The Forgotten Spot In Your Home That's Becoming A Major 2026 Design Trend

When it comes to stepping up your home design for the new year, your mind likely races to popular upgrades like a fresh coat of paint in a trending color or revamping your cabinets to the latest style. However, 2026 is shining a light on an often-neglected feature in your home: the stairs. Yelp released its 2026 Home, Beauty, and Lifestyle Trends forecast, sharing data that statement staircases are on the rise. Searches for "stair runner installation" are up by 402% per the report, and "stair refinishing" has risen 26%. Homeowners are stepping away from stair design trends that are seriously outdating the home, like ornate scrolls, floating stairs, or minimalist white risers. Instead, they're leaping towards colorful, playful, and whimsical looks on their staircases.

This trend of making stairs a focal point in home design is showing up through the intentional use of bold stair runners, clever paint and mural placement, and creative risers that add a playful touch to the space. Dallas-based realtor Julie Provenzano shared on TikTok that stair details like patterned runners "add personality and style to one of the most used and often most seen parts of your home." Besides that, folks are also putting emphasis on the treads. In fact, updating your stair treads is easier than you think, and some homeowners are tackling this project via DIY to give their spaces a custom look. 

If you want to step up to the challenge of updating this forgotten space, there are a few ways to customize your staircase with bold ideas for a new look this year. Paint is a great way to change up the look of your stairs. From color drenching to adding a splash of vibrant color to your risers, you can create a captivating focal point. Some homeowners, like @kate_rose_morgan on TikTok, have even painted murals on their risers for a dopamine decor-inspired look. For a more classic revamp, runners are coming back into style. As Julie Provenzano explained, "Stair runners have become really popular in design lately because they combine style, safety, and comfort, all while making a big visual impact." Not to mention, the patterns, colors, and textures they add to your home can help shift the focus away from the minimalist design trends of years past.

Some folks are also incorporating stair rods to keep runners in place and bring an extra touch of whimsy to the space. If you're looking to add more visual interest to this overlooked area, you could opt for tiled risers. Or, consider pattern play through wallpaper, which is another popular method for revamping stair risers. And for those needing a more renter-friendly solution, peel-and-stick wallpapers are a great choice. Last but not least, finish off the look with decorative stair dust corners — or, as some call them, "stair jewelry" — to add a whimsical touch to the often drab space.