Attic stairs: types of structures and design options

You can expand the space of the house by completing the attic. This is a convenient option that can become a real decoration of the yard. The attic is always located on the second floor, so a staircase is required for such a building.

Different stairs have their own advantages and disadvantages. But there are also common signs that are common to all.

Firstly, a staircase with a wide platform allows you to additionally increase the space used for living. It is very convenient, regardless of whether the family is large or small.

If a small staircase with narrow spans is chosen, then this, on the contrary, allows you to save space. That is why owners of small spaces prefer screw or lifting models.

Secondly, a beautiful staircase and a properly decorated entrance to the premises will become a real decoration of a private house. Wide steps and railings, decorated with wrought iron or carvings, will perfectly complement the appropriate interior.

And finally, the stairs leading to the attic are a traditional element that will not become obsolete over time. Like many decades ago, they are used to decorate houses even with a small area.

The stairs leading to the attic are usually made of metal and wood. The first option is perfect for the manufacture of outdoor structures. If you cover the metal surface with additional protective agents, then it will not lose its attractiveness over time and will not be covered with a layer of rust.

Wood is more often used in the manufacture of stairs that are located indoors. Wood is a rather dual material. On the one hand, wooden stairs can be built independently, on the other, wood is short-lived and highly flammable. Moisture usually has a negative effect on such raw materials.

There are two main types of stairs: spiral and mid-flight. The former are considered more compact, but the latter look more attractive.

If there is a lot of free space in the room, then it is better to give preference to wide marching stairs. They are not only beautiful and comfortable, but also safe. On such stairs, not only an adult will feel comfortable, but also a baby who has only recently learned to walk.

The most beautiful option is a comfortable two-flight ladderleading to the second floor. But if there is not enough space for such a design, the volume can be limited to a one-march variation.

The second type of stairs is used a little less often. The fact is that making them with your own hands is much more difficult, and moving along them can be quite difficult. But, if you want to decorate your home with such an unusual design, then it is quite possible to make it to order or choose a suitable option in a furniture store.

Ladders also differ in location. In some cases, it is more convenient to put it inside the house, in others - outside.

Outdoor stairs make them durable materials. The most common ones are stone, metal or wood.Despite the seeming fragility of this material, sometimes preference is given to wooden stairs. If you additionally process them with a protective coating, then they will be able to serve no less period than the same stone or metal structures.

True, external wooden staircases have a significant disadvantage. They are difficult to clean. But even here you can find a way out. For example, use a retractable or extension ladder. It can be removed temporarily and used only when it is really needed.

It takes longer to think about a project of this design. It should be not only comfortable, but also aesthetically pleasing. It is difficult to combine everything in one model, but, as practice shows, it is possible. Inside the house, either spiral staircases or multifunctional ones with a used space under them are installed.

Such a staircase, as a rule, is also located inside the room and leads to the attic. For those who store some temporarily unused things in the attic, or rarely visit this additional room, such a model is perfect.

The device of such a staircase allows you to save free space and use the room on the ground floor completely. There are folding and pull-out models. The former fold like an accordion, and the latter, if necessary, rise and fall. Such a simple design turns out to be surprisingly useful in everyday life.

Like any detail in the interior of a modern home, a staircase should be its decoration. There are many interesting design options now. Some of them are very modern, others, on the contrary, are stylized antique.

Many designers prefer to use marching stairs with wide steps and beautiful railings in the interior. This move leaves a lot of room for creativity. The handrails can be decorated, for example, with carvings if a wooden base is used. And metal or stone stairs will be decorated with graceful forging.

The spiral staircase can also be original. By itself, this design looks unusual. Therefore, making a choice in favor of a spiral staircase, you can emphasize your good taste and love for beautiful things. A model of this type resembles a spiral, so it should not be richly decorated. Too many decorations will blend together and ruin the overall impression of the structure.

Separately, it should be noted that, as a rule, different stairs are chosen for living quarters and places for meeting guests. In the living room, for example, you want to put a luxurious, richly decorated model. But in the corridor or hallway, you can get by with simpler options.

There are several options for the location of the stairs. It all depends on the size of the room and the characteristics of its use. For example, if there is so little space in the house, you want to save every free centimeter. In this case, it is much more rational to choose an outdoor model, while maintaining free space inside the room.

If there is enough space, then you can even allocate a separate room for the attic staircase. Such vestibule rooms, as a rule, are made very small, and they do not thoroughly think over their arrangement and design. The only requirement is that the room is warm and comfortable. The presence of a vestibule is especially good if you do not want children to go to the attic, or if it is simply not heated. It is enough just to hang a lock on the door and close it tightly, and the cold will not penetrate into the house, and the way to the attic will be closed for children.

When there is no way to put a ladder in a small separate room, you have to use the free space of one of the rooms. As a rule, this is an entrance hall, a little less often - a living room. In this case, the transition from the first floor to the second should be beautifully decorated.We have to choose the model of the staircase that matches the style of the interior of the room, and think about how to use the space under it.

As a rule, the installation of stairs is advised to be trusted by professionals. But it often happens that the owners want to do everything with their own hands. This is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to use simple tips.

Firstly, when planning a construction with your own hands, you always need to think over a full-fledged project and calculate everything. First of all, the location of the stairs is determined. A lot in the future depends on this.

Although they look really impressive, they always disappoint the owners of small rooms, leaving no free space for the installation of sofas, tables and other important pieces of furniture.

The second thing to do is to prepare all the necessary tools. Their choice depends on what materials the staircase is made of and on the skills of the master. All structural details are usually made in several stages, and only then they are assembled together. This also applies to stairs with several openings, and spiral or single-march.

When the foundation is made, you need to take care of your safety. Any staircase should be not only beautiful, but also comfortable and safe. In order to make it such, it is necessary to use handrails or other additional fences, if necessary.

Finally, the structure can be decorated, but this is an optional step. Especially if the budget is too tight, or the staircase is used where almost no one sees it.

Houses of several floors with a beautiful mansard staircase are considered a sign of luxury. This means that every detail in such a building should look appropriate. The same applies to external structures, because they largely change the exterior of the site. It is difficult to understand how you can translate your ideas into reality without any experience. To make things easier, you can look at real-life examples.

The first example proves that a staircase can become not only a transition from one floor to the second, but also a decoration of a room. It can be used, for example, in a living room combined with a kitchen. So that the space under the steps is not wasted, shelves can be installed there, combined with drawers. They will fit books, dishes, and other necessary things.

The light construction with a wooden base and beautiful wrought iron railings matches the interior of the room in terms of the selected shades and materials used.

Very often, during construction, you have to save space inside the building and bring the stairs to the street. The structure, consisting of metal and wooden steps, will really decorate the courtyard and will perfectly match the stone base of the house. Nearby, you can set up a small flower bed to make the space more comfortable.

Houses with attics are not such a rarity. Many would dream of acquiring such a building. But when hands reach the construction of the house, difficulties arise with the equipment of the stairs. Do not be afraid to do something wrong - it is enough to familiarize yourself with the available information, think over each stage in advance, and there will be no problems with the construction.

For the main types of stairs, see the next video.