How to decorate your staircase with wall art

Brighten your home with our stairway wall art ideas using framed prints and custom canvas prints

When it comes to interior design and decor, the major rooms in a home tend to get most of the attention. A lot of time is spent considering how to bring living rooms and bedrooms to life since we tend to do most of our “living” in them. But there is another space in your home that you use several times a day, so it deserves the same careful and considered eye.

We’re talking, of course, about staircases.

If you’ve got a big, beautiful stairway with nothing but open space on the wall, then you’ve got the perfect space for hanging art above your stairs.

It’s easy to get started. Here are our favorite staircase wall art ideas.

Staircase wall art idea #1: Focus the eye with a large wall art piece

The wonderful thing about staircase walls is that they usually provide a vast blank canvas, so they're the perfect home for a large artwork that doesn't fit anywhere else.

A large custom print helps open up a space and makes it feel even bigger. Hung in a stairway, it draws the eye upward for an even bigger impact and becomes a natural conversation piece.

The subject of the print is up to you and your personal style. Abstract custom wall art is a great way to add visual intrigue to a space. We also love using large photo prints in black and white to create an air of drama and sophistication.

Staircase wall art idea #2: Hang a collection of custom prints

Another one of the latest wall art trends that’s a perfect fit for stairway wall art is hanging a collection of custom prints. This is sometimes known as a “gallery wall.”

The first step in creating a stunning gallery wall is to gather a selection of your favorite art pieces. This can include canvas prints, framed prints, and photo prints.

The secret to making your pictures look visually consistent and balanced is to position each one at the same height above each stair (roughly 55 to 60 inches, which is the average eye level), so the pictures advance evenly up the wall in harmony with the stairs themselves.

You can go with a single type of frame for all your best pictures for a polished, matching look or go for a more eclectic and funky look with frames in different shapes and sizes.

Staircase wall art idea #3: Mix and match pictures with objects

Who says wall art is just about pictures and prints? You can add in a little variety and a lot of visual flair by mixing in objects as part of your overall wall decor.

This idea really gives you a chance to be creative and let your personal style shine through. If you’re a musician, you might hang a vintage guitar alongside custom framed prints of some of your favorite guitarists. Or if you love surfing, you might mount a surfboard flanked by wall art featuring waves and beaches.

The sky is really the limit, so don’t be afraid to make use of all kinds of objects. Hanging plants, antique sconces, vintage mirrors...the list goes on and on.

Staircase wall art idea #4: Take a trip up memory lane with photo prints

For the ultimate in personalized wall art, make your stairway decor into a tribute to your life with framed photo prints of family, friends, trips, and memories.

Gather your favorite photos and then decide how you would like to group them. You may want the photos to follow a chronological order, with the earliest years starting at the bottom of your staircase followed by later years as you make your way up. Or you could arrange your memories by occasion, with clusters of photos from specific trips or events, like weddings, graduations, family reunions, and more.

Are you feeling inspired to brighten up your staircase with custom art prints and photo prints? We can help you create stunning and unique personalized wall art for your home. Click the button below to get started.