. Using light, soothing colors and keeping stairs illuminated are good ways of counteracting their anti-Zen energy.

Carpet cleaning can be a challenging task even on a level floor, but balancing on stairs adds a whole new level of difficulty. Whether you have full stair carpet or a simple carpet runner, keeping carpeted stairs clean is probably not your favorite task.

Fortunately, there are plenty of tips and tricks to make carpet stair cleaning easier. Here are some of our favorite ways to clean carpeted stairs—with and without machines.

1. Vacuuming

It’s nearly impossible to explain how to clean carpet on stairs without mentioning a vacuum cleaner. While you can sweep a low-pile carpet with a broom and dustpan, you really need the power of suction to remove all the soil that gets embedded in carpet fibers.

Most vacuum cleaners come with an attachment for stairs, corners, and crevices. Other manufacturers sell stair attachments that must be purchased separately. If you have carpeted stairs, an attachment is a small investment that will make cleaning much easier.

You might find a small, hand-held vacuum cleaner easier to operate than a big vacuum cleaner, even with the right attachment. The Black and Decker Max Cordless Lithium DustBuster Hand Vacuum is an excellent cleaning tool for carpeted stairs. Other models might be cheaper, but this one has a 16-volt lithium battery that holds a charge for up to 18 months. It has three times the suction power of other models and is cordless and lightweight for easy operation.

Owning a hand vacuum is great for many reasons. Not only will it help keep your stair carpet clean, but you can also use it to vacuum your vehicles and furniture. Try to use your vacuum cleaner on the stairs at least once a week. Twice a week—or even daily—is ideal if you have a lot of foot traffic in your home.

2. Carpet Shampoo

A good carpet shampoo and scrub brush are essential tools for anyone wondering how to clean carpet on stairs. Carpet shampooing can be done by hand or with a carpet cleaning machine. If you own or rent a carpet cleaner, use the type of shampoo recommended by the manufacturer. If you plan to shampoo the stairs by hand, you have a choice of different carpet cleaning products to try.

Any liquid carpet shampoo can be diluted and placed in a spray bottle to use for hand-cleaning stairs. Hoover Renewal Deep Cleaning Carpet Shampoo is a concentrated shampoo that can also be used in a machine. Although the label on this rave-reviewed product says “tackle old set-in stains” it can be used to clean a larger area by following these steps:

1. Vacuum the stairs to remove loose dirt and dust.
2. Starting at the top of the staircase, spray the first step with Folex.
3. Rub it in with gloved fingers.
4. If necessary, scrub the carpeting with a cloth or brush. There’s no need to rinse.
5. Allow the carpet time to dry before walking on it.
6. If stains remain, repeat the process, saturating any tough stain with Folex cleaner.

3. Green Carpet Cleaning Solutions

Many homeowners prefer to use nontoxic products to keep their homes clean. If you’d rather not buy carpet shampoo with questionable ingredients, turn to your kitchen and laundry room for several good cleaning options.

Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent isn’t only great for getting stains out of your clothing. It also works as a decent carpet cleaner. Simply stir a quarter cup of liquid laundry detergent into a gallon of warm water. Dip a scrub brush into the solution, and clean stairs with a circular motion.

Soak an absorbent rag into another bucket of clean water and wring it out. Wipe each step to remove the laundry detergent completely. Repeat with each stair and let them dry overnight, if possible. Plan to clean after everyone goes to bed so they have all night to dry. If you’re in a bind and don’t have laundry detergent, liquid dish soap can work as well.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an excellent natural carpet cleaning solution. It’s also great for eliminating carpet odors. For a liquid cleaning solution, dissolve a quarter cup of baking soda in a quart of warm water and place it in a spray bottle. Spray vacuumed carpeted stairs with the solution and scrub lightly with a brush. Let the carpet air dry.

Dry baking soda is another answer to the problem of how to clean carpet on stairs. The dry cleaning method is good for cleaning carpeting installed on expensive wooden stairs, as it is less likely to damage wood stairs than a wet cleaning method.

You will need a vacuum cleaner, a spray bottle, and a large box of baking soda to clean carpeted stairs by this method. For extra odor elimination, stir a few drops of your favorite essential oil into the dry baking soda before sprinkling it on your carpet.

Working from the top down, simply sprinkle a generous amount of dry baking soda on your carpeted stairs. Fill your spray bottle with hot water and mist water over the baking soda. Allow it to sit for three hours, or until the baking soda is dry again.

This method will draw out any lingering dirt and odors. Vacuum each step thoroughly to remove all the baking soda residue.

Vinegar

You can make a great cleaning solution from vinegar and water. Not only does it clean well, but it also kills odor-causing bacteria.

Be sure to use ordinary white vinegar and not specialty vinegar, such as apple cider or wine vinegar. Yes, your house will smell strongly of vinegar while the solution is wet. However, as it dries, vinegar evaporates trapped odors along with its signature smell.

Add ¾ cup of distilled white vinegar to a gallon of warm water and stir well. Some cleaners suggest adding a tablespoon or two of salt to boost the cleaning power. Dip a scrub brush into the solution and work it into the carpet with circular, vertical, and horizontal strokes. Do not saturate the carpet; you just want enough moisture to loosen the dirt.

If the water gets murky, dump it and make a new batch. After scrubbing your steps, dip a clean towel into plain water, wring it out, then wipe each step. Allow the carpeting to dry overnight.

4. Spot Cleaning

Any of the cleaning solutions recommended above will work for spot cleaning. However, after cleaning a spot, you may notice it and the surrounding area is a lighter color than the rest of the carpet. This often happens with old carpet that hasn’t been cleaned frequently enough.

Apply the cleaning solution to the spot and dab the excess with absorbent towels. Let it dry, and repeat with another cleaning product if the first one fails to remove the spot.

Bissell’s Little Green PROheat Carpet Cleaner is a helpful tool for taking care of spills and stains before they have time to set. It also works well on set-in stains but may require a bit more elbow grease. The kit comes with Bissell Professional Spot and Stain and Oxy Formula cleaning liquid. Weighing just over nine pounds, it comes with a stair tool that makes cleaning carpeted stairs easy.

If you don’t want to invest in a spot cleaning machine, you can rent a carpet spot cleaner and stair detailer at your nearest home improvement retailer. Some grocery stores and other retailers rent Rug Doctor carpet cleaning machines, too. Affordable rental rates are based on how long you keep the machine; some allow you to rent it for as few as four hours.

5. Steam Cleaning

Professional steam cleaning is expensive, but it’s definitely the easiest way to deep clean carpet stairs. After all, you just pay someone to show up and take care of the problem for you.

Even if you’re good about self-cleaning carpeted stairs yourself, it’s wise to invest in a professional steam cleaning at least once a year. There really is no match for their industrial equipment when it comes to removing stubborn dirt and carpet stains.

6. Stubborn Stain Treatment

The key to preventing stubborn stains is to tackle colorful liquid spills as soon as they happen. So if you trip while carrying up a glass of red wine upstairs to enjoy during your evening bath, you must immediately soak up as much of the liquid as possible.

Use a clean cloth or paper towels to gently blot and dab the liquid. Don’t rub it, as rubbing just pushes the fluid deeper into the carpet fibers. Spray the stain with a carpet cleaning solution and follow the methods outlined above for spot cleaning.

Repeat the process if the stain is still there the next day. If you used vinegar to clean initially, perhaps try baking soda or a commercial carpet spot cleaning product.

If the stain is extra-stubborn and still remains, you may have to hire a professional to steam clean that step.

7. Pet Messes

Pet stains are common, but they pose problems that spilled drinks or tipped flowerpots don’t. They can be smelly in addition to being unsightly. And if you don’t clean them well enough, your pet may return to that spot to urinate or defecate again.

You must use cleaner specifically designed to handle pet messes that involve urine, vomit, blood, or feces. These products contain enzymes that break down these protein based stains.

Nature’s Miracle Deep-Cleaning Stain and Odor Remover is a bio-enzymatic based solution that eliminates visible stains and the particles that cause pet odors. It can be used straight from the bottle or diluted for use in a carpet cleaning machine. It’s completely safe for pets and humans, and is also great to keep on hand for those inevitable nights when your child has a potty or vomiting accident.

Pet hair can also make carpeted stairs look dirty as it collects in corners and crevices. Frequent vacuuming should keep most pet hair accumulation under control, but if you have a lot of pets or animals that shed a lot, it’s hard to stay on top of it.

Brush your stairs with a stiff brush to loosen any embedded pet hair before vacuuming. This portable, double-sided Lint Remover Tool makes easy work of removing pet hair from carpeted stairs—without having to drag out the vacuum cleaner.

Whether you’re looking to beat the summer heat, improve air circulation, or simply add a touch of style to your bedroom, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we will explore seven top-rated ceiling fans that are specifically designed for bedrooms, taking into consideration factors such as noise level, airflow efficiency, aesthetics, and overall performance.

If you live in a temperate climate, a ceiling fan might be all you need to stay comfortable on warm nights. In a hotter climate, a ceiling fan will work with your air conditioner by distributing cooled air evenly throughout the bedroom.

Choosing the best ceiling fan for bedroom spaces can feel overwhelming due to the sheer number of fans available. That’s why we created this list of ceiling fans that impressed us the most, and why.

3. Harbor Breeze Armitage 52

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Harbor Breeze is Lowes’ house brand name for ceiling fans manufactured by Litex Industries. The Armitage 52-inch Brushed Nickel LED Ceiling Fan is a budget-friendly choice for traditional home interiors. Its 52-inch diameter ceiling fan size fits well in a medium or large room up to 400 square feet.

It has a three-speed, AC motor that provides ultra-powerful airflow. It’s also reversible at the flip of a switch, so you can enjoy air circulation without cooling during the wintertime.

Its low-profile design is great for average bedroom ceiling heights and the single frosted glass globe LED light fixture adds simple elegance to the design. It houses a dimmable LED light bulb, which may be a little dimmer than you anticipate. A pull chain allows you to operate the light kit and make quick adjustments between three fan speeds.

The linked model has brushed nickel metal housing, but the same fan is available in matte black, bronze, and white. Five reversible ceiling fan blades are a warm toffee brown on one side and a deep cocoa shade on the other.

Ceiling Fan Glossary

Airflow Efficiency

A rating that measures a ceiling fan’s airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM) per one watt of electricity used. The higher the CFM, the more energy-efficient the fan. Look for a minimum efficiency number of 75.

Angled Mount

A specially designed mount that allows you to hang a ceiling fan evenly from sloped ceilings or angled ceilings. If the fan you want doesn’t come with an angled mount, you may be able to find an adapter kit.

Balance

An unbalanced fan will wobble, often loudly. Your ceiling fan may come with a balancing kit that includes small weights to keep your fan from wobbling. If not, you can buy a balancing kit at any home improvement store.

Damp Rated

This type of ceiling fan is intended for outdoor use under a covered roof, such as on a covered patio or porch. It can withstand humidity, heat, and mist – but not direct rainfall. A damp-rated fan is also ideal indoors in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where high moisture levels may damage a dry-rated ceiling fan.

DC Motor

Ceiling fans with a DC motor are the most efficient types of fans. They can consume up to 80% less energy than traditional AC fans. Note that most budget ceiling fans still use AC motors.

Downrod Mount

Designed for high ceilings, a downrod mount extends the distance between the ceiling and the fan’s motor. A short downrod comes with many ceiling fans; in most cases, you’ll need to purchase a longer downrod separately. For safety reasons, make sure the downrod doesn’t place the bottom of the fan lower than seven feet above the floor.

Dry Rated

Indoor-only ceiling fans should be limited to living rooms, bedrooms, playrooms, and other rooms where excessive moisture isn’t a factor.

Fan Blade Span

The complete width of the fan; the size of the circle you see when a ceiling fan is in motion. The edges of your fan blade span should be at least 18” from each wall.

Fan Blade Pitch

Describes the angle of the tilt on each ceiling fan blade. This angle is one of the factors that determine the strength of a fan’s air circulation. The ideal fan blade pitch is between 12 and 15 degrees.

Flush Mount

Also called low-profile or hugger fans, these ceiling fans are mounted directly to the ceiling. Ideal for a lower ceiling height, a hugger ceiling fan has less powerful airflow than one that’s not as close to the ceiling.

Housing

The metal cylinder or decorative covering conceals and protects the fan’s inner workings. The motor housing protects the motor while the switch housing covers various wires, switches, and other components.

Motor Speed

A ceiling fan’s motor speed is measured in rotations per minute (RPMs). RPMs range from 20 to 300, depending on the fan blade span. UL standards place limits on how fast ceiling fans can spin.

Reversible Blades

A special type of ceiling fan blades that direct airflow in both directions at the same time. They equalize air pressure, improving ventilation. The term is also used to describe ceiling fan blades that have a different color on each side, allowing you to change the look of your fan without installing a whole new unit.

Reversible Motor

A reversible motor is one that has a switch to reverse its spinning direction. Ceiling fans typically force air downward, into a downdraft that makes the room feel cooler. By flipping the motor reversal switch, you can turn the downdraft into an updraft that pulls air from below the fan. This clockwise rotation helps circulate warm air throughout the room.

Wall Control

A simple switch or sliding knob is used to turn your ceiling fan on and off. It may be on the room’s light switch plate or installed separately.

Wet Rated

A wet rated ceiling fan can be safely installed in a pergola or another structure without a solid roof. It is able to withstand exposure to direct rainfall. While indoor fan design options are practically unlimited, you’ll find that there are only a few available styles of wet rated fans.

The Verdict

If we had to pick just one ceiling fan for our own bedrooms, we’d go with the number one item on our list: the Hunter Echo Bluff. It’s a good size for the average bedroom, and it has a nice, bright light fixture. Its price point is a little higher than other models in the “budget fan” category, but it’s still highly affordable. Plus, the quality of materials – and Hunter’s reputation for building fans that last 25 years or more – make it well worth the slightly higher initial investment.

However, if you have a high or sloped ceiling in your bedroom, the flush-mount Echo Bluff won’t work. You’ll need a downrod mount fan. We recommend Honeywell’s Carnegie ceiling fan, not only because of its mounting flexibility but because it’s a truly beautiful fan with a great remote control. Just be prepared to pay nearly twice as much for this level of style and functionality.

Your bedroom probably already has a ceiling light fixture, but that hardly creates the peaceful setting most of us crave in our bedrooms. There are so many options for illuminating your most sacred space. Here are what we believe are nine of the best lights for bedroom use.

Bedroom Brilliance: Exploring the Best Lights for the Bedroom

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1. Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is a secondary source of bedroom lighting. Ambient light is the light that already exists in a space, whether it’s daylight or a dominant light source, such as a table lamp or an overhead fixture. Accent light is the opposite and is directed at a specific thing you want to illuminate, like artwork or a dim corner.

Track lighting is a common form of accent lighting, but track lights are more commonly seen in a living room than in a bedroom. Picture lights are excellent for illuminating a favorite bedroom painting or portrait.

Even though the purpose of accent lighting is to showcase specific items, it should be a subtle effect. Attention should be on the item itself, not the light source. Even so, it adds to the entire room’s overall ambiance when you choose attractive accent lighting fixtures.

2. Ceiling Fans

A ceiling fan can make your bedroom feel up to five degrees cooler in warm weather. During the wintertime, you can reverse the direction of the blades to keep heated air circulating smoothly through your room.

While older ceiling fans all looked alike, thousands of new ceiling fan designs exist, making it possible to find one that’s perfect with your bedroom decor. Although some interior designers shy away from ceiling fans, they are a practical way to maintain an optimal living temperature.

You probably already have a light fixture in the middle of your bedroom ceiling. It’s a relatively simple DIY job to replace it with a ceiling fan, but it may be best to hire an electrician to make the switch. Keep your overhead light capabilities by purchasing a new ceiling fan equipped with a light kit.

3. Chandeliers

Say the word “chandelier” and an ornate, glass-beaded ceiling fixture comes to mind. One of the more elegant forms of overhead lighting, the elaborate chandelier of the past has undergone a simpler, subtle makeover. You can still get golden fixtures draped in beaded crystal strings, but you can also find modern versions without a crystal in sight.

Although the word still defines a multi-branched ceiling light, chandeliers have moved beyond entryways and dining rooms into the bedroom. Usually fitted with incandescent bulbs, modern chandeliers also work with energy-saving LED bulbs. Be sure to check the color temperature of any LED lights you place in the bedroom, as warm-hued bedroom lighting is preferable to cool.

4. Flush-Mount Ceiling Fixtures

Flush mount ceiling fixtures are great when your room has no headspace to spare. These low-profile bedroom lighting fixtures mount flush with the ceiling and come in a huge variety of sizes and styles. This is the type of bedroom light you see in most newly built homes; a simple light bulb or two covered in a decorative or bowl-shaped cover.

Many homeowners replace these simple general lighting fixtures with ceiling fans, pendant lights, or chandeliers. However, well-designed flush-mount fixtures make great bedroom ceiling lights. Just be sure to choose a cover made of a marbled, frosted, or colored material to keep it from being too bright for a bedroom.

5. Pendants

Pendant lights are a type of ambient lighting. Pendants hang from the ceiling on a long rod or chain. This means they’re an ideal ceiling light choice with high bedroom ceilings of 10 feet or more. Pendant light styles trend toward modern and contemporary decor and are an excellent alternative to ordinary bedside lamps.

A pendant with a strong bulb can work as task lighting over a vanity or dressing table. Pendant light fixtures need to be placed over the bed or other pieces of bedroom furniture. Like flush mount lights, pendant light fixtures need covers that help soften their visual impact on the bedroom.

6. Recessed Fixtures

Recessed lights are the unsung heroes of many excellent bedroom lighting plans. Not really meant to be noticed, recessed lighting fixtures provide the task lights you need without drawing any attention to themselves. All that’s visible is the bulb surrounded by a simple ring of white, bronze, chrome, or black metal. Some recessed light fixtures have embossing or other decorative details, but most are decidedly plain.

Ideally, recessed lights will be placed on a dimmer switch so you can control the amount of general bedroom lighting at any time. Most can be fitted with an energy-saving LED or compact fluorescent bulb.

6. Halo Warm White Round Dimmable Recessed Downlight

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Sold in an affordable six-pack, Halo Warm White Round Dimmable Recessed Downlight fixtures can be bought with 5 or 6-inch diameters. They come with torsion springs that pull the trim tight to the ceiling. A diffuse lens keeps the light from becoming too intense.

It’s easy to replace old recessed light fixtures with these Halo lights. Even those with minimal DIY skills find installation relatively simple – another reason these lights are a budget-friendly choice.

7. Sconces

A wall sconce is a light that attaches to the wall on a decorative bracket. Wall sconces make great bedside lights, but they’re under-utilized in bedroom decor. This is unfortunate because the soft wall light is ideal for nighttime reading, especially if the sconce is on a swing arm that allows you to direct the light where needed.

Recommended sconce height is usually six feet above the floor, perhaps a bit higher if your ceilings are taller than usual. Install upward-facing wall sconces above eye level so that the bulb isn’t visible. If you hang a sconce over a nightstand, make sure that any table lamps are appropriately scaled so that the two types of light fixtures aren’t visually competing with each other.

8. Standing Lamps

Standing lamps are lamps that rest directly on the floor. They’re excellent bedroom lighting options to brighten dark corners or create cozy reading nooks. A floor lamp is easy to move when you want to rearrange the bedroom and a new lampshade can completely transform its appearance when you’re ready for a new look.

When tucking a floor lamp into a reading area, make sure the light is focused downward for the best book page illumination. If you don’t have room for a separate table in your reading area, look for a floor lamp that has a built-in table around its post.

9. Table Lamps

Table lamps are often the little things that make the biggest impact on bedroom decor. Traditional table lamps feature a bell-shaped lampshade over a simple ceramic, glass, or wooden base. Newer table lamp styles have metal bases in nearly unlimited finishes and shapes.

Traditional Tiffany lamps have intricate stained glass shades and can be very expensive, although affordable knock-offs are readily available.

When choosing table lamps for your bedside tables, be careful to keep size and scale in mind. You don’t want the lamps to vanish in a larger bedroom, but you also want to avoid giant lamps that overwhelm your nightstand surface. Ideally, bedroom table lamps should be between 24 and 36 inches in height.

Staircase size, location, and purpose all factor into flooring choices. Noise, safety, and personal style are other considerations that will help narrow down your choices. Each type of stair flooring has its benefits and drawbacks.

Find out when and where each type of flooring works best and see our recommendations for each category.

Best Flooring for Stairs

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1. Carpet

Carpet is a great flooring material for stairs. It comes in a ton of textures, patterns, and colors and buffers noise better than any other kind of flooring. This is a huge consideration for a staircase located near bedrooms, offices, or other areas of your home where keeping quiet is a priority.

Wool carpet looks beautiful but is not the best choice for a busy staircase. Synthetic carpets are much more durable and resist soil and stains better than natural carpet fibers.

The right kind of carpeting also helps prevent staircase slips and falls by providing traction for those traveling up and down. Printed carpet helps camouflage pet hair and dust while turning the staircase into a beautiful focal point. Look for nylon carpet that has built-in stain protection for the greatest durability on high-traffic stairs.

2. Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is a classic type of floor covering that has never gone out of style. Although many materials imitate the look of hardwood flooring, there is no substitute for the rich finish and underfoot feeling of genuine hardwood surfaces.

There are hundreds of hardwood flooring options, including solid wood, engineered wood, and sustainable bamboo. Hardwood floors come in a range of colors ranging from pale birch to deep ebony. Hardwood planks can also be painted in any color – an easier option than stripping and staining worn wooden stairs.

Properly finished, hardwood stairs can last for decades, but you may need to install no-slip treads to keep them from being too slippery under sock-covered feet.

3. Laminate

Laminate stair flooring is a budget-friendly alternative to real wood. It comes in a variety of other styles as well. Because you can purchase textured laminate flooring that provides more traction than wood floors, it makes a great alternative to carpeted stairs.

Laminate flooring is durable and easy to keep clean. It also resists moisture, dents, and dings much more readily than wood. Most laminate flooring is easy to install and replace when necessary. This gives it a clear budget advantage over wood or tile – not only because the product itself is cheaper, but because you can save a lot of money by installing it yourself.

4. Pre-Made Stair Treads

Pre-made stair treads are the easy solution for a DIYer who needs to refresh the look of an existing hardwood staircase. Not only are they suitable for a worn wooden stairway, but they’re also ideal for resurfacing a stairway covered in carpeting that only has bare lumber wood underneath.

Pre-finished stair treads are made from edge-glued wood – not laminate or veneered material – so they provide the look of hardwood without the difficulty of creating hardwood stairs yourself. Wood stair treads are available at home improvement centers and flooring stores. Some pre-made stair treads come with an attached facing that covers risers in a matching finish.

Carpet stair treads are another option for refreshing tired staircase surfaces. Carpet treads are rectangular carpet mats that cover the center of each step’s surface. Other styles fold over the stair nosing and look more like carpet than individual mats.

5. Stair Runner

A stair runner is an economical type of carpet designed just for stairs. Sold on rolls of a certain width, a carpet stair runner is installed in one solid waterfall down the staircase, bent around each stair nose, and nailed in place. If your stairs are beginning to show signs of wear and tear, a carpet runner is an easy way to refresh them.

Because your original wood floor finish will still show on each side of the runner, it’s a great compromise between carpeted and hardwood stairs. You can still see the beautiful hardwood flooring, but gain the safety of the carpet.

You can find this type of stair carpet in solid colors or highly detailed prints that come with matching area rugs for your landings. Most are made of synthetic carpet fiber that has been engineered for extra durability and soil resistance.

6. Tile

Tile flooring is a durable, waterproof flooring material that is common in beach cottages, Mediterranean architecture, and luxury homes. Because of its moisture resistance, tile is ideal for basement stairs and other areas where excess dampness might present a problem.

Natural stone tiles are the most expensive, but their natural textures make them a better choice than smoother tile when it comes to stair surfaces. Glass, porcelain, or ceramic tile mosaics are a beautiful way to enhance stair risers.

Slippery-surfaced tiles are an obvious no-go for stair treads. For safety reasons, be sure to choose a textured tile that provides some degree of traction. A professional tile installer will know not to use wall tiles for flooring, but it would be easy for a DIYer to purchase the wrong type. Step tile must also be thinner than 3/8 of an inch to not affect riser height.

7. Vinyl

If you already have vinyl flooring, you can install vinyl plank or tiles on your stairs.  However, your treads must be completely level for vinyl plank or vinyl tile to install properly. Like classic tile, vinyl tile is another good choice for a basement or kitchen staircase where moisture can be an issue.

Luxury vinyl is considerably thicker and more durable than traditional sheet vinyl flooring. Luxury vinyl plank flooring comes in a wood-plank shape and closely mimics real hardwood colors and textures. Luxury vinyl tile looks like textured stone, ceramic, or concrete tile.

Whether you ascribe to Feng Shui or Vastu Shastra principles—or simply want to know which bedroom mirror position interior designers recommend most—the following tips will help you designate the best spots for your bedroom mirrors.

1. Maximizing Light With Thoughtful Bedroom Mirror Placement

A dark bedroom may be a welcome thing when you’re sleeping, but it can be a downer to have a bedroom with little natural light during the daytime. Knowing where to put a mirror in the bedroom can really maximize the available natural light.

If you don’t have to worry about small children or pets knocking it over, lean a large mirror on the wall opposite your bedroom window. Not only will it double the daylight, but it will also make the entire room look larger.

Although propping a big mirror against the wall is a popular interior design trend, large hanging mirrors are equally useful. Securely anchored, they’re also safer than mirrors propped against a wall.

Tuck small mirrors into your shelf or dresser-top displays. Every little mirror accent adds some degree of light reflection.

2. Harmonizing Your Bedroom with Feng Shui Mirror Principles

Feng Shui Basics

Feng Shui is a concept birthed from an ancient Chinese poem that speaks about the connection and flow that exists between people and the environment. Feng means “wind” and Shui means “water,” both elements of motion and life.

There are dozens of different schools of Feng Shui, and some of their teachings may contradict one another. For example, a classical Feng Shui expert may base the optimal flow of your home’s energy (Qi) on nearby topographical landforms, while an Intuitive Feng Shui practitioner will focus on the energy each possession brings into the house.

Compass directions also play a part in determining home layout:

North wall: meditation room or master bedroom

Northwest: office or master bedroom

Northeast: study or child’s bedroom

East wall: study or kitchen

Southeast: kitchen, study, or bedroom

South wall: dining room, office, or bedroom

Southwest: family room or dining room

West wall: dining room, living room, or child’s bedroom

A Bagua is an energy map that shows eight areas of your home. Each area corresponds with certain life circumstances, colors, seasons, numbers, shapes, and earthly elements. You are at the center of every bagua and considered the ninth area.

In Feng Shui philosophy, the master bedroom is the most important room in the home. Bedroom Feng Shui principles center around this space being the room that’s most personal and the one where most of us spend the most time.

Feng Shui Bedroom Mirror Placement

When it comes to good Feng Shui mirror placement, most schools of thought agree that it’s bad Feng Shui to have a mirror face the bed. An exception is made when you have a small bedroom and it’s not possible to place your bed in the correct position. In that instance, a mirror can help you see the room’s entryway from bed—a vital element in bedroom Feng Shui.

Regardless of the school of Feng Shui, if a mirror makes you feel uncomfortable while sleeping, you can always cover it with a scarf before you go to bed. Another important principle is to avoid placing Feng Shui Bagua mirrors indoors. Many of these framed mirror amulets are beautiful but intended for exterior use only.

Because Feng Shui teaches that bathroom drains drain away whatever blessings are attached to that compass area in your home, hang a full-length mirror on the outside of the bathroom door. This will keep energy from entering the bathroom and going down the drain. Just make sure that the mirror doesn’t reflect a bed, door, or other mirrors.

3. Creating Balance With Vastu Shastra Solutions

Vastu Shastra, a practice thousands of years older than Feng Shui, literally means “dwelling science” and is the traditional Indian approach to architecture and interior design. It is believed that adhering to these holistic disciplines increases the amount of good energy flowing through your home.

According to Vastu traditions, mirror placement is one important factor to consider when designing your home. However, these principles may vary by room. For example, in the living room, a mirror should be placed on the north wall. But in the bedroom, you should always avoid placing a mirror in front of the bed.

Ancient Vastu Shastra traditions dictate that seeing your reflection while lying in bed causes arguments between you and your partner. It’s also believed to cause nightmares and health problems. To avoid these disruptions, do not place a mirror in front of your bed. Also avoid having reflective surfaces in front of the bed, such as a TV screen, for the same reason.

Mirror height is also important. Ideally, a bedroom mirror should be placed four to five feet above the floor. Never place two mirrors directly across from each other because that can invite negative energies into the bedroom.

Finally, avoid mirrored doors on a wardrobe, closet, or almirah (Indian storage cupboard) as they may reflect negative energy when you swing the door open.

4. Interior Designer Bedroom Mirror Placement Tips

Interior designers give careful thought to the way they place mirror panels in a room. A favorite trick is to strategically use mirrors to create a sense of depth. A large wall mirror gives the illusion of another door opening into an adjacent space. This illusion makes a single room feel like it’s joined to another room of equal size.

Never place a bedroom mirror where it will reflect a cluttered corner or other unsightly areas. For example, don’t stand a large floor mirror directly across from an adjoining bathroom. These two spaces should be kept separate, literally and visually. Nobody wants to look at the toilet before even getting out of bed in the morning.

Other ways to creatively display bedroom mirrors include:

• A mirrored room divider is a portable way to provide a sense of depth. Use it to separate a sitting area from your bed area, or simply open it up, accordion-style, as a decor element along one wall.
• Think out of the box when deciding where to put mirrors in your bedroom. Hang a long mirror on the wall over your nightstand instead of assuming it must hang over the dresser.
• Create a vanity table or mirrored dresser by propping a beautifully framed mirror on top of a plain dresser, desk, or dressing table.
• Mirrored furniture can be quite elegant but avoid the temptation to fill your bedroom with mirrored fronts. Limit mirrored pieces to one dresser or perhaps two small nightstands—but not both. Mirrored furniture surfaces also do a great job of reflecting light in a dimly lit bedroom.
• Hang multiple mirrors over your bed instead of a headboard. A round mirror collection in varying sizes adds a whimsical vibe to a modern bedroom, while framed mirrors in different shapes and sizes take the room in a vintage direction. You can always rely on just one elegantly framed large mirror to serve as an impressive headboard.
• As long as you don’t ascribe to Feng Shui or Vastu Shastra traditions, hanging a long rectangular mirror on the closet door is a great idea. It frees up wall space for artwork and furniture and is in a convenient location for dressing.

Well, there’s actually a lot more to carpet selection than that. Although color and style matter, high-traffic areas like stairways require extra consideration. Follow our outline for points to consider when shopping for stair carpeting, and you’ll be well-prepared to make the best choice for your home.

1. Carpet Choices That Fit Your Budget

As with any type of flooring, the first step is determining how much you’re able to spend. Fortunately, it’s possible to find affordable carpet options without having to sacrifice quality. Because stair carpet gets a lot of wear and tear, you should aim for the highest quality carpet and padding you can afford.

Measure your staircase then look online to get an idea of how much certain carpets cost per square foot, including installation. Next, visit a home improvement center or carpet store so you can see and touch the different carpet styles before making a final budget decision.

2. Exploring Colors and Styles

Carpet comes in a huge variety of colors, patterns, and textures. Some are suitable as stair coverings while others aren’t ideal. For example, wool carpet feels great underfoot and has natural stain-and-soil repelling properties, but it’s expensive and not as durable as synthetic materials.

Darker-colored carpets, striped carpets, and carpets with other patterns are some of the best for stairs. Prints are great for helping camouflage food and pet stains. The Lifeproof Perfectly Posh Artillery Pattern Gray Carpet has an elegant swirling medallion print that will instantly upgrade curved stairs or any style of wood stairs.

Even if you prefer a solid color, choose a multi-colored carpet to better hide pet hair and other debris between carpet cleaning sessions. A solid light-colored carpet is probably the worst option for stairs that receive a lot of traffic as it can begin to look dingy fairly quickly.

There are two installation styles for stair carpeting: waterfall and French cap. Waterfall is exactly how it sounds – the carpet is simply bent over each step and falls straight down to the tread on the next step. It’s a fast and easy form of installation and the one that most builders choose.

The French cap method takes longer and is a bit more complicated. The installer wraps the carpet around each step and tucks it under the lip, creating a more defined contour that many people prefer.

3. Long-Lasting and Durable Selections

Given how much wear and tear the average stair tread endures, it’s important to choose a carpet fiber that can take it. Carpet made from synthetic fiber lasts longer than cotton or wool fibers. Nylon carpet fiber is more durable than olefin or polyester fiber. Stainmaster and Anso are another two fiber types that hold up well on stairways.

Two main carpet construction types influence carpet durability. Bulked continuous filament (BCF) carpet is made in sections, with one continuous piece of fiber for each section. Major manufacturers of synthetic carpets favor this method because it offers more design options and is shed-resistant. Staple carpets weave together many short fiber lengths. It’s mainly used with natural carpet fibers, such as wool.

Protection against color fading is another factor to consider. Look for solution-dyed nylon fibers because they hold their color longer due to how the color penetrates the entire fiber. Of course, pay attention to cleaning instructions so you don’t accidentally fade your rug color by using the wrong kind of carpet cleaner.

4. Maintaining Pristine Floors

You aren’t likely to have as many spills on the stairs as you would in a bedroom or living room. But soil and stain resistance are still important considerations when choosing your carpet. This is especially true if you’re a dog or cat parent who frequently deals with pet messes.

Cleaning up after humans can also be a challenge in a carpeted home. Even if you don’t wear shoes inside the house, the oils on the bottom of your feet can leave a residue on your carpet that acts as a dirt magnet over time. Choose carpeted flooring that has built-in stain protection to keep your stair runner looking new.

5. Considering Thickness

While a thick carpet and padding may feel wonderful underfoot, the ideal stair carpet pile height is half an inch or less. Thicker carpet narrows the amount of room your foot has on each step which can lead to slips and falls. It’s also harder for carpet installers to wrap thick carpet around stair nosing and railings.

Staircases also need thinner carpet padding than regular floors. While some cushioning is necessary to serve as shock and sound absorbers, don’t go over 7/16 inch thick on a stair carpet pad.

6. Tactile Appeal

There are several different types of carpet styles available that can be used when carpeting your staircase. Below are some of the best to use.

• Pile is a carpet term that describes how the carpet is constructed. Cut pile carpets have fibers that stand up like tufts of grass cut evenly across. Loop pile carpet looks like a row of circles or loops when viewed from the side. Some carpets combine the two and are called loop-cut loop, or LCL.
• Berber carpeting is one of the best carpet ideas for stairs as it’s durable and low-profile. The Seneca Beige Berber/Loop Carpet is an affordable synthetic carpet stair covering with multiple colors woven throughout its fibers. This flecked color pattern helps disguise lint and soil between vacuuming sessions and its overall warm hue looks great against any shade of hardwood or laminate flooring.
• Saxony carpeting is what most people think of when they hear the word “carpet.” It’s a medium-height cut pile carpet that can work on stairs provided that it’s not too long. Saxony-style carpeting can come with a textured surface or have a smooth, velvety appearance. Textured Saxonies are the better choice for stairs. They provide a little more traction and don’t show footprints as easily as the smoother types.
• Frieze is the new term for shag carpeting. It has long fibers – considerably longer than Saxonies -and is a great match for more casual home interiors. Although some people like the way the long fibers help hide seams on stairs and railings, their thickness may not be the safest carpet choice for busy staircases.

Regardless of the type, tighter, denser carpets hold up better than those with thinner construction. Face weight describes the amount of fiber in ounces per square yard. Look for a 35 to 40-ounce face weight on a low-pile carpet.

7. Understanding Warranty Coverage

Carpet warranties are a little more complicated than you’d think. There are separate warranty sections that cover wear, texture, appearance, color fading, staining, and soiling. Each category may have a different length of time that the manufacturer guarantees its product, so read it carefully.

Traditionally, carpet manufacturers have exempted stairs from warranty coverage, stating that it’s “abnormal” wear and tear – despite the fact that so many dwellings have stairs. Many companies have had a change of heart on this and now include stairs in their warranties.

Before settling on your stair carpet, see if stair use is covered. Also, take note of any warranty exclusions. These can be oddly specific, such as not covering staining caused by mustard, urine, or bleach.

A few paintings and a floor lamp are simple things that can completely transform how a bare corner looks. If you have a bigger bedroom–and a bigger budget–turn the corner into a reading nook or beverage bar.

Decorating corners is fun and easy, and you might just end up creating your favorite spot in the house. Here are nine ways to turn that bare bedroom corner into something great!

1. New Lighting

The point where wall meets wall tends to be a dark space, even in a room with plenty of natural light. Sometimes illuminating your empty corner space is the only corner decoration you need–especially if it’s done with a gorgeous floor lamp or collection of beautiful pendant lights.

However, if contemporary minimalism is your style, you may not want a particularly obvious corner light fixture. If so, this Iris Chrome Integrated LED Floor Lamp is ideal. Just under five feet tall, it will nestle into the corner and illuminate both sides of the wall. Choose from three light levels, all controlled by a handy foot-pedal switch.

Uplighting is a dramatic type of light for a dark corner wall. Modern LED light fixtures cast light upward, creating the illusion of a bigger room with higher ceilings. Depending on how you arrange them, uplights can also cast impressive wall shadows around furniture and plants. With uplights, the focus is on the light, not the fixture itself.

2. Shelving

Corner shelves are a fantastic way to make use of empty awkward corners. Choose a freestanding corner bookcase with triangular-shaped shelves and use it to store books, showcase framed photos, and more. You can also just move a regular rectangular bookshelf to the corner and align it along one wall. Set it at an angle if there’s room.

Hanging open shelves is another option for an empty room corner. Hang several rows of floating shelves and create vignettes of your favorite items on each one. Don’t forget to add a potted plant or succulent to liven up your corner decor.

One of the best-looking bedroom shelving options–especially paired with high ceilings–is a built-in corner bookcase. Depending on your storage needs, you can design a custom bookcase that includes cabinet doors, glass doors, open shelving, and integrated light fixtures.

3. Beverage Bar

If the walk to the kitchen seems too far to handle before you’ve had your first cup of coffee, why not create a coffee station in your bedroom? A cozy cafe corner could motivate you to stop hitting the snooze button each morning.

A small corner cabinet or rolling cart can hold your Keurig, coffee pods, bottled water, and mugs. Buy a coffee maker with a timer, and the sound and aroma of your coffee brewing can be a much kinder, gentler way of waking up. Buy a small dorm fridge to hold your half-and-half, or use shelf-stable creamer instead.

Bar carts are another great bedroom corner option if you prefer cocktails over coffee. Stock it with bottles of your favorite wines and liquors. Include a shaker and beautiful decanter alongside your favorite glassware. And don’t forget the ice bucket and tongs.

4. Extra Seating

Extra seating is nearly always a good idea in any room. If you have the space, a recliner or plush chair with an ottoman turns unused bedroom corner space into a comfortable spot for reading or cat-napping. Go extra elegant with the old-movie charm of a chaise lounge.

A spacious room corner is also a great place for this Bohemian Knitted Rope Hanging Chair. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, this stylish seating choice allows you to gently swing yourself to a blissfully drowsy state. Decorate it with a few plush throw pillows for extra comfort.

A trunk or chest can serve dual purposes as extra seating and storage space. Slide it into the corner and add a bench cushion on top for comfortable seating. Hold the cushion in place with a rubber mat designed to keep rugs from sliding across the floor.

5. Special Furniture

Add special pieces of furniture to your bedroom–both to decorate and increase the room’s usability. An antique vanity table and chair turn a corner into a beautiful dressing area. A corner desk can add valuable workspace, or serve as a place for drawing or journaling.

If you have a really spacious bedroom, think about putting a small sectional sofa in that open corner. It will be a great living room alternative for when you want to quietly relax without actually going to bed.

Blanket ladders are an old corner decoration that’s enjoyed a comeback. You can repurpose a vintage wooden ladder or purchase a new one. Use it to store your extra throws and blankets, and hang a wreath or faux trailing vine from the top to further enhance its decor value.

Furniture that helps tell your family’s story is a treasure for any unused extra space. Scan your parents and grandparents’ homes for heirloom pieces they might be willing to pass down. Ask if you can repaint or repurpose an old corner table or shelf unit, or ask for old family photos to add to your corner gallery wall.

An antique coat rack can be just as useful in the bedroom as it is in the foyer. Hang your hats, jackets, handbags, and scarves there. Park a full-length mirror beside it and you’ll find your corner a convenient place to review how you look before heading out each day.

6. Reading or Yoga Nook

If you always promise yourself that you’ll start reading more books, but you never quite get around to starting, a special reading nook may be just the nudge you need. A comfortable chair and footrest, a small side table, a floor lamp, and a soft throw blanket are all you need to put together the perfect reading nook.

If yoga is more your thing, replace the comfy reading chair and table with a yoga mat and floor pillows. Add a small coffee table for candles or incense, or perhaps a small water fountain to introduce a water element to your yoga zone. A bonsai tree, potted succulents, or other green plants also keep you in touch with nature while you’re meditating.

Either type of nook can benefit from a bookshelf. Not only can it display your favorite home decor pieces, but it is also a handy place to store meditation materials–and all the books in your reading queue.

7. Indoor Garden

Not sure what to put in an empty corner of the bedroom that will add life to the room? An indoor garden is the answer. Whether it’s one impressively tall potted plant or a collection of smaller plants, it’s a huge trend to decorate with living greenery.

Macrame potted plant holders, wall-mounted planters, and multi-level plant stands have all cycled back into popularity. Indoor vertical garden kits are small boxes that mount on the wall. They hold dozens of small potted plants or succulents that grow into a piece of living artwork.

Place a vintage distressed door or a beautiful corner screen behind your potted plants. A mirrored screen will double the visual impact of your indoor garden and provide you with a full-length mirror for checking your clothes.

If your chosen corner doesn’t have enough natural light to keep your indoor plants alive, purchase a full-spectrum LED grow light to illuminate your living decor. If that’s not an option, decorate with realistic-looking faux plants or fill a floor vase with thin bamboo sticks for a modern Asian touch.

8. Artwork

Artwork always makes a blank wall more interesting. Whether it’s one beautiful painting or a whole collection of them, don’t neglect to decorate the walls in your bare corner. Position your wall hangings over any corner furniture you’ve added, or cover the corner in artwork from floor to ceiling.

Create a corner gallery wall showcasing your favorite framed photos and artwork. You can also make a gallery wall out of objects other than framed pictures. Show off a collection of baskets or mirrors, or make a mixed-media gallery with wall planters and inspirational signs. Wall-mounted sculptures can also add a lot of character and dimension to a wall gallery.

Many companies sell inexpensive photo collage kits and wall tiles. Simply upload pics from your phone and create your own gallery in their app. If your budget is tight, “shop” the rest of your house for pieces to relocate to your empty corner space. Artwork that you hardly notice anymore in the living room can get new life as a focal point in another room.

9. Pet Perches

Most of us view our pets as family members, and it only seems natural to invite them into every room of the house. Empty bedroom corner space could be the perfect location for a new cat tower or dog bed.

Wanting a cat tower for your favorite feline no longer means settling for a clunky, carpet-covered conglomeration of carpet and lumber. Although that’s still the most common style available, some manufacturers are creating cat climbing structures with sleeker, more modern lines. Check out the Hey-Brother Multi-Level Cat Tree Condo. It includes washable memory foam cushions and a mid-century mod cat cube that is quite stylish.

Dog beds have also come a long way when it comes to interior design. It’s hard to find a more stylish dog bed than the Cornelia Dog Sofa. This perfectly scaled-down pet furniture is simply elegant with its Chesterfield-style tufted back, brass tacks, and wooden legs.

If your pet tends to be loud or active at night, the bedroom might not be the best place for a cat tree or dog crate. Find another place in the home, such as the living room or hallway.

Let your home and deck design lead you in selecting a deck paint or stain color scheme. Modern homes can carry a dark paint color–even black–on the deck, while a coastal home might need a lighter color and a natural wood tone.

Take a look at our best deck color ideas before settling on the perfect hue for your deck.

1. Elegant Shades of Gray

Once considered dull and uninspiring, gray has enjoyed a resurgence as a goes-with-everything neutral color. Gray wood stains or deck paint add character to a wood deck.

Gray comes in a huge range of warm and cool shades, from pale stone to deep charcoal. Any of these hues work especially well on a white home with black trim, as gray serves as a bridge between these extremes.

Gray is a calming neutral canvas behind pops of bright color. Composite decking is a durable, low-maintenance deck floor material that comes in a wide range of gray hues. Purchasing a Trex deck or other gray composite deck eliminates the need for paint or stain. While it’s a higher expense initially, not having to refinish the deck stain color every few years saves money over the long term.

2. Captivating Slate

Natural slate is a cool, dark-colored stone that can be used for a deck floor. Slate gray is also a popular color for wood stain and concrete decks. Many people who love this shade of gray choose paint or tinted concrete because real slate can be slippery when wet, making it a less-than-ideal decking surface.

Slate-colored tiles make a great deck surface since they mimic the real thing but can be found with slip-resistant finishes. Dark slate gray is one of the best deck stain color ideas for a modern home’s wooden deck. Pair it with black balusters and rails for a sleek, contemporary vibe.

3. Enhancing Your Deck’s Beauty with Stains

Deck stain not only provides the color you want, but it also protects your investment from the elements. The type of deck stain you choose determines how much of the wood’s natural characteristics shine through. For example:

• Solid stain: Covers most of the wood’s color and grain, much like paint. Choose solid deck stain if your deck color ideas are based on achieving a dark, uniform appearance. 
• Semitransparent stain: Provides UV protection and weatherproofing while allowing the wood’s natural characteristics to shine through. Use this when your deck ideas include purchasing a good-quality type of wood.
• Clear wood preserves: If you’re planning a natural wood deck makeover with redwood, cedar, or another beautiful wood, this clear finish will showcase its beauty. These clear stain products provide weatherproofing and UV protection but allow the wood’s characteristics to be the focus of your porch, patio, or pool deck.

Each type of deck stain comes in a range of tints and hues. Most are in the brown, tan, gray, or redwood color families.

4. Embrace the Warmth of Tan

Tan ranges from the palest, coolest khaki to deep shades of honey and maple. Tan is a popular stain color for decks because it goes with virtually any home exterior color scheme.

Nearly every natural shade of wood falls into the tan spectrum, making tan deck stains the best at honoring the material’s natural characteristics. Tans and browns are also excellent choices in desert environments, where their hues coordinate well with the surrounding landscape.

Natural stone or brick pavers are the other great choices if you prefer tan deck surfaces. Light brown, beige tiles or stone are ideal around a fire pit, or for creating a path leading to a garden pergola.

Tint a concrete pool deck with a sandy shade of tan to highlight the water’s blue brilliance on a sunny day. A warm, reddish tan pool deck paint looks stunning below redwood porch furniture.

5. Exploring Two-Tone Deck Color Combinations

If you can’t narrow your deck color ideas down to one, there are plenty of ways to use two or more colors in your deck design.

Pair warm brown balusters and deck boards with glossy black handrails and columns. Dark deck and step surfaces make white posts and handrails pop. Some deck designs incorporate three or more colors, such as gray, maple, and black.

For a long-lasting two-tone deck, choose gray composite decking in a dark slate and a slightly lighter shade of gray.

Professional deck builders can offer a variety of layout ideas, such as using a dark border around a lighter main deck. Deck boards can also be arranged in a herringbone or pattern that showcases two hues within the same color family.

6. Timeless and Serene

While an all-white deck may be harder to keep clean than other colors, sometimes it’s the best choice.

Coastal homes and Victorian porches often look best with white decking color, white rails, and white trim. A white deck serves a practical purpose in hot climates, as it reflects rather than absorbs heat from the intense midday sun.

A white deck can also be a great choice for a modern home, especially if the home’s exterior is predominantly white.

A white tile deck with metal handrails is the epitome of minimalist, sleek perfection. Regardless of your home’s style, white is the quintessential blank canvas that allows your furniture, flowers, and artwork to be your deck‘s focal points.

7. Embracing Nature

If you want your deck or patio to blend into the natural surroundings, you can’t go wrong with natural wood finishes.

Although the look of bare wood is appealing, you must use some type of stain or finish to weatherproof the surface. Semitransparent stains are a great way to add a hint of color to the deck without hiding a beautiful wood grain.

Take home several color samples to see which wood stain color works best with your landscape.

A warm maple shade may feel appealing in the store, but when you see it in your natural lighting, a cooler ash shade might be the perfect hue. Consider using two shades of wood stain to add depth and interest to your deck design.

A stair runner can serve a decorative or practical purpose—or both. While carpet runner ideas provide padding and muffle the sound of footsteps, a painted runner offers unlimited creativity.

Whether you prefer to paint a stair runner or install a carpet runner, keep your overall design scheme in mind. For example, a sisal stair runner would be perfect in a coastal cottage, but too plain in a Victorian mansion.

Scroll through our best stair runner ideas to spark your own custom stair runner ideas.

1. Animal Print

Animal print stair runners add a wild, tribal feeling to your décor. When used as a stair carpet, they can add a sense of whimsy or elegance to your entry or hallway.

Zebra, leopard, cheetah, and snake scale prints are available in virtually any color imaginable. Some animal print carpeting is bold and highly contrasting, while others are subtly monochromatic.

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If you like the exotic feeling of animal prints but find them a bit too bold, look for tribal-inspired carpeting instead.

Tribal patterns include Indian, African, Asian, and Native American lines and shapes in large or small prints. If you already have animal or tribal print area rugs at the top and bottom of your stairs, connect them with a natural sisal stair runner.

2. DIY

It’s possible to achieve the look of a staircase runner without hiring a professional. Simply buy a regular hallway runner rug or two and a good quality staple gun.

Add a rug pad underneath if you want a padded effect. Embellish your DIY stair runner by installing metallic stair rods at the corner of each stair riser. 

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If you’re moving into a new home, wait until the movers leave before launching your stair runner project. That way, your stair tread will only be exposed to ordinary wear-and-tear instead of the heavy traffic of movers hauling your belongings up and down stairs.

If refinishing or repainting your staircase before installing a stair rug, be sure to allow three to four weeks for the finish to completely dry first.

3. Modern

Because of the simplicity of modern design, you may question whether to add a stairway or hallway runner to your home.

After all, bare wood stairs and unadorned floors go well with minimalist décor. However, there are several modern stair runner options if you want to soften your journey between floors.

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If your modern home is monochromatic, feel free to use a solid color on your stair runner. Note that stains stand out more on a solid material than a print. A solid black stair runner could be perfect in a modern, minimalistic home.

4. Neutral

If your home is carpeted, it is most likely in a neutral shade of white, tan, or grey. If you don’t want to draw attention to your staircase, use the same carpet as your stair runner rug material.

When choosing stair runner rods to hold the runner in place, match any metals or colors used on the staircase itself.

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Popular stair runner materials in neutral colors include sisal and jute. Seagrass has a hard texture that makes it a poor choice for flexing around stair treads and risers.

Therefore, if you love the look of seagrass rugs, note that you’ll need another material on your stairs. These natural neutrals can be difficult to spot clean, as they are prone to water spots and stains.

5. Oriental

Oriental rugs are among the most popular and time-tested home décor materials. Their colors and patterns are nearly limitless and can fit into a wide range of home décor styles. An oriental stair runner looks elegant with carpet rods or without.

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Genuine antique oriental stair runners are available but be prepared to spend a lot on these vintage treasures.

You should be able to find new, reasonably priced runners and coordinating rugs in your favorite patterns online.

Oriental rugs are often named for the city or region where they are made. Patterns include flowers, lines, and abstract tribal designs.

6. Painted

Painting a stair runner can be far less expensive—but much more time consuming—than installing a fabric runner.

Painted stairs can provide anything from an elegant to a beachy to a bohemian vibe, depending on how they’re done. Painted risers and step surfaces provide the appearance of a classic runner without the trip hazards of carpet.

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A painted runner is a good idea for basement stairs, where moisture issues can damage carpet. Be sure to use a paint designated for flooring, as some types of paint will quickly chip or wear off with normal use. Creative painted stair runner ideas include:

• Ombre steps, where one color on the top step and a different one on the bottom step fade together in the middle.
• Rainbow painted risers, in bright or pastel hues.
• Flowers or trailing vines that ascend the staircase.
• Chevron stripes, tile patterns, or polka dots.
• Literary or inspirational quotes, where you paint a few words on each riser and can read the entire statement while standing at the bottom of the staircase.

7. Patterned

Patterned stair runners are a fun way to add personality to your staircase. But what’s better—a large or small print?

Choose a pattern and material that suits you, but keep in mind that large-scale patterns may not show enough repeat on a standard size staircase. A small pattern may look more like a texture or get lost in a wide expanse of carpeted stairs.

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If your staircase has a landing, or wedge-shaped “pie turns” it may be a bit trickier to line up a complicated pattern.

With curving or elaborately designed staircases, it’s generally best to keep your stair rug runner a solid color or choose a very simple pattern. This avoids your pattern making the stairs feel dizzying or distracting.

8. Striped

A striped runner can be tricky to install so that the lines run perfectly even with the stairs’ angles. However, when done correctly, stripes add a classic design element to any décor style.

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Stripes that run vertically up the stairs can help a staircase feel taller and narrower, while the opposite is true of horizontal stripes.

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Striped stair runner patterns can be wide or thin, simple or complex. Consider unique stripes, such as chevron stripes, pinstripes, or nautical-inspired Breton stripes.

If you want a customized striped pattern, paint the runner instead of searching for ages to find the right rug material.

9. Unique

Accessorizing your stair runner is a great way to add a unique touch to your hallway or entryway. Elegant brass stair rods or brass tacks add a classic flair to a vintage rug pattern.

Wide edge binding and contrasting borders make interesting boundaries between the runner and the tread and riser surfaces.

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Accessorize a neutral wool stair runner with a narrow band of cotton binding in red, blue, or another hue that goes with your color scheme.

A plain jute runner can benefit from a wide patterned border, perhaps a print that’s represented elsewhere in the room. A leather or faux leather border is durable and develops a rich patina over time—but it can be expensive.