White Staircases by Abbott-Wade

The possibilities are endless when it comes to white and glass staircase styles, so we invite you to use your imagination, and we’ll do our best to bring your new bespoke staircase to life. Even if you’re painting your stairs white on your own and simply want a staircase refurbishment, we’re happy to install glass spindles or balustrades to complete the look.

Whether it’s a classic structure or a new-build, a white staircase with glass elements can update homes of any age, while fully integrating with your existing interior design. When you book a consultation with the expert designers at Abbott-Wade, we’ll help you to create the look you want without going over-budget. Our professional joiners will only commence their work once you’ve agreed upon a final design and placed your order.

So, are you ready to begin designing the white and glass staircase of your dreams? Browse our gallery below for some inspiration, then call the team at Abbott-Wade on 01744 634 442 to get started. Alternatively, you can fill out our online form with any detailed enquiries, and one of our dedicated staircase experts will be in touch shortly.

White & Glass Staircase FAQs

What is the best glass to use for my white staircase?

Glass staircases are a trendy upgrade to standard stairs, providing both style and strength. At Abbott-Wade, we’re proud to use glass produced by the renowned manufacturing company Pilkington. We were the first staircase joinery to market their Optiwhite™ low iron glass, which offers enhanced clarity.

Whereas standard glass often has a green tint, Optiwhite™ glass is purely transparent, for a clean and colourless finish. If you do like glass with a little colour, we also offer bronzed glass balustrades with brass clamps or black and grey tinted glass. These still allow light to travel through, while offering a warmer or cooler appearance.

Additionally, we can also pair your white painted staircase with sandblasted glass balustrades. Rather than being able to see right through the glass, this provides a translucent frosted or opaque finish. Again, this still allows natural light to diffuse throughout the space, but it makes a bolder statement than clear glass against the white paint.

Which white and glass staircase styles are available?

White-painted wood goes well with most glass balustrade styles, but the most popular options include clamped glass and embedded glass. Brushed steel, brass, or polished steel clamps with square or round profiles can hold the 10mm thick panels in place. If you’re not a fan of these fixtures, the glass panels can slide into grooves in the handrail and base rail for cleaner lines.

For the ultimate seamless appearance, you could forego the handrail altogether and opt for our frameless glass balustrades. At 15mm thick, this toughened glass is strong and safe, and thoroughly modern. Alternatively, if you choose a wooden handrail, the rich colour and defined grain of oak could provide a beautiful contrast in an oak, white, and glass staircase.

Should you have an unusual staircase layout, or if space is at a premium, Abbott-Wade also has the ideal solution with our white and glass staircases. A diminishing glass balustrade enables the railings to finish against the ceiling, while a shaped cut-glass staircase features glass panels that fit perfectly along each tread. If you want to do something different, try glass spindles instead of wood or steel.

What are the benefits of white and glass staircases?

Not sure whether white and glass stairs are the best option for you? Here’s a list of just some of the benefits of this stunning style – see if these can convince you to upgrade your staircase!

  • Natural light
    Opaque wood and metal closes off the stairway more, causing shadows. No matter the colour or finish, light shines right through transparent or translucent glass, improving the overall ambience and reducing the need for artificial light in this area.
  • Illusion of space
    Even the smallest, most narrow staircase will feel far more spacious with glass balustrades and white painted wood. A side effect of increased light reflecting from the white surfaces means that the brighter area will trick the eye into believing that it’s bigger.
  • Low maintenance
    Glass and metal elements require little maintenance as they’re easy to clean, making them a convenient choice of material for your balustrades. Painted and wooden elements will require occasional top-ups, from fresh paint and polish to protective coatings.
  • Safety and strength
    Toughened glass has a high tensile strength, meaning it’s shatter-resistant and takes an extreme impact to break. It’s robust enough to withstand even the most rambunctious of young children, so you don’t have to worry about it being suitable for a family home.
  • Durability
    Both wood and glass are resilient materials, and the quality craftmanship of the joiners at Abbott-Wade ensures that your white and glass staircase will last for a long time. When you take good care of it, you can expect it to look as good as new for years to come.
  • Versatility
    As we’ve discussed above, white painted wood and glass are incredibly complementary materials, allowing you to incorporate them into any home regardless of its current décor. From elegant and classic to quirky and contemporary stairs, you can easily achieve any aesthetic.

Is white the best colour for a staircase?

You may be wondering whether painting your staircase white is the best idea. Won’t white show dirt and scuffs? Well, not if you use the correct type of paint and keep your stairs clean! Not wearing shoes on the stairs and wiping off any stains as soon as they happen can help with this. Use a gloss or semi-gloss paint specially designed for floors, and your white stairs will successfully endure constant high traffic, and easily wipe clean.

White staircases became a classic because their crisp brightness offers a truly timeless look. However you change the balustrades or your hallway décor over the years, the white stairs will continue to support and complement every other colour around them. When you modernise them with glass, the white paint works excellently with contemporary minimalist designs.

Since stairwells and hallways tend to be dark, with small windows or no windows at all, painting your stairs white instantly lightens the area. If you feel that the white is too plain, you can always lay down a colourful stair runner or paint the risers a different colour for some contrast. For example, black risers with white treads can create an impressive modern aesthetic.

How do I paint a white staircase?

If you intend to paint your staircase white by yourself, you should aim to complete the process over 1-2 days to avoid too much disruption. Try to do it at a time when the rest of the household is either out of the house or won’t need access to rooms upstairs for a while. It’s best to work from the top to the bottom, or vice versa, so you won’t be stuck on the wrong floor waiting for them to dry!

Firstly, you’ll need to prep the stairs. This means pulling up any carpet or runners, sweeping and hoovering to clean the steps, and making any necessary repairs before moving on. Once the stairs are ready, you can use a sanding tool or medium to coarse sandpaper to remove any existing paint or varnish and roughen up the exposed surfaces. This will allow the paint to adhere better.

Once the stairs are prepped, paint them with a coat of primer and allow this to dry for the recommended time in the product instructions. Then you can start painting on the top coat, which should be floor-grade white paint with a gloss or semi-gloss finish. You may also want to look out for anti-slip paint, to ensure that the painted surfaces aren’t too smooth.

If you like, you can line the steps with painter’s tape before you start to ensure that you stay within the lines. Apply 2-3 coats of white paint, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next layer. You could use a roller for the larger areas and a smaller brush for harder-to-reach corners and edges. Once the final coat is done, you may want to apply a protective varnish to seal the paint. After this is dry, you can peel off any tape and wipe down the stairs – and voila!

A wonderful white staircase of your very own to brighten your home for years to come.

How do you maintain a white and glass staircase?

To prevent visible wear and tear from spoiling your spectacular white and glass stairs, you must look after them properly. To start with, you should be wiping away dust every few days with a soft mop or dustpan and brush, or hoovering any larger debris using a vacuum with a suitable attachment.

Making sure that people take their shoes off before going upstairs can help to reduce the amount of dirt left on the surfaces. If any unfortunate spillages or scuffs happen, clean them up right away to prevent them from getting worse. It’s likely that your staircase will need a more thorough cleaning at least once a month, using water with a mild paint-safe soap and a damp microfibre cloth.

Similarly, you should give your glass balustrades a polish every few days to keep them looking as good as new. Wipe off any smudges or fingerprints as soon as you notice them. Whenever you’re doing housework and cleaning the mirrors, this would also be a good time to properly clean the glass. Wash the glass using a non-abrasive cloth and a mild cleaning solution, then allow it to dry before polishing away any remaining marks with a dry cloth.

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