Simple stair railings. Railings for stairs - the best design ideas and optimal models of stair railings (105 photos)

Railings are an important part of the stairs, providing safety. On the other hand, they decorate the design, make it complete, harmonious. Wooden railings for stairs can be made by hand. This will require basic wood material, fasteners, a few important tools, as well as knowledge.

What wood is suitable for construction

According to building safety standards, stair railings must withstand a load of 100 kg / m. n. This means that all parts must be securely fastened, and the material must be chosen durable.

Railings are made from hardwoods of deciduous trees - beech, ash, oak. Spruce, pine, larch are also used. It is permissible to use other soft wood, but it must be borne in mind that it will shrink more and wear out faster. All parts are preferably made from wood of the same species.

Note! The moisture content of the wood should not exceed 18% so that the details of the railing do not subsequently deform.

The appearance of wooden railings is different. But since we are talking about making your own hands, you need to choose a design that you can do.

Design elements and requirements

To do something, you need to imagine in detail what it looks like. The main parts of the railing are:

  • balusters. These are strong, fixed on the steps of the rack. They are installed at an equal distance from each other;
  • handrails. They consist of an upper element, which is held by the hand, and includes a sill, which is installed on top of the supports;
  • pedestal or pole - a massive rack to which handrails are attached.

The height of the wooden railing, like any other, should be 90–100 cm. The distance between the supports is recommended to be kept in the range of 14–21 cm. The exact distance can be calculated based on the width of the steps. If there are small children in the house, then the distance should be chosen smaller so that no one can stick their head between the balusters and fall down or get stuck.

There are also requirements for handrails for stairs made of wood. They must be smooth so that no one hurts their hand. The thickness of the railing should be comfortable in order to hold on to them.

Note! The easiest option for making wooden railings is with flat balusters 100 x 30 mm. They are easy to process, you can cut a pattern, chamfer, grind.

If you have experience working on a lathe, then you can carve beautiful round balusters. If there is no lathe available, then there is an option - to order individual elements from a carpenter, and then assemble them into a single structure.

What tool is required

The preparation of the tool will depend on which parts of the wooden railings will be made by hand. If you order all the details from specialists, providing them with drawings, this will greatly speed up and simplify the work. All you need is a screwdriver, self-tapping screws, bolts, wood glue, clamps, a hacksaw. And, of course, a pencil, ruler, corner or level.

It is more convenient to use a modern power tool that allows you to cut or grind something as quickly as possible. But sometimes manual devices become useful. So, the edges of the cuts are often polished with sandpaper. Correct the shape of the parts with a chisel, cutter.

If there is a desire to make all the details with your own hands, then you need a thickness gauge, jointer to cut bars, slats, boards. You will need a saw for trimming, a milling and lathe for wood or an electric jigsaw (if balusters are cut from a thin board), a grinder.

General order of work

To make even and durable railings with your own hands, you need to draw a drawing with dimensions and calculate the required amount of material. It is necessary to consider how the balusters will be installed. If it is planned to connect to a spike, then in order to grind it, it will be necessary to increase the size of the board for balusters.

If there are two balusters on one step, then the length of one of them will have to be reduced (since the staircase rises continuously). By exactly how many centimeters it is necessary to reduce the support - depends on the slope of the stairs.

The manufacturing process can be divided into the following steps:

  • taking measurements on the stairs, measuring the width of the tread of the steps (where the foot steps), calculating the number of balusters and the distance between them, the length of the railing;
  • sketching. On it, each detail is numbered and the dimensions of all the main elements are affixed;
  • sawing bars according to the size of balusters;
  • turning parts by hand and on the machine to give them the desired shape, grind;
  • handrail manufacturing;
  • production of pedestals (supporting pillars);
  • installation of parts on the stairs.

Curbstones are cut from thick bars. Often they are decorated with balls at the end or decorative carvings. A regular pole with a hat at the top will also look good. Fasten them to the floor with thick screws.

Installation of balusters

During the construction of a wooden staircase fence, pedestals are the first to be installed and balusters are already aligned on them, on top of which the railings are attached.

Bolt fastening

The issue of fixing balusters on the steps deserves special attention. It is best to use bolts for this. First, a hole is drilled in the step and a bolt is screwed in from below.

Balusters are installed along a guide that connects the posts at the beginning and at the end of the stairs (as the railing goes). You can take a board as a guide and attach supports to it with clamps, so that it is more convenient to make markings for drilling holes for bolts. For alignment, a stretched twine or a metal profile is also used.

Each support is numbered, a railing line is drawn on it and the place where it will stand is marked with a pencil. What is it for? The fact is that after pre-installation, the balusters will need to be removed and cut at an angle, as the railing goes. After that, they are installed in accordance with the numbering. Installation is perfectly smooth and correct.

Advice! All details can be additionally glued with glue so that the stairs do not creak.

Mounting on chopsticks

Another way to mount balusters is with wooden chopsticks. They are installed in holes drilled in the steps and glued. Holes are drilled in the balusters in accordance with the size of the chopik and put on top, smearing with glue. In this case, only wooden fasteners are used.

If there are no strict requirements for appearance, for example, the staircase is located on the street, in the country, then you can use open fasteners - metal corners.

Through the bar

You can make flat balusters from a board 100 mm wide and 30 mm thick. On them, with the help of a cutter or an electric jigsaw, a pattern is cut out, polished, cleaned with sandpaper, polished. It is advised to fasten thin flat balusters not directly to the step, but through the bar. This will give the structure more strength.

A railing bar is installed on top of the balusters and the railing is fixed. All fastenings can be made with self-tapping screws, twisting them with a screwdriver. In the case of correct markup, this method will take a minimum of time.

handrails

The handrail can be made from one board if its length does not exceed 1.5 m. Otherwise, the parts will need to be joined. This is due to the fact that the structure must be rigid.

For the manufacture of wooden railings, a bar with a cross section of at least 60 mm is used. Its upper part must be rounded off. The section itself after processing can have any shape.

Wider railings are made of three parts - a central bar and side rails, which are glued together and clamped with clamps. The resulting box is planed with a planer and milled, giving shape.

Do-it-yourself handrails for stairs made of wood are varnished or stained. You can paint them, but in this case the wood texture will not be visible.

Advice! If the wooden stairs are outdoors, then the railings can be made semi-antique. To do this, they are burned with a blowtorch, pass a layer of stain on top.

There is also the option of curved handrails. More elegant railings are obtained, but the work on their manufacture is very difficult. They make bent handrails from sectors, folding them into an arc, carefully fitting and connecting them to dowels.

Variety of railings

Stair railings can be combined with other materials and come in a variety of configurations. Wooden handrails look especially beautiful in combination with a metal forged fence. Perhaps someone will come up with their own railings, which are most suitable for the plan of the existing premises.

If the staircase is adjacent to the wall, then the railing is usually made on one side, but sometimes a two-sided design is also used. In this case, it is better not to glue the balusters, but only fasten them with screws so that you can remove them and wash the wall or carry out any repairs.

In the simplest version, the railings are columns on which an even handrail is mounted on top. Perhaps they should begin to master the manufacturing process. If you managed to make narrow railings of small length for the porch of a garden house, then you can confidently start building a wooden fence in a cottage or apartment.

A country house is a multifunctional and important part of the staircase structure as a whole, which should not only ensure safety when climbing up, reliably protecting it from falling, but also be aesthetically attractive, harmoniously and naturally fitting into the overall stylistic concept of the room.

A railing is a fence of flights of stairs, which, on the one hand, protects the person ascending (descending) from falling, and on the other hand, they serve as a support during ascent, which is especially important for the elderly. The design of the fence consists of the following elements:

  • balusters- these are the support posts to which the handrail is attached. They perform both a practical (bearing) function and a decorative one.
  • handrails - an element used when moving up the stairs as a support. They can be installed on two or one side of the flight of stairs, while they can be attached both directly to the wall and to balusters
  • fence fillers - an element that fills the space between the balusters. Often they perform an exclusively decorative function and in some designs, especially in modern styles, fillers are generally abandoned. However, if there are children in the house, they are mandatory for installation - their presence significantly increases the safety of moving up the stairs.

According to current regulations and standards, the minimum height of the handrail on the stairs must be at least 90 cm. If the width of the stairs exceeds 1.25 m, handrails must be installed on both sides.

Advice! If there is a child in the house, then the distance between the balusters is selected so as to exclude the possibility of sticking your head between them.

Railings for stairs: we select the material

If the design of the stairs is simple in execution and there are no special design requirements for the railing, then they can be made from simple materials. Another thing is a staircase of an exclusive design or which acts as a central detail, carrying the main decorative load in the interior - here the railing will have to meet increased requirements. Otherwise, the simplicity and unpretentiousness of the design of the railing will spoil the whole effect. Therefore, it is important to choose the right material from which the railing for the stairs will be made (photos provide an opportunity to compare different options). At the same time, it is important to observe two rules - compliance with style and unconditional compliance with security requirements.

metal railings

A very popular option, in no small part due to the large number of options - from simple, minimalist, consisting only of posts and railings, united by welding, to very complex designs. They can be made of steel, iron, aluminum, as well as in combination with other materials - glass, PVC, wood. You can use any kind of metal profile - from fittings and simple pipes to profiles with a complex pattern. They are very strong, resistant to dynamic and static loads - even the thinnest handrails can withstand a lot of pressure. They can be used both indoors and outdoors. At the same time, the railing for the metal staircase (the photo will serve as proof of this), in addition to the main one - the protective one, does an excellent job with the decorative function.

Wrought iron railing

They are often installed to emphasize the chosen style of decorating the room, so they are most often used in the style of rococo, baroque and traditional classics. In addition to elegance and beauty, forged elements look elegant and sophisticated, which is often lacking in wood fragments. Typically, such railings are easy to perceive, visually “transparent”, thus the staircase does not absorb space. Forged railings on the stairs will get additional charm if you use the finish in the form of gold, silver or platinum

Stainless steel railing

Perhaps the most reliable and durable, primarily due to manufacturing features. Such railings are usually made by welding, i.e. they are not collapsible, therefore they are able to withstand very large loads. In addition, they are durable - a stainless coating will reliably protect the metal from corrosion, plus periodic tinting is not required. Stainless steel railings will harmoniously fit into modern (hi-tech, minimalism) interiors.

wooden railing

Wood remains one of the most sought-after materials in home construction. First of all, it is environmental friendliness, attractiveness and affordability of the so-called "non-elite" types of wood. It is also important - the tree is tactilely pleasant to the touch, so very often, even if the railings and balusters are made of metal, handrails are installed from wood. Even with minimal processing, the tree looks very attractive.

The natural beauty of wood makes it possible to obtain attractive combinations using various forms of frame racks. The possibility of high-tech processing of wooden blanks provides an opportunity to get a handrail for stairs made of wood (the photo below will serve as confirmation) of an unusual shape. At the same time, the attractiveness of the design will in no way affect the fulfillment of safety requirements.

PVC handrails are indispensable if the country railings are installed on the street. They are very durable, do not rot, corrode, fungus or mold, wash well. Plastic can be chosen in almost any color, so that the railing fits into the interior / exterior as harmoniously as possible. In addition, they have a non-slip structure - in this case, this is very important.

Now glass railings are gaining popularity. Despite the outward simplicity and fragility, they are very reliable - only tempered glass or triplex is used. If you use absolutely transparent glass, it will help to visually enlarge the room - passing light through itself, it will create a feeling of lightness and weightlessness. Glass with a pattern, stained glass or tinted glass will add uniqueness to the interior, and the railings themselves will become a bright and attractive accent.

Railings are an indispensable attribute of the staircase design. They perform the function of a protective element that ensures the safety of movement along the span. Railings are distinguished by a variety of shapes and materials, they can be both simple in appearance and made in an unusual, original style. This enclosing element can be a bright design addition to the interior, become a chic decoration for any home.

Having studied various photos of the railings for stairs, you can be convinced of the variability of these structural elements and choose the option that is most suitable for your case.


It is easy to make handrails for stairs with your own hands. Let's try to figure out how to independently make protective elements for a ladder structure, what material is better to use, where to start the installation process.

Material selection

First you need to figure out what materials the railings for the flight of stairs are made of. The most popular are the following enclosing elements.

Aluminum. If you prefer railings made of aluminum, then it will be difficult to make them yourself. Basically, such products are sold ready-made, and you just have to make the right calculations, buy the required number of enclosing elements, assemble them with your own hands and get acquainted with the step-by-step installation of the railing for the stairs.

Chromed. They, like the previous ones, are sold in hardware stores ready-made, so to install them on your own, you must perform the steps listed above.

Forged. Such railings look incredibly beautiful and interesting, but making forged railings at home is a rather difficult task.

Hot forging can only be carried out in a specially equipped room, as for cold forging, it can be done at home, but you need to know the basics of this process and have all the necessary tools in your arsenal.


Made from stainless steel. Such railings are very wear-resistant, strong and reliable, however, in order to install them yourself, you will need the skills of welding and cutting metal.

Wooden. This is the most popular material used in the manufacture and installation of handrails on their own. Let us dwell in more detail on the wooden enclosing elements, we will provide the reader with a brief instruction on how to make a wooden railing.

Wooden stair railings

Wood has long been used to create railings, the main advantages of this material: wood allows you to create a fence of any stylistic orientation, shape, with interesting carvings, ornaments. In addition, there are many options for decorating wooden fences, they can be painted, varnished, etc.

For novice craftsmen, it is better to start with such railings, in the absence of experience in carpentry, you can choose a simple design, the tree, due to its texture, will in any case look interesting and aesthetically pleasing in the interior.

Let's try to figure out how to make a railing for a wooden staircase. First, decide on the type of tree, it will be beech, pine, oak, birch or something else. The costs incurred for manufacturing, the quality of the railing, their resistance to sudden changes in temperature, susceptibility to decay, and ease of processing will depend on the selected breed.

Secondly, familiarize yourself with the main parts of stair railings. Any railing will contain the following elements: handrails, racks, balusters, pedestals.

Particular attention should be paid to balusters, because the appearance of the flight of stairs will depend on them. You can make them in the form of neat columns, if it is possible to use metalwork equipment - carve various patterns and ornaments on the surface.


Manual cutting can turn these structural elements into a real work of art, the scope for creativity is incredibly wide, craftsmen carve figures of people, animals and other incredible compositions from bars.

After preparing all the necessary elements, the question arises of how to install the railing on the stairs. Wooden curly posts can be attached directly to the steps, using grooves or metal studs, while flat balusters (presented in the form of thin boards) are best mounted on a special beam located 10 centimeters above the bowstring.

In this case, the railing handrail, timber and pedestals will form a frame, where flat balusters must be inserted. The distance between the crossbars in both cases should be no more than 15 centimeters.

So, in general terms, the process of adding a flight of stairs with enclosing elements looks like. Having decided to install the railing, evaluate your strengths, choose the right project, calculate how many materials you will need for work, prepare the necessary tools and start this interesting activity.

Photo of railings for stairs

Stair railings are not at all that part of the interior, which is determined solely by aesthetic requirements or design requirements. On the contrary, it is this structural detail that must meet quite specific requirements and is clearly regulated by SNiP and GOST 25772-83.

Railing design

Not only stairs need it, but also a porch, balcony, roof, platform, and so on, and in all cases, the requirements for railings are different. This is due to the fact that at different heights and with different modes of operation, the structure must be designed for a different degree of load. At the same time, different operating conditions mean many different factors: a sloping roof or a flat one, the height of the building, the number of residents, the number of users, weather conditions, purpose, and so on. All possible cases are regulated by GOST 257672-83.

The fences themselves differ in their design. Distinguish:

  • lattice filling of railings, where the space from the stairs to the handrail is filled with metal bars;
  • screen - the site is occupied by sheet or slab material;
  • combined - lattice and screen filling are combined.


Solutions can have very high aesthetics if desired. However, the type of filling is not chosen arbitrarily: the instructions for fencing stairs GOST 25772-83 indicate exactly which and where structures can be used.

Fencing dimensions

There is a fairly large number of various staircase structures, as well as platforms and balconies. It is not surprising that there are quite a few railings. Moreover, the standard offers not only restrictions, but also drawings of structures of all kinds. Steel railings for balconies and roofs according to GOST 25772-83 should be as follows.

  • The internal staircase structure in a residential or non-residential building is protected by a railing 90 cm high. Various fillings are allowed - lattice, screen, but here the choice depends on the purpose of the building. So, in a residential apartment building, the filling is usually lattice. But in a shopping center, where it is required to protect not only the stairs, but also the observation deck, screen filling is necessary. Pictured is the interior staircase.


  • The exception is the staircase structure in schools and boarding schools: the height of the railing here is in any case not less than 120 cm. The filling is allowed with a lattice of vertical balusters, but with a small gap between them - 10 cm.
  • The railing in the preschool is always 120 cm. Filling is only from vertical balusters, since horizontal bars easily turn into steps for toddlers. The distance between the vertical bars is no more than 10 cm, otherwise there is a high risk of jamming. In preschool and school institutions for mentally disabled children, the height of the railing is increased to 180 cm. Horizontal bars, as well as screen filling, are excluded.

Outdoor stairs must have railings. Best of metal at a height of 120 cm.

Landings are protected according to the same classification:

  • internal - the height of the railing reaches 90 cm;
  • external - height is 120 cm;
  • in preschool anticipations, the railings are also located at a height of 120 cm.

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