{"title":"Staircase Lighting","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStaircase lighting is a safety fixture that happens to be decorative.\u003c\/strong\u003e Stairs are where falls happen in a house, and the cause is almost always the same: you can't see the edge of the tread because the light is behind you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eLight the treads, not the stairwell\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA single fixture at the top of a staircase puts your own body between the light and the stairs on the way down. The shadow lands exactly on the step edges you need to see.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThree arrangements that work:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSconces on the stair wall\u003c\/strong\u003e, spaced every 4 to 6 steps at about 60 inches above the tread line — measured from the stair itself, not the floor, so they climb with the stairs. This is the best solution and the least used.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecessed step lights\u003c\/strong\u003e in the side wall, low down. Light lands directly on the treads with no glare at eye level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFixtures at both top and bottom\u003c\/strong\u003e, with a three-way switch at each end. Minimum viable, and required regardless of what else you do — a stair you can only light from one end is a stair you'll descend in the dark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTwo-storey stairwells and open landings\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA tall stairwell is the one place in a house where a long-drop pendant or chandelier is genuinely called for. Hang it so the bottom is visible and generous from both floors, with at least \u003cstrong\u003e7 feet of clearance above every tread\u003c\/strong\u003e — measured from the highest step it passes over, which is the measurement people get wrong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChanging the bulb is the other consideration nobody thinks about until they're balancing a ladder on a staircase. Choose a long-life LED, or a fixture with a winch, or accept that you'll be hiring someone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWarm, and always on a switch at both ends\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2700K–3000K.\u003c\/strong\u003e Stairs connect rooms, so the light should match them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMotion-sensor or low-level night lighting on a stairwell is one of the few genuinely useful smart-home applications — particularly in a house with kids or older adults, and particularly in a country where it's dark at 4:30 for months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a Canadian company that has walked down a dark basement stair too many times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I light a staircase properly?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight the treads, not the stairwell. Wall sconces every 4 to 6 steps, or recessed step lights low in the side wall, so your body doesn't shadow the step edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow high should stair sconces be?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 60 inches above the tread line — measured from the stairs themselves, so the fixtures climb with the staircase rather than sitting at one flat height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I need switches at both ends?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. A three-way switch at the top and bottom is the minimum. A stair you can only light from one end will get used in the dark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat clearance does a stairwell chandelier need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt least 7 feet above every tread it passes over, measured from the highest step — not from the floor below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAre motion sensors worth it on stairs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the few genuinely useful smart applications, especially in a house with kids or older adults, and especially through a winter when it's dark by 4:30.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do I light a staircase properly?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Light the treads, not the stairwell. Wall sconces every 4 to 6 steps, or recessed step lights low in the side wall, so your body does not shadow the step edges.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How high should stair sconces be?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"About 60 inches above the tread line, measured from the stairs themselves so the fixtures climb with the staircase.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do I need light switches at both ends of a staircase?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. A three-way switch at the top and bottom is the minimum. A stair you can only light from one end will get used in the dark.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What clearance does a stairwell chandelier need?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"At least 7 feet above every tread it passes over, measured from the highest step, not from the floor below.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Are motion sensors worth it on stairs?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"One of the few genuinely useful smart applications, especially in a house with kids or older adults.\"}}]}\n\u003c\/script\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/maisonmonashee.com\/collections\/staircase-lighting.oembed","provider":"Maison Monashee ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}