Brighten Up Your Stairway with Stair Lighting

Stair Lights Provide Unique Character and Functionality to Dark Stairwells

By Mark J. Donovan

Lighting is often an afterthought in many home improvement projects. However lighting plays an important role in setting the mood and ambiance in a room. Consequently lighting should be near the top of the list in any home improvement or remodeling project.

One type of lighting to consider when developing your lighting plans is stair lights. Stair lighting, which is normally located in the walls just adjacent to the stair treads, or integrated into the stair treads themselves, provides both functional and aesthetic purpose. Stair lighting is idea for stairways that have limited to no natural light. Stairs to a finished basement, for example, are a prime candidate for stair lighting. Likewise stairways to attics are also candidates.

Stair lights are typically recessed light fixtures that sit flush with the finished walls, and are located usually just a few inches above the level of the stair treads. In some cases they are installed adjacent to every stair tread and in other cases every other stair tread.

So if you have plans of finishing a basement or attic don’t forget the lighting and think about adding some stair lighting to provide some unique charm to your home improvement project.