Step One: Imagining Your Stairway to Heaven
Before you begin drawing your stairs on your floor plan, it’s important to take a few moments and picture exactly what you want. Close your eyes and imagine what an ideal stair design looks like from top to bottom. Think about the angle of your stairs, the width, the amount of risers and treads, the accompaniments and accessories. Spend quality time with your vision, as this is the foundation of your floor plan masterpiece.
Step Two: Make a Sketch
Now it’s time to make a sketch! Once you’ve conjured up the perfect design in your head, it’s time to get to the drawing board and bring it to life. Start with your floor plan first, while you’re drawing the main staircase on, add in any other stairs that you’d like on your plan like an L-shaped style or a spiral one. Consider any obstructions for a safely navigated design. Update your sketch with dimensions and keynotes for clarity.
Step Three: Measurement Basics
For any design to be executed properly, measurements are a must. A successful stair plan begins with solid measurements. This will save you time and hassle when it’s time to build, not to mention it’ll save you from a potential costly mistake. Measure twice and mark the riser and tread for accuracy to ensure your stair’s success.
Step Four: Sketching your Rises and Treads
The rise is the vertical distance between two consecutive steps and the tread is the horizontal distance. The combination and arrangement of these create the pattern or tread/rise run. Many use a simple division of the total rise into eight equal parts and use this as the standard rise and tread. This is a great place to start, but also be sure you meet any local and building codes.
Step Five: Choosing Accessories and Adornments
Add-ons and accessories can turn a plain and ordinary staircase into an exceptional and unique statement piece. If a handrail is specified, use this as a guide to decide what type and design of accessories you’d like to use. From shapes and finishes to custom newels and balusters, the possibilities and final design are up to you – the sky is truly the limit!
Step Six: Revising and Editing
It’s important to take a step back and view your design, before submitting it off and beginning the building process. Be sure to double check your measurements, note any additions or subtractions you want to make, and run it by an engineer or inspector for a stamp of approval.
Step Seven: Put it all Together
Now that all the steps have been laid out, it’s time to draw the stair in the floor plan. Pull all the pieces together and begin drawing in your plan. Consider design, safety and materials to ensure a durable and long-lasting stair. Depending on your vision and building requirements, it may mean a custom staircase or a traditional one.
Step Eight: Watch it Take Shape
As your stair is taking shape, take a moment to soak up the majesty of it all. Celebrate your hard work and remember every step you’ve taken to bring it to life. From the intricate sketching to finding just the right accents, this will become a stunning centerpiece that can take your space to the next level.
Step Nine: Make Your Own Rules
Most importantly, remember to have fun and make your designs yours! As tedious as measurements, plotting and diagrams may seem, don’t forget to bring your creative flair and be inspired to draw up floor plans that are tailor-made to your specifications. With just a few easy-to-follow steps, your staircase will be ready to wow.
Before you begin drawing your stairs on your floor plan, it’s important to take a few moments and picture exactly what you want. Close your eyes and imagine what an ideal stair design looks like from top to bottom. Think about the angle of your stairs, the width, the amount of risers and treads, the accompaniments and accessories. Spend quality time with your vision, as this is the foundation of your floor plan masterpiece.
Step Two: Make a Sketch
Now it’s time to make a sketch! Once you’ve conjured up the perfect design in your head, it’s time to get to the drawing board and bring it to life. Start with your floor plan first, while you’re drawing the main staircase on, add in any other stairs that you’d like on your plan like an L-shaped style or a spiral one. Consider any obstructions for a safely navigated design. Update your sketch with dimensions and keynotes for clarity.
Step Three: Measurement Basics
For any design to be executed properly, measurements are a must. A successful stair plan begins with solid measurements. This will save you time and hassle when it’s time to build, not to mention it’ll save you from a potential costly mistake. Measure twice and mark the riser and tread for accuracy to ensure your stair’s success.
Step Four: Sketching your Rises and Treads
The rise is the vertical distance between two consecutive steps and the tread is the horizontal distance. The combination and arrangement of these create the pattern or tread/rise run. Many use a simple division of the total rise into eight equal parts and use this as the standard rise and tread. This is a great place to start, but also be sure you meet any local and building codes.
Step Five: Choosing Accessories and Adornments
Add-ons and accessories can turn a plain and ordinary staircase into an exceptional and unique statement piece. If a handrail is specified, use this as a guide to decide what type and design of accessories you’d like to use. From shapes and finishes to custom newels and balusters, the possibilities and final design are up to you – the sky is truly the limit!
Step Six: Revising and Editing
It’s important to take a step back and view your design, before submitting it off and beginning the building process. Be sure to double check your measurements, note any additions or subtractions you want to make, and run it by an engineer or inspector for a stamp of approval.
Step Seven: Put it all Together
Now that all the steps have been laid out, it’s time to draw the stair in the floor plan. Pull all the pieces together and begin drawing in your plan. Consider design, safety and materials to ensure a durable and long-lasting stair. Depending on your vision and building requirements, it may mean a custom staircase or a traditional one.
Step Eight: Watch it Take Shape
As your stair is taking shape, take a moment to soak up the majesty of it all. Celebrate your hard work and remember every step you’ve taken to bring it to life. From the intricate sketching to finding just the right accents, this will become a stunning centerpiece that can take your space to the next level.
Step Nine: Make Your Own Rules
Most importantly, remember to have fun and make your designs yours! As tedious as measurements, plotting and diagrams may seem, don’t forget to bring your creative flair and be inspired to draw up floor plans that are tailor-made to your specifications. With just a few easy-to-follow steps, your staircase will be ready to wow.
