Handrail end caps guide – how to choose the right handrail end cap material and design for you
The last few details can make all the difference to a staircase. Whether you’re creating a homely look with antique brass, or utilising the modern appeal of polished chrome, that final detail can be what makes your new staircase the focal point of the room.
In this piece, we look at the materials, styles and finishes available for handrail end caps, and how they differ between handrail shapes. Additionally, we offer some tips and tricks for how to create the aesthetic you want for your home and your staircase.
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From basic chrome discs to classic brass pieces, choosing a material for your endcaps is a great starting point.
Read on to discover the range of endcaps available, from simplistic pieces to intricate carvings and mouldings.
See what accessories and care products can help make the most of your staircase and endcaps or get some styling advice!
Materials
When choosing materials, consider the material and tone of your handrail, the brackets you’ve selected, and the wall it runs along to avoid any accidental colour clashes.
Having a cohesive colour scheme can create a more traditional, homely look. Woods such as oak or pine are considered medium to warm in tone, so pairing them with the luxury look of brass (as pictured) creates an elegant statement.
You can read more about selecting end caps for your oak handrail in our guide.
Of course, a dramatic contrast of colour can be effective, such as matching a dark hardwood with bright reflective chrome. Alternatively, for paler wood, a simple black end cap can create a pleasing look, with end caps highlighting the handrail to draw attention.
Materials that are cooler in tone can be used to create a variety of effects: from a calming oasis in the home, to a clean-cut appearance in office or work settings. Again, the materials and designs you surround your handrail with are huge contributors to the final appearance, such as adding toughened glass to your handrail to create an ultra-modern look.
Styles and Finishes
Even after choosing a material for your end caps, there are plenty of options for the style and finish of your endcaps. Prices can vary depending on the look you want to achieve, with more ornate pieces such as filigree pieces being the more expensive option. However, these detailed end caps create an easy sense of opulence through their more complex appearance, particularly in brass.
Our range of end cap designs also includes:
A variety of finishes are available for most of our metal options. These include polished, brushed, and antique options, creating a look that’s unique to you.
Antique
Our antique brass endcaps (left) are decorated with a delicate petal pattern and rich undertones alongside a gold sheen. The antique effect does reduce the shine of the brass, but this matches beautifully with darker shades of wood and other décor with its subtle colour variation.
Also available is a matching Antique Brass Petal Wall Bracket to really bring the whole handrail together.
Brushed/Burnished
Brushed metals such as chrome or nickel maintain a higher level of shine than their antique counterparts but instead has a softly reflective finish. The Brushed Nickel Octagonal End Cap (centre) is a great display of this, with a gentle texture that gives it real character.
Polished
Lastly, the brightness of a polished endcap is fantastic for creating a starker contrast to other options, as well as being a piece in which you could see your face. Though polished surfaces run greater risk of showing marks and fingerprints, cleaning is simple – only needing a microfibre cloth to get rid of most dirt and grease.
The Chrome Medium End Caps (right) would look great with any of our wooden handrails, whether contrasting with walnut, or accenting a paler material like pine.
Check out our guide to choosing chrome handrail end caps for more information.
Tips And Tricks
Coordinating your staircase
When choosing end caps for mopstick handrails, you also need to consider how you’re going to attach your mopstick handrail to the wall. Normally this will include a set of brackets, and for extra security you can use a wall patrice - so this gives plenty of opportunity to coordinate designs.
By matching wall brackets to end caps, and wooden patrices to handrails, the whole look of the handrail ties together to create a cohesive appearance.
The right end cap for the job
Some handrail styles such as our pig’s ear options, sit flush to the wall and are tapered at the end, so have no need for an end cap at all.
Mopstick handrails suit a wide range of end caps, but make sure to match the diameter of both pieces. All of our mopstick handrails come in 54mm diameters, and our end caps match up to this.
Read more about mopstick handrail options.
Looking after your handrail
Cleaning a staircase can feel like a huge task, particularly for more complex designs such as spiral staircases. But in taking better care of all elements of a staircase, including the handrail and end caps, your new staircase could last a lifetime.
For our metal pieces, a damp microfibre cloth should be sufficient for most dirt, and for tougher marks just add a mild detergent.
Wooden handrails can require a bit more looking after to keep them at their best, but even the act of adding end caps will help protect your handrail from chips and scuffs.
To give your wooden staircase a little more TLC, consider treating it with hardwax to maintain its sheen and colour variations.
Find out more about staircase care in our guide.
Related Articles
Choosing chrome handrail end caps
The benefits of brass and choosing the right design for you
Choosing end caps for oak handrails
Options of mopstick handrail end caps
How to protect your staircase against daily use
Wooden handrails for stairs: types, designs and how to treat