Stair Product Trends 2022
New product trends are always changing, and the stair industry is evolving with the ever-changing landscape of interior design. From regional trends to homeowner preferences to interior design influencers, we have seen many updates to traditional products and a mix of new innovative designs that still compliment the traditional design of a staircase.
Within the traditional product mix, we still see the Craftsman or Square influence growing in popularity with a twist of modern components to give this category an updated look that will carry itself well into the future.
One of those components is the update to the plain risers. New Craftsman Reversible Risers add an updated look to a plain riser that has been used for centuries. Another small innovation would be an update to the traditional stair brackets to a modern, on-trend look.
We have also seen an increase in combining wood and iron components to give a staircase a modern flare. Some may even say it offers an industrial look compared to traditional stair components. Mixing metals and woods is a popular design element throughout the entire home. Think about wood beams with metal straps on a ceiling, or stylish wooden flooring and stair railing blended with metal door hardware and lighting accents. Requests for iron balusters, combined with wooden handrails and treads, continue as a strong trend in the industry. With this trend on the rise, L.J. Smith introduced new iron balusters that freshen up the look of your stairs from the traditional twist and basket look that has been around since the iron movement began.
Along with the new iron baluster collections, there have been innovations in installation methods for these balusters. From the traditional rake and flat shoes, the updated no-show iron baluster fasteners offer a clean finished look without the need for adhesives or shoes. They also allow for a quick and clean installation easy enough for the weekend warrior wanting to update the look of their stairway. The new Concealed Iron Baluster Installation Kit makes it possible for anyone to add sleekness and style to the stairway to complement the other interior design elements of the home.
While new balusters offer a fresh look to the traditional vertical balusters, we have also seen a large uptick in the horizontal look that metal panels and tubes can achieve. Linear Metal Panels are pre-built to fit and only require a few screw holes drilled for installation. A special easy-install feature of the system is that no glue is needed, no sanding, no code issues, no drilling of baluster holes, no marking and or cutting to fit. Plus, every rake and level panel is predrilled on the top rung and comes with screws for easy attachment to the handrail. Horizontal tubes fit right in this same venue of products giving a fresh look that compliments a more urban aesthetic.
Product trends are an ever-changing topic, especially when it comes to the stair parts and interior design industry. Our team continues to keep a pulse on the design space and will continue to develop innovative products to fill the need of our customers.
John Houskamp, Sr Director of Manufactured Sales, began his career at L.J. Smith in 2006. Today in his role he manages the entire country where he leads a great group of L.J. Smith sales professionals and also has the opportunity to work alongside the distribution team at Novo Building Products.