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Planning & advice > Planning a new staircase > Stair part guides & FAQs > Your guide to spindles > Contemporary or traditional spindle styles
On this page you’ll find out more about the different spindle styles available, including:
Popular choices for contemporary spindles include metal and wood in simple designs. Glass stair panels are a modern alternative to spindles if you’re looking for something to allow as much light as possible to flow through your home.
Lightly coloured metal such as chrome—especially when combined with wooden handrails—creates an ultra-modern look in a contemporary home.
Black metal spindles made of wrought iron are available in a number of designs, including spirals and twists, such as those in the Richard Burbidge Elements range.
If you want to update the look of your stairs without removing all the period features, one option is to keep the newel posts and handrails as they are but replace ornate spindles with a simple square or chamfered design. If you’re looking to do this then you need to ensure that the existing groove and your current hand and base rail is the same size as the new spindles you want to install.
Some homeowners and designers prefer horizontal metal railings rather than vertical spindles to create a contemporary look. However, this can give a home the feel of an office or commercial space.
Traditional spindles, such as those in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian styles, tend to have intricate turned features that add a luxurious touch to an entranceway.
One of the most popular types of traditional spindles is the Edwardian-style spindle. These elegant spindles are made from wood, with common choices being oak at the higher end of the price range, and pine at the more affordable end of the range.
The Edwardian spindles from Richard Burbidge epitomise the style of spindle from this era and are a popular choice for people looking to create a striking period feature with their balustrade.
For older properties, interior designer Evette Hudson-Kaiser recommends choosing dark wood banisters to accentuate the beauty of period spindles: “In Georgian homes—due to the extended-height ceilings—it’s advantageous to use dark wooden banisters as they draw the eye to elegant curves and delicate spindles.”
In this image of a refurbished wood staircase in an Edwardian villa, the dark wood banister contrasts with the crisp white traditional spindles to naturally lead the eye down the stairs.
Another design option for Victorian, Georgian or Edwardian spindles is to accentuate them by painting them a darker colour to their surroundings. This way, the eyes are naturally drawn to the spindles’ intricate style.
Original spindles in older properties tend to be made of quality hardwood, but wear and tear over the years could have damaged some of them.
You can repair small splits and cracks with a strong adhesive. However, if you have spindles with severe cracks, you may need to replace them.
You can buy off-the-shelf spindles from staircase part specialists but you will usually need to trim them down to size. If you can’t find an exact fit, woodturners will be able to create you a new spindle in the same material that matches your existing spindles exactly. You can find out more about Jackson Woodturners’ spindle matching service here.
You can find out more about how to fit new spindles here or read our handy advice from an expert joiner on fixing loose spindles here.
Custom-made wooden spindles can give a staircase a truly unique look. Usually crafted from timber by woodturners, custom-made spindles help you create the wooden staircase of your dreams, whether this is contemporary or traditional in design.
If you have an unusual shaped staircase, choosing custom-made spindles can ensure you find the perfect fit for spindles for your balustrade.
Alternatively, if you need a replacement for a broken spindle and can’t find one that matches, specialist woodturners such as Jackson Woodturners can create spindles that match your existing balusters.
Although some specialist companies offer custom metal spindles, this is typically part of custom-made staircases built to order, often for uniquely shaped spaces.
Custom-made metal spindles, such as those made of iron, can be very expensive. As an alternative, you could try mixing and matching the many different pre-made designs available to create your own bespoke look for your staircase.
If you want to update your staircase spindles you can choose from a huge range of contemporary and traditional designs and buy online here.
To find out more about staircase spindles, visit the page Your guide to spindles—types, materials, styles, fitting and maintenance.
