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Design Dilemma Lighting Hallways

lighting bottom steps

6 years ago

I would like to somehow light the bottom two steps on my staircase.
When coming down the stairs it is visually difficult to see the bottom step as it is too similar to the floor.
We may use a carpet runner on stairs but undecided.
I had thought of putting little uplighters on the bottom step or two steps such as you find in decking. But I cannot find any photos of this type of installation on an internal staircase. Will it look good?

I have seen Jonathan mention in other lighting posts walk over lights - is this the same thing?

Previous owner has put little flower stickers on bottom step so presume they had same issue.

Other thing with uplighter is whether the beam of light upwards will look odd?

Open to any ideas on whole staircase but specifically it’s the last step which causes the issue.

Nb: I have placed a lamp in hall which helps but I don’t want to leave it on all night.

We will need to walk on them and don’t want a trip hazard.
I have had an electrican around and access is fine. I just need to decide!

Featured Answer

Patrina

6 years ago

You could do an LED strip under the lip of each thread or Just the last two threads

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Comments (12)

Avril
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Patrina. It does look nice but if we do go with a carpet runner this wouldn’t be possible.
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amchivers
6 years ago
We have a couple of little battery operated sensor lights near our staircase. They give enough light to see but only come on when they sense movement. They then go off after a couple of minutes. Perhaps you could do something but through your mains rather than battery.
Gabby Wong
6 years ago
I think decide if you want to put in the carpet runner first... unless you want a temporary fix in the mean time, in which case the battery operated ones on the side of the wall may work well?

I think if you put in the carpet runner then it'll make it really clear where the steps are, and negate the problem.... or are you wanting some sort of lighting regardless?
Jonathan
6 years ago
I would have an led spotlight above those two steps. If that’s not possible then an inset LED light in the wall opposite the bottom steps.
Avril
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for all your comments. I agree we need to decide whether we put carpet runner or not. I would like one but husband not keen so not a quick answer to that!
The motion sensor is a good idea, although I am not sure how this would work as we come down the stairs before we reach the lamp.
No space above stairs for spotlights but insert LED in wall opposite may work well.
Do you know Jonathan if I had one of these actually on the stair wall behind the bottom stairs this would work or would the light not diffuse this area correctly? Thanks
Andrew
6 years ago
Do you need lights? About fifteen years ago I looked around some three-storey award winning town-houses built near here. They were the best part of £1m back then. They had walnut stairs that had walls both sides so not much light. I stood at the top and it was difficult to see the individual steps. But the walnut looked stunning.

Some years later when I replaced my own stairs I went for solid walnut but to improve visibility had a stainless-steel strip recessed into the front of each step. It makes it obvious where the steps are. Something like that might be cheaper than lighting as well.
Avril
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Andrew I hadn’t thought of that. Walnut staircase sounds fantastic. Do you have any photos with the metal strip?
User
6 years ago
We stayed in a house on holiday with lights in the wall.
Andrew
6 years ago
Not the best picture I'm afraid but it illustrates what I mean about strips that indicate the stair edges.
Avril
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for the photo LTS. And Andrew thanks for sharing your photo. Have to say the strips do look very nice against the walnut, definitely another option for me to consider.
E D
6 years ago
Cheap solution may be a (small) floor mat (like a door mat) at the bottom of the stairs.

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