Straight vs. Curved Staircase: Which Custom Design Should You Go For?
Custom staircases are more than just fixtures that enable you to access the upper floors in your home. They significantly affect the aesthetics and visual appeal of your home. So as you design them, it is important to put much thought into the style that you choose. One of the primary things that you have to decide is whether to go for straight or curved staircases. Which are the factors that should inform your decision?
Below is a comparison between straight and curved staircases based on the key issues that you should be looking at during the selection process.
Space considerations
When installing a staircase in your home, you need to think about the amount of space that the structure will consume. Most people assume that because curved stairs consume a lot of square footage. However, this is not usually the case. Curved stairs remove some space from the upper level but add to the main level. They end up occupying little space in your home. On the other hand, straight stairs are known to occupy a lot of linear space; therefore, you have to adequately account for this when designing your house.
If space is not a concern, you can opt for either curved or straight stairs. However, if you want a design that will consume less linear space, you should opt for the curved staircases.
Privacy factor
When designing stairs, it is important to think about any privacy concerns that you may have. For example, do you want the upper floors to remain out of view from the ground floor? If this is your plan, then straight staircases are not your best option. The linear design does not create a privacy barrier between the floors in your home. This means that someone on the ground floor can see all the way to the first or second floor.
On the other hand, curved stairs are perfect for a homeowner who wants to create a barrier between the floors. The curved design hides the top floors from the lower ones and gives you a sense of privacy.
Cost and construction
Due to the linear style, straight stairs are usually the easiest to build, and this makes them cheaper as well. That's because there are no complex shapes to account for when laying down the structure. On the other hand, curved staircases are considered the hardest to build. In fact, they are harder to construct as compared to other styles like L-shaped and U-shaped stairs. This means that they are also more expensive to build. However, they give your home a contemporary look that you wouldn't achieve with straight stairs.
Have these issues in mind as you choose the best staircase design for your home. Work with an expert for professional opinion and advice.