5 ways to step up your stairway

Despite being the focal point of entrance halls and landings, staircases are often overlooked. Make the most of their potential with these staircase ideas from Country Homes & Interiors, from wallpapered risers to ombre spindles...

Give personality to plain white stairs by adding wallpaper to the
risers. Use offcuts or invest in your favourite designs - soft pastel
patterns (we chose Fretwork, £39 a roll, Sanderson and Capello Rose, £80
a roll, Liberty) bring a relaxed charm to any room, perfectly
complimented by a striped rug in similar hues on the floor.

Bold in style and cosy underfoot, the trend for patterned carpet runners covers all bases. Embrace it with Quirky B, the fabulous broadloom collection from Alternative Flooring. We love Fair Isle Reiko (£95.85 sq m) by one of our favourite textile designers, Margo Selby. Woven from wool on traditional looms in Wiltshire, it features a geometric design in three earthy colourways.

Keep steps and risers neutral and turn your eye to banisters and spindles - a lick of bright paint and they make all the difference! Create an on-trend ombre effect by using different shades of your favourite colour; start with the palest at the bottom and work your way up to the darkest.

Like to keep up with the latest looks? Easy to apply and quick to remove, vinyl stickers are an affordable way to do just that. Etsy and Not On The Highstreet have a great range; from spelt out numbers to elegant tile decals, there's something to suit every taste. Add a coat of varnish over the top if you're after a more permanent finish.

Add a painted runner to a staircase in hard-wearing floor paints in sympathetic shades. A multi-stripe design will make narrow stairs in a country cottage seem wider. Experiment with widths and use masking tape to section off the areas you want to paint.

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