6 cheap bannister ideas
by
Checkatrade

If you’re looking for hallway bannister ideas on a budget, you’ve found the right blog. We’re here to show you how these underrated features can become an asset, for less.

Your staircase is often the first thing you see when you walk through your front door. Upping your bannister game so it matches the rest of your home’s aesthetic is worth both the financial and time investment. However, we’re here to show you how to do it on a budget, leaving you to spend more money on other features in your home.

For more inspiration like this, don’t forget to check out our staircase ideas.

Cheap stair bannister ideas

Bannisters are so much more than functional aspects of your staircase. They elevate your aesthetics whilst ensuring your safety at the same time.

To make the most of their potential, you just need to pick the right placement and design.

For example, this curved staircase shows us how you can make your staircase and bannister work together to create art.

We love the inset lights that follow the white and wood curved staircase to the second floor. The black railings add a contemporary feel to this warm and clean design, adding a contrast that ties in the wooden handrail and matching steps.

Why not shop the look and hire one of our professionals to recreate this look for you?

Wooden bannister ideas

There’s a reason wooden bannisters are so popular, and it’s because of how much they can warm up your home to invoke a classic and rustic aesthetic.

This traditional design is achieved using black metal railings topped by a sturdy wooden bannister.

The separation between the handrail and the metal gate is a fun design element that lets the bannister and flooring act as one unit, with the metal breaking up the wood for a simple intersection between the stairs and railing.

For those on a budget, this design is relatively cheap to recreate. So, why not incorporate reclaimed wood or timber to get the same finish at half the cost?

Painted bannister ideas

You don’t have to spend a fortune on your bannister to make an impact.

These homeowners decided to turn their bannister into a feature by painting each individual railing a different colour within the same shade spectrum. The result is an ombre effect, which is particularly effective for homes with neutral aesthetics in need of some extra ‘pop.’

What’s more, you can do this yourself by choosing a few sample paints from your local DIY store. All you need is 3-4 shades of the same colour, some masking tape, a paintbrush, and a good eye!

Just make sure you prepare the railings by stripping off any old paint and giving it a good sand down. Once dry, set it with a wood preservative and, voila! Your bannister: reimagined.

Modern bannister ideas

This detailed design might look expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.

The interest is in the spiral, which helps enhance the stairs and bannister, making them stand out with a modern design fit for any home wanting to add a touch of whimsy.

Thankfully, spiral staircase kits are often cheaper and easier to assemble, which means it’s just down to the design you want. All you need to do is pick a spiral staircase with key elements that match your desired aesthetic. For example, do you want wood stairs, an entirely metal design or a ‘floating’ model that’s both minimalist and space-saving?

Check out our handrail installation cost guide and the cost of new bannister spindles to price up your project.

Oak bannister ideas

For those who want to upgrade their bannister but don’t have the budget for an entire retrofit, then why not upcycle your existing design?

For homes with traditional bannister designs like this oak example, sometimes a little TLC goes a long way. Sure, some of those classic features might feel a little outdated, so why not sand them down and give your entire staircase a clean lick of paint?

Alternatively, why not make the most of those gorgeous whorls and intricate carvings by polishing them up and restoring them to their former glory? All you need is some wood glue to repair the railings, some paint stripper to remove the old gloss or paint, and a hand sander to prepare the wood for your chosen stain or preservative.

As a result, this simple restoration will revamp the wood and keep it looking good for years to come.

Cheap handrail designs

This contemporary home has opted for a clean and simple bannister design that works well in this minimalist space.

Stainless steel ballisters with interwoven glass sheets and a wooden handrail result in an understated and elegant finish. And, what’s more, it won’t break the bank!

It often doesn’t matter what materials you choose, it’s how you put them together that counts. And this is a great example of how cheap materials work together to make something look expensive.

Why not hire one of our experts to install a bespoke design that won’t force you to remortgage your house?

Did you enjoy reading our cheap bannister ideas blog? If so, there’s more where this came from. Check out Checkatrade’s blog for more tips, ideas, how-tos, and inspiration.