Choosing indoor railings to fit any design

Stylish, high quality and affordable indoor railings can complement and enhance the beauty of any home, but the key to a finished product you can be proud of is understanding what you want, and using that as a baseline for the rest of the project. Make sure to follow these tips before starting your project.

Pick the design that fits your existing architecture

If your home is a quaint story-and-a-half with wet plaster, coved ceilings, and hardwood floors throughout, it’s unlikely that indoor railings made of glass and stainless steel will blend in. One of the biggest dilemmas customers face is trying to force styles together that just don’t fit. There’s nothing wrong with “unique” – just make sure you never cross the line into “embarrassing.”

Always look for an option that fits a pre-determined budget

We are the Greater Toronto Area’s number one company for custom indoor railings and other home improvement projects, and we’ve lost track of how many customers have told us jobs by other companies ended up costing more than they were comfortable with – all because they didn’t set a budget before the job started. Our company is growing and profitable not because we control a customer’s budget, but because we work within that budget.

Popular styles for indoor railings

• Contemporary indoor railings exude a feeling of openness. The key is building a railing that is simple and uncomplicated, with minimal accents or details on the railing itself. It’s difficult to grip a railing if you’re trying to get your hand around a gargoyle carved into the wood, for instance! A flat design for the railing is probably the best design, rather than something curved or fitted with grooves. Paint the railing in whatever colour complements the interior of the room. As a change of pace, try steel cable cords, staggered every 4 to 6 inches in between the baluster points and horizontally placed for a glossy, high-tech appearance.
• Rather than a darker wood, incorporate natural light-colored indoor railings for a staircase that is made from acrylic or glass for a modern look. To add even more style, think of the fusion of ash, beech, white oak and birch railings to make the use of glass or acrylic even more visually stunning. Keep in mind the railings can be rounded or curved to enhance the overall design. To add contrast, attach the railings to the balusters using stainless steel hardware. Finally, why not think about including finials and end caps made of brass or chrome to make the indoor railings look truly modern?
• Ultimately, few styles are as timeless as classic wooden indoor railings that feature turned balusters to further complement the overall style. The railings could be attached to the balusters with curves, bellows or grooves on the base.

Other tips to consider for indoor railings are choosing “classic” wood and stains for the railings — oak, mahogany and walnut. We also may recommend using varnish to add ease and smoothness to the touch when people grasp the railings while they climb the stairs.