Staircase Design for Landed Homes: Materials, Styles & Safety

In a multi-storey landed home, the staircase is both a functional necessity and a major design feature. It connects your living spaces, occupies significant floor area, and is often the first thing you see when entering the home. Getting the design right involves balancing aesthetics, safety, comfort, and regulations.

Staircase Styles

Straight Staircase

The simplest and most cost-effective design. A single straight flight connects two floors. Best suited for homes with generous floor plans where the staircase can run along a wall. Easy to construct and allows for storage space underneath.

L-Shaped (Quarter Turn) Staircase

Features a 90-degree turn with a landing platform. This is the most common design for Singapore landed homes as it fits neatly into a corner, provides a resting point between floors, and is comfortable to use for all ages.

U-Shaped (Half Turn) Staircase

Features a 180-degree turn with two landings. Takes up more floor area but provides the most comfortable climb. Ideal for homes with elderly family members as the landings offer rest points.

Spiral Staircase

Compact and visually striking, spiral staircases are best used as secondary access — for example, connecting a living area to a rooftop terrace. They are not ideal as the main staircase due to narrow treads and difficulty moving furniture.

Materials

Common staircase materials for landed homes include reinforced concrete with

• Marble or granite cladding (premium, durable, easy to maintain),

• Reinforced concrete with timber treads (warm aesthetic, popular for modern tropical homes),

• Full timber staircase (beautiful but requires regular maintenance in humid conditions), and

• Steel structure with timber or glass treads (contemporary industrial look, lighter visual weight).

Balustrade options include

• Tempered glass panels (modern, opens up sightlines),

• Stainless steel railings (durable, sleek),

• Timber railings (warm, traditional), and

• Mild steel with powder coating (customisable designs).

BCA Safety Requirements

BCA regulations mandate

• Minimum staircase width of 1000mm for residential buildings,

• Maximum riser height of 175mm and

• Minimum tread depth of 225mm,

• Handrails on at least one side (both sides recommended),

• Handrail height between 840mm and 1000mm, and

• Balustrade gaps no wider than 100mm (to prevent children from getting through).

These requirements ensure safety for all users including children and elderly family members.

Design Tips

Consider natural lighting — a skylight or window along the staircase wall transforms the space.

Plan for future accessibility by ensuring the staircase shaft is wide enough to retrofit a stairlift if needed.

Anti-slip nosing strips on each tread are a small investment for significantly improved safety.

At Hitomo Construction, we design staircases that are both beautiful and compliant with all safety regulations.