Carpet And Laminate Stairs With Led Lights? Best 66 Answer

The LED step lighting can be installed internally or externally. (For outdoor use, we strongly recommend using IP67 equivalent waterproof LED strips with heat shrink coating.)

Step lights are not only suitable for houses and apartment buildings – they can also enhance exhibitions, hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants and all kinds of other business and commercial locations.

Staircase lighting ideas can be stunning in their own right, but they need to be compelling in other ways too. Above all, they should provide good visibility so that all household members can safely use the stairs.

But lighting can also be designed to show what a fabulous sculptural feature of a home the staircase is by illuminating its shape and the materials that make it up as part of your hallway ideas.

Get inspired by the stairwell lighting ideas collected here, along with the expert advice of design professionals.

Ideas for stair lighting

Staircase lighting illuminates a central point in your home. “When considering lighting, the design of the staircase ideas, the construction and the desired effects are the key elements to consider, along with the finish and texture,” says Luke Thomas, creative director at John Cullen Lighting (opens in new Tab).

“Stairwell lighting is in most cases not only a decorative issue, but also fulfills a very real function in terms of safety. Glare should be avoided and maintenance considered, while enhancing the shape can add beauty and softness.”

1. Light the stairs from below

(Image credit: John Cullen Lighting)

If your staircase has a curved shape, hallway lighting ideas combined with stair lighting can draw attention to its beauty of form. “Recessed uplights were used to wash the gentle curve of the bottom of the stair and were also recessed into the step itself to wash the uplight,” explains Luke Thomas of this design.

“This increases the overall lighting and helps bring out the textures and curves that stairs can create.”

2. Increase staircase lighting

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

Opt for stair lighting ideas that can draw attention with their proportions. “If your staircase has a high ceiling, why not install a large pendant light or chandelier?” suggests Louise Wicksteed, design director for interior architecture at Sims Hilditch (opens in new tab).

“This draws the eye and makes a statement, transforming this otherwise innocuous space into a feature of the home.”

3. Create harmony with the stair style

(Image credit: Future)

Opt for stair lighting ideas that sympathize with the style of the stair itself. Here, the wall and ceiling light pick up the materials of the banister and continue the industrial theme that uses black metal elements for the stringer and baluster.

A grill-style baluster is a useful way to keep the stairwell as bright as possible, as its structure lets through both natural and artificial light, rather than blocking it.

4. Light a staircase from below

(Image credit: John Cullen)

It is possible to create the illusion that the steps of an open staircase are floating by hiding the light source under each step.

“When not lit, the LED strip embedded in the underside of the step is invisible, but when lit it creates a beautifully soft, floating effect,” explains Luke Thomas. “This illuminates the tread underneath and casts lovely shadows under the stairs.”

5. Consider the wall decoration when planning the lighting

(Image credit: Mel Yates)

When planning stairwell lighting, make sure it complements the other decorative elements of that part of your home, such as a staircase. B. wall decoration ideas, not negatively affected. On this staircase, a large work of art fills half of the landing wall, creating an eye-catcher from both above and below. The pendant lamp, on the other hand, hangs at a height that does not obstruct the view of the painting.

Also note that this fixture allows light to be directed onto the artwork as well as directly onto the stairs to create a safe passage up and down.

6. Staircase and corridor lighting

(Image Credit: John Cullen Lighting Interior Design: Mason Designs Photo: James Balston)

As with other areas of your home, plan layers of light for the stairwell and hallway below for effective and attractive lighting.

You could consider stair step lighting as well as low level lighting in the hallway to illuminate the path at ground level. It can be combined with elegant wall lighting as well as a pendant light that casts intricate patterns across stair runners and walls to create a truly impressive entrance to a home.

7. Opt for a chandelier

(Image credit: Future)

If you have a large hallway, hanging a chandelier could be number one on your list of stair lighting ideas. One of these traditional fittings can be the perfect partner for a staircase that is much more than an easy way to get from one floor of a house to another, like this one.

A chandelier complements features like ornate curved spindles and a curved handrail, completing a traditional scheme.

8. Work in low light

(Image credit: John Cullen Lighting)

Opt for recessed wall lights for a staircase and you will have the opportunity to enjoy different effects depending on the height they are placed above the stair treads.

“Set them higher for light penetration and lower in the line for more skimming across the tread,” suggests Luke Thomas.

For a staircase with alcoves, recessed wall lights can be combined with spotlights or architectural up/down lights to provide ambient lighting on half-landings or stair corners, he adds.

9. Add wall lighting

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

Wall sconces, which are often left out of stair lighting ideas, can play a useful and beautiful role.

“Staircases and hallways are often forgotten when it comes to lighting and interior design,” says Louise Wicksteed. “However, these rooms are important parts of the house, they act as a connection between the upper and lower floors and create flow.

“With that in mind, why not consider the lighting options in the rest of the house and how they might work in this space?” For example, wall lighting works well on the wall of a staircase, softly illuminating the path and drawing attention.”

10. Contrast Lines

(Image credit: MW Architects Photograph French & Tye)

Add interest to the stair area by contrasting the lines of the stairs with those of the lighting. Here, the straight lines of the pendant lighting descending through its emptiness contrast with the curves of the sculptural spiral staircase.

The clear glass shades of the pendant lights ensure the view of the stairs isn’t obscured either, but the spheres also stand out against the black background to create a scheme where each element plays its part.

How do you light up a dark staircase?

To illuminate a dark staircase, you may need different light sources. Create light from above with pendant lights that can provide ambient light to the area, or use recessed lights in a flat ceiling to cast light downwards.

Meanwhile, stair lights built into the wall can illuminate the steps effectively, and wall sconces can be an elegant addition. If you choose the latter, keep in mind that the luminaire should not impede users of the stairs, especially if they are already narrow.

Lighting ideas should be complemented with decorating strategies that multiply both artificial and natural light on a dark staircase. Choose wall colors that reflect rather than absorb light to brighten the area. The staircase itself can be painted white, as can the balustrades.

Also, consider replacing artwork with decorative mirrors to brighten a dark staircase.

How do you decorate stairs with lights?

Staircase lighting should always ensure safe traffic. Staircase lighting can also be decorative.

Recessed wall stair lights can be a functional addition, but they can also highlight the beauty of the material the stair is constructed of or show off a traditional stair runner.

Open stairways can be lit from below with a magical effect, while LED strips can also be placed on either side of a stairway for a modern look.

Uplights under a sculptural staircase can accentuate its shape, and they can equally be used to illuminate a brick or stone staircase wall, illuminating the texture and color.

Pendant lights can also be very decorative. Choose a hue that casts patterns or hang them by the emptiness of the stairs.

The technology in LED lighting is progressing so fast. We can tiptoe the results by next year. Our society is constantly checking our phones as we move. The next piece of information we need could very well be LEDs built into the carpet we walk on.

Imagine walking through a building and seeing the words “EXIT” in red LED lights built into the carpet. Or directional arrows showing an evacuation plan or an emergency area. This may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but it is reality. Fancy floors are no longer just for the rich and famous in their mega-mansions. We can look forward to this technology integrated in carpets in the near future.

LED lights are not only brighter and clearer than other forms of lighting, they are also more energy efficient and cost effective. The images on the carpet would be easy to see without being too harsh and may be in colors indicating emergency exits or marking the start of a line.

So this could be the future for floors in hospitals, office buildings and airports. But what’s really cool is that you can create a space in your own home with LEDs built into the carpet. By taking a string of LED lights and encasing them in a knitted tube, a lighted rug can be made for any room in your home. The hose is wrapped in a circle to form a rug resembling the plaited rugs known for centuries.

Making your own illuminated carpet opens up many possibilities. Not only can you choose the color of the LED lights, you can also choose the color and texture of the yarn used to make the tubing used to encase the lights. You could make your own personalized floor mats or special rugs for special people.

With the technology of having LEDs built into the carpet, the lighting will also be programmable. All in all, LED floor lighting represents improvements in security and in the furnishing of residential or commercial spaces.

When you think of outdoor lighting, it’s fun to plan dramatic lighting for your favorite tree, patio, or water feature, but forget to light outdoor steps and stairs and your plan will fail and so could you.

The right lighting gives your outdoor space beauty and depth, but also security. This is particularly evident when it comes to steps and stairs.

What is the best way to light them up? From above? The page? Built into the steps themselves?

Let’s take a look at the best way to light up outdoor stairs.

Illuminate deck steps

The deck is a great place to entertain when the sun goes down – as long as it’s safely lit.

Step lights fit snugly into the vertical portion of your deck steps, known as the riser, and focus the light down onto the step immediately below.

These built-in stair lights provide enough light for safety, but the light is subtle enough not to be a distraction.

Since the lamp itself is embedded in the step, it is hardly noticeable in daylight. Even at night you notice the steps and the soft light, not the lamp.

Consider adding LED accent lighting to the side of your deck posts, mounted about 18 inches above the deck. This casts a soft glow downwards, providing another source to safely illuminate steps and stairways.

You can also install energy-efficient LED lights at low elevations along walls that run alongside stairs.

Consider LED strip lights

LED strips are one of the most popular LED lighting products on the market right now and offer tremendous potential for illuminating your patio steps.

As the name suggests, these are flexible strips with tiny LED lights embedded in them. They come on a roll and usually have an adhesive backing.

They hide discreetly under your deck railing or stair steps so you can see the light but not the source.

Lighting of porch steps

A combination of professional uplighting and downlighting is the perfect combination to keep entrance stairs safe.

What is the difference? It’s all about the direction.

With uplighting, landscape lights are mounted below or at ground level and shine the light upwards.

To shine down, you can place a light fixture high up, in the branches of a tree, or under the eaves of your home so the light shines down.

You don’t have to choose one or the other. A front entrance can use uplighting to highlight pillars on the porch and downlights to illuminate the steps so no one trips.

In addition to lights mounted near the front door, entryway lighting often includes uplights that blend into the surrounding landscape and lights along the walkway to safely illuminate the porch and steps.

If your staircase includes walls adjacent to the steps, side lights can be mounted in those walls, casting an even glow across the width of the steps.

Lighting steps in the landscape

The most beautiful garden paths are not always straight and level – sometimes they meander and include steps from one area to another. Don’t forget to light them up, or this lovely evening walk could end up in a trip to the emergency room. Romance ruined.

Moonlighting is a great way to illuminate steps along a path. A lamp is placed at the top of a tree and angled down. The effect? Moonlight shines through the branches. It feels natural and creates pretty shadow patterns on the ground through the leaves and branches.

Path lighting can be used in combination with moon lighting. Lights can be installed at the sides of the path to cast light on the steps or nestled in the surrounding garden beds.

Leave your outdoor step and stair lighting to Neave

The experts at Neave Lighting combine their expertise with the highest quality lighting fixtures to safely and beautifully illuminate all of your property’s steps and stairways.

We use the industry’s best energy efficient outdoor LED lighting to highlight your front or side entrance, patio steps or garden path.

Your landscape is unique, so we customize your outdoor step and stair lighting to add a warm ambience to your home while protecting your family and guests.

Our landscape lighting design, installation and maintenance services are available to any residential or commercial property owner.

If you are in the Hudson Valley, give us a call at (845) 463-0592. If you are in Westchester County, call (914) 271-7996; from Connecticut, dial (203) 212-4800. Or fill out our simple web form and we will contact you to arrange your free consultation.

Here are our 8 stair lighting ideas that will inspire you for your home. When considering stair lighting, the stair design, construction and desired effects are the most important elements to consider, along with finish and texture. A staircase is the backbone of your home, connecting rooms and people. It should be functional and sculptural, and stair lights can make a real difference.

In most cases, the lighting of stairs is not only a decorative issue, but also fulfills a very real function in terms of safety. Glare should be avoided and maintenance should be considered, while the use of indoor lighting to enhance the shape can add beauty and softness.

Designing the lighting for your landscape can feel a bit overwhelming when you need to incorporate flower beds, trees, shrubs, fixtures, pathways, furniture, playsets, lawns, and steps into your finished design. Ensuring that both safety and aesthetics are considered when planning can complicate things, especially when it comes to outdoor stair lighting.

Related: Click here to read more. 5 great ways to light up your outdoor stairs.

When it comes to safety, lighting your steps may be at the heart of your design, but you don’t want to sacrifice aesthetics. To make this process easier, we’re going to answer the 5 most common questions we get about landscape stage lighting.

What you need to know about landscape lighting steps.

Before we get into the details, here are two important things to keep in mind when adding step lights to your overall landscape:

At night, your eyes have a harder time adjusting quickly between light and dark, and these adjustment difficulties can pose a safety hazard regardless of where the lighting is placed, but especially when it comes to stage lights.

Whichever lights you choose, make sure they contain frosted glass or have an anti-glare shield fitted and adjusted at the top of the light to avoid dangerous glare.

A multi-lumen light or a dimmable light is the perfect choice to allow you to adjust your light levels and avoid hot spots on stair treads where the risers are within 6″ to 7″ of the step itself.

Where should landscape lights be placed?

Tread lights are usually placed on the riser of the step. If there is enough margin or overhang on the step, this is also an option for light placement, much like the light fixtures you place under your kitchen cabinets. Do not place lights on each step as this can cause the lighting to be too bright and make it difficult to see the surrounding steps. You also don’t want too many footsteps between lights, as this has the opposite effect: you have dark spots that make it difficult to see where you’re stepping. Alternating steps and attachment positions will allow you to better cover those dark areas.

When placing your step lights, be sure to focus the light down and to the side. Here’s why:

Lights placed so that the light shines upwards can make it difficult to see the steps since the light is basically shining straight into your eyes.

With the light shining upwards, the surrounding steps, now cast in dark shadows, are difficult to see.

How far apart should landscape lights be placed?

A general rule of thumb for wider steps is to put lights every 3-4 feet on each step, but the answer to this question depends on how wide your steps are and how many steps you have in each location. Remember that you should place your step lights far enough apart so that individual bright rays of light aren’t distracting and making it difficult to see the surrounding steps. If possible, and before you begin installation, lean your lights against the step risers where you think they will be placed and see if you have the correct placement when the sun goes down. Then adjust accordingly.

See also: Top 5 Path Lighting Tips

How many lights do you need?

Again, the answer to this question depends on your steps. It is important not to get caught up in fixed numbers at the beginning. For this reason, creating a landscape lighting design/plan first is a must. You should consider the function of the lights, the aesthetics and the specifics of your stairs and walkways.

See also: Tips for Designing Your Landscape Lighting Plan

Ask yourself: how wide are your steps and how many do you have? That general 3-4 foot rule also comes into play here, but that placement depends on how well the lights placed in those steps provide both safety and aesthetics for your steps.

What is the right height for step lights?

If you place your lights on the riser of each step, using engineered wall lights placed directly under the stair treads at a height of 6″-7″ will suffice. This allows you to use lights that are not too low or too high and provide an optimal amount of light to protect you and your guests.

Can you add lights to existing steps (e.g. concrete)?

With the right tools – a drill, a diamond drill and some know-how – the answer here is yes! If you feel this project is beyond your abilities, reach out to the professionals and let them use their expertise so you can spend your valuable time working on other parts of your landscaping project. One could also use an overhead light or a directional area light placed on the sides of the staircase or stairwell.

Because designing and installing step lights can be a challenge, both in terms of time and money, contact us today and let us put our 20 years of lighting expertise to work for you and your landscape stairs. We will turn these steps into a stunning asset for years to come!

Concrete – it’s everywhere. Stamped concrete driveways, stained concrete retaining walls, chic concrete benches overlooking fire pits and patios. Clients often ask me if they can have nice lighting built into their existing concrete. If they come to us, they can.

It’s a tricky job, but our team of lighting experts is part artist, part skilled craftsman. And we have the tools to get the job done. Just recently we drilled a 5 inch concrete core out of a driveway to install lighting to highlight the home’s architectural features. You would never know we were there.

It took a $5,000 drill bit, a diamond drill and skilled know-how. This combination of tools, skill and artistry makes us unique in Utah. We can retrofit almost anything.

Here’s a look at 5 ways you can add outdoor lighting to your concrete hardscaping—whether you’re starting from scratch or your concrete elements are already in place.

Undercap lights

You want to see the effect…not the source.

Undercap lights are a good example of this. These subtle lights are designed to be hidden and cast light downwards.

You can install them under a cap on top of a retaining wall and allow the light to wash down the wall to show off the texture of the rock. And they can illuminate the adjacent path at the same time.

Undercap outdoor lighting can be tucked under step caps to illuminate a series of steps without glare. When installed under benches, they radiate onto a patio seating area.

Again, you only see beautiful light, but not the source.

pool deck lighting

Pools are great fun at night, but you just want to end up in the water on purpose. Good lighting is a must!

Lighting a concrete pool deck from above with lights mounted in trees or on gables creates the illusion of moonlight. And who doesn’t love a moonlight swim?

Don’t forget path lighting to safely illuminate walkways paved with concrete. You can also consider lighting trees and architectural elements around the pool from above to enhance the peaceful ambiance.

Staircase lighting

Best way to trip and land on your face? Try to take concrete steps in the dark.

A great solution is to install lighting in the vertical part of a staircase, called the riser.

Concrete step lights or step lights fit directly into the stair and focus the light down onto the step immediately below. They provide enough light for safety, but the light is subtle enough not to be distracting.

Since the lamp itself is embedded in the step, it is hardly noticeable in daylight. Even at night you notice the steps and the warm light – not the lamp.

road lighting

I love creating the look of moonlight over a driveway. Ceiling lights, if possible, are the perfect solution as driveways are very busy places. They’re full of trimmers, kids, dogs, bikes, shovels, snowplows. And the last thing you want when you open your car door is to smash a light.

Putting lights in the trees overhead or at the gable end of a roof keeps them out of the way and creates a beautiful moonlight effect speckled through the trees.

Illumination of other concrete features

Not all concrete is hardscape. Your concrete garden statues and fountains are beautiful focal points of your landscape during the day. Why not enjoy them at night?

The right lighting will bring out their details and make them dramatic focal points of your evening garden.

To learn more about lighting options for your concrete ceiling, call (801) 440-7647 to schedule a free consultation or fill out our simple contact form.

Based in Sandy, Landscape Lighting Pro of Utah serves clients in the residential areas of Utah including Salt Lake City, Park City, Draper and Holladay. Our outdoor lighting portfolio spans projects from Salt Lake County and Utah County to Davis County and Summit County—and beyond.