Transform Your Staircase: Custom Designs from Input Joinery

A staircase does more than connect floors. It shapes the flow, feel and style of your entire home. Whether you are undertaking a new build or renovating and upgrading an existing space a well-designed staircase can become a striking focal point that elevates every step.

At Input Joinery each staircase is bespoke. Crafted and made in the UK to suit your layout, taste and lifestyle our staircases can be tailored from string style to balustrades and finishes. Here is how you can customise your stairs and create a design that harmonises your whole home together.

The Impact of Great Staircase Design

Your staircase is more than functional; It is architectural. It shapes how light moves, how open or closed a space feels and how people experience your home. A dated or heavy staircase can shrink a space. A modern open design with the right materials can lift it entirely.

That is why Input Joinery puts full control in your hands. You choose the layout structure; balustrade finishes and more - backed by over 40 years of expert joinery craftsmanship.

Cut String vs Closed String: Which is Right for Your Home?

The string design of your staircase is a defining features, shaping the overall aesthetic and sets the tone for the rest of your interior. The stringer (the side structure of the staircase) is a primary design element. At Input Joinery, we offer two distinct string styles to suit a wide range of tastes and architectural eras. 

Cut String Staircases
With cut string stairs, the treads and risers are deliberately left visible from the side, creating a beautifully decorative stepped  profile. This style adds a sense of craftsmanship and detail, making it ideal for staircases or traditional homes where the staircase acts as a statement piece. It's especially striking in period properties, grand entrance halls or bespoke oak staircase projects that benefit from a bold, character-rich feature.

Why Choose Cut String Stairs?

• Ornate, decorative and traditional look
• Highlights the timber craftsmanship
• Ideal for heritage or feature staircases
• Great option for bespoke oak staircase ideas

Closed String Staircases
In contrast, closed string stairs conceal the treads and risers behind a sleek side panel, offering a more subtle, streamlined look. This style is popular in modern interiors where simplicity, minimalism and clean lines are key. Closed strings provide a smooth silhouette and can easily be customised with a range of materials and finishes.

Why Choose Closed String Stairs?

• Clean and minimal aesthetic
• Seamless integration into modern architecture
• Suitable for compact or understated spaces
• Works well with painted finishes or contemporary materials

Whether you’re exploring staircase ideas for a classic home or a modern renovation, choosing the right string style is the first step toward a beautifully crafted staircase.

Open Riser Staircases: Let There Be Light

If you're working with limited space or seeking a modern staircase design, open riser staircases can dramatically change how a room feels. By removing the full vertical riser between each tread and replacing this with a smaller downstand, open risers allow light to filter through the staircase, creating a feeling of openness and enhancing the sense of space.

This is an ideal option for contemporary homes, loft-style spaces, or anyone looking to incorporate light-enhancing features into their design.

Benefits of Open Riser Stairs:

• Allows natural light to pass through
• Visually enlarges small or narrow spaces
• Delivers a modern, airy architectural effect
• Pairs beautifully with glass or slimline balustrades
• Complements materials like metal or oak staircase components

At Input Joinery, every open riser staircase is meticulously engineered to meet UK building regulations. Our staircases include an integrated grip systems to ensure safety, without compromising on the light, open aesthetic you’re after.

Open risers are an excellent solution for light-loving, space-conscious staircase designs.

Staircase Balustrade Options: Glass, Metal or a Blend

A staircase balustrade isn’t just a safety feature - it’s a design statement. The balustrade frames your staircase, adds definition and contributes significantly to the overall visual impact of your interior.

At Input Joinery, we offer custom balustrade systems in glass, metal or hybrid combinations, each designed to work seamlessly with your chosen staircase style.

Glass Balustrades

• Available in frameless or framed configurations
• Choose from clear, satin or tinted finishes
• Enhances light flow, ideal for open riser or minimalist staircases
• Perfect for contemporary staircase ideas and urban interiors

Metal Balustrades

• Slimmer profile balusters can be utilised
• Durable finishes including powder-coated or brushed metal
• Works well with both traditional and industrial staircase designs
• Low maintenance and long-lasting performance

Hybrid Balustrade Designs

For a bespoke finish, combine materials like glass panels with metal handrails or timber newel posts for a truly custom look. These mixed-material balustrades are great for clients wanting a modern edge with subtle nods to traditional detailing.

All balustrades are designed to suit your staircase layout and available in a range of fixings, finishes and detailing options.

Stair Finishes: Timber Paint, Carpet or Runner

Once the structure is in place, the finish of your staircase brings it all together. Input Joinery staircases are supplied undecorated and are ready to be finished by others after installation; however you choose whether natural, painted or ready for carpet.

Natural Timber Finish
Exposed timber showcases the grain and joinery techniques used, especially in hardwoods like oak or walnut. Stains, oils or clear lacquer options bring out the beauty and character of the wood.

Painted Staircases
Paint introduces personality and contrast. Choose to paint just the risers for a refined, traditional look or make a statement with full-colour stairs in white, grey, navy or heritage tones. This approach works beautifully in period properties or design-led interiors.

Carpet or Stair Runners
For comfort and warmth and sound reduction, carpeted treads are a smart choice. A stair runner adds colour and texture while letting the timber edges show. This is a great blend of style and practicality.

Input Joinery prepares every staircases to take on any finish, including paint-ready or carpet-ready detailing.

External Staircases: Style Outside Too

If you require access to a deck, garden, or raised entrance, Input Joinery also designs bespoke external staircases, Input Joinery also creates bespoke external staircases built for all weather and designed to last.

Features:

• Manufactured in Iroko (a highly durable Hardwood)
• Anti-slip treads for safety
• Timber or metal balustrades
• Built to your measurements and site needs

Ideal for split-level gardens, annexes or garage conversions, these outdoor stairs combine function with visual appeal.

Complete the Look: Matching Doors and Windows

Are you upgrading your staircase? Why not extend the same elegance throughout your home? Coordinating your joinery elements creates a polished, high-end feel throughout the property.

Input Joinery also manufactures bespoke timber windows and doors allowing you to create a seamless look throughout your home. Match your staircase with:

• Internal doors in the same timber and finish
• Glazed screens or room dividers
• Window frames for a consistent colour palette
• External doors with matching detailing

Whether you are renovating a hallway or revamping the entire property coordinating these elements creates a polished high-end feel.

Transform Your Home With A Staircase That's Made For You

At Input Joinery, every staircase is custom-built to suit your space, style and vision,  whether classic, contemporary or entirely unique. Contact to our team today and let’s create a staircase that truly belongs in your home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do your staircases meet UK Building Regulations?

A: Yes. Every bespoke staircase we design and manufacture is designed to comply with all relevant UK Building Regulations, including the critical safety requirements of Approved Document K.

Q: Can you install a staircase in a very small hallway?

A: Absolutely. Our bespoke design process allows us to create space-saving solutions, such as winding flights or space saver stairs, or even using light-enhancing open riser designs, tailored to fit the tightest footprints.

Q: What is the primary difference between a ‘Closed String’ and a ‘Cut String’ Staircase?

A: The main difference between a ‘Closed String’ staircase and a ‘Cut String’ staircase is the visual aesthetic.  ‘Closed String’ flights tend to be cheaper and are designed with a string encapsulating the treads and risers on both sides. ‘Closed String’ flights are also suitable for a full width carpet, which is a good way to Value Engineer a flight. ‘Cut String’ Staircases have a stepped string to the exposed side, with the treads extending over the string with a return nosing. ‘Cut String’ flights are usually left with the treads and risers exposed, or would be finished with a carpet runner.