Stairs and Rails Explained: Best Materials, Styles, and Design Tips for 2025

Most homeowners spend hours researching kitchens, bathrooms, or flooring, and there’s one feature which has just as much design impact and rarely gets the attention it deserves: Your staircase. Stairs and railings are an architectural focal point that shape how your home looks and feels the moment you walk through the door. They connect your spaces, add character, and play a major role in your home’s overall style, yet they often remain an afterthought.

This guide walks you through every step of choosing staircase materials, step styles, and railing designs so you can make confident decisions and create a staircase that elevates your entire home.

Why Staircase Design Truly Matters

We invited our in house designer to share her perspective on how staircase design shapes the overall flow and feeling of a home.

“Attention to detail is key. As we take time to perfect spaces such as our kitchens and bathrooms, we must also take the time to nurture the forgotten spaces in our homes such as our stairs. While our stairs may not be a separate room, it is still a space that carries us as we transition throughout our homes. Transitional spaces are key areas that foster continuity aesthetically. Take your first step into the holistic view of a home and pour detail and attention into your stairs.”

Understanding the Three Main Parts of a Staircase

Before you start selecting finishes, it helps to understand the basic components of a staircase. Every staircase is made of:

• Tread: The horizontal part you step on.

• Stringer: The structural portion on both sides

• Riser: The vertical section between each tread

These three parts determine both the look and the durability of your staircase, which is why material selection matters.

Choosing Your Stair Materials

Staircases come in several material combinations, each offering a different look, maintenance level, and price point. Here are the most common options for homeowners.

Pine ($): Typically used in basements or when being covered with carpet or another material

• Knots are visible in risers

• Can be stained or painted (knots may bleed through)

Oak & Pine ($$): Most popular selection, paint the risers & stringers, stain the treads

• Paint grade pine risers & stringers, knots are not visible when painted

• Stain grade treads, price can vary depending on the species. Red oak & white oak are most common

Oak  ($$$)An alternative option, paint the stringers, stain the risers & treads

• Paint grade pine stringers, knots are not visible when painted

• Stain grade treads & risers, price can vary depending on the species. Red oak & white oak are most common

  
  

Choosing Your Step Style

Closed (Box)  Step

In a closed step - the spindles sit on top of the wall.

Open Step

In an open step- the spindles sit directly on the treads.

The Importance of the Starter Step

The bottom step is the entrance to your staircase and the platform for the Newel Post.  The Newel Post is the decorative column at the start of the railing system.

Depending on your setup, the first step will either be inline with the rest of the stairs or you may have the option to pronounce the first step of your staircase by making it wider

Designing Your Railing

Railing design gives you the most room for creativity. The right railing can completely change the personality of your staircase and enhance the style of your home.

There are three main parts to understand.

1. The Newel Post

There may be more than 1 newel post in your railing system.  If so, you can choose to have them all match or have the main ones stand out. 

• Primary Newel Post

• Secondary Newel Post

• Cap

  
  

Part of choosing a newel post is deciding if you want it painted or stained, this will help you choose the correct species of wood.

The cap is a separate piece and can be finished differently from the post.

2. The Baluster/Spindles

There are the most options when it comes to the spindles.  They can match the color of the post or you can choose a different material all together like wrought iron.

• Wood

• Wrought Iron

• Capping - in areas where the spindles sit on a cap, take note if you would like this piece stained or painted

  
  

Choosing the right spindle will compliment your home's style whether it's traditional, modern, farmhouse or another

3. The Handrail

There are less options when it comes to the handrail.  There are a few styles but more importantly is the size and material

• The spindle you chose might dictate the size of the handrail you need to complete your railing

• If you go with wood, the species of the handrail should match the species of the stairs so the stain color looks the same

•  If your railing has a portion that requires brackets, choose a bracket color that matches your door handles

  
  

Final Thoughts

Stairs and railings may not get the same attention as kitchens or bathrooms, and they have a major impact on your home’s style, flow, and overall design. When you understand the components, materials, and railing options available, you can create a staircase that feels intentional, cohesive, and perfectly aligned with your home’s architecture.

If you are planning a renovation or want expert guidance choosing the right stair materials or railing design, Evolution General Contracting is here to help you design with confidence. Our team of design experts will walk you through every option so your staircase becomes a feature you love, not a detail you overlook.

Ready to upgrade your stairs or explore railing designs that fit your home? Contact Evolution today to get started.