Metal staircase spindles vs wood staircase spindles

Your choice of spindles can drastically change the appearance of your staircase.

What were once simple slats designed to keep your handrail upright now come in countless different finishes.

Home improvement fans everywhere enjoy injecting their homes with a fresh vibe. But many struggle to decide whether they want metal staircase spindles or wood staircase spindles.

They’re both great materials, but it depends on what you’re looking for in a staircase, in terms of practicality and aesthetics.

If you’re struggling to make up your mind, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of both metal staircase spindles and wood staircase spindles, so you can make an informed decision and build the staircase of your dreams.

Advantages of metal stair spindles

They’re durable

Handrails go through a lot of use supporting the weight of people moving up and down stairs over a long period, so they need to be durable.

Metal spindles are much stronger than wood so can provide more stability and are less likely to break under excessive force. They can also last much longer than wooden spindles.

If your design sense moves more towards a rustic, or gothic feel, then metal spindles can also be a great choice.

They’re easy to clean and maintain

Metal spindles with a rough or matte finish are very easy to clean because they’re not as prone to fingerprinting or noticeable staining.

A microfibre cloth is all that’s needed to remove any dust, and can just as easily remove fingerprints and smudges from shinier metal spindles.

This is not time-consuming in the slightest and will keep your spindles looking sensational for years to come.

It’s recommended to avoid corrosive chemicals when doing a deeper clean on metal spindles, though. A simple water and vinegar solution should do the trick without causing any damage.

They’re visually appealing and modern

Wood staircase spindles are painted or stained to enrich their wood aesthetic. Alternatively, they can be painted white to match other walls in the house and to brighten things up.

But many modern metal spindles are much darker in colour and even come in black, offering an expensive look. A great visual choice if you want to impress visitors and family.

They come in a range of intricate styles

Metallic objects can be produced in countless varieties of styles and shapes.

From traditional straight beams to far more stylish designs with twists, turns and gaps, you’ll never have time to view every single metal spindle design. Meaning there’s bound to be one somewhere that suits your taste.

Advantages of wood stair spindles

They have a classic look

Wooden spindles have been used for hundreds of years. Naturally, they’ve improved over that time, but there’s still a very appealing vintage vibe only wood spindles can give.

They present a warm and cosy feel that metal spindles can’t match. It’s the ideal choice for those seeking to retain a traditional feel in their home.

They can easily be stained and painted in different colours

Homeowners can easily tune up their staircase with a simple lick of paint.

Wood spindles are far easier to paint than metal spindles because paint adheres to most woods quickly and easily.

Whether you prefer a darker tone, a brighter look or a wacky walk up the stairs, you can paint wooden spindles in any shade to match your style.

This also makes them a great choice for those who enjoy changing the colour scheme of their home every once in a while, without breaking the bank. Rather than having to buy new spindles, you could simply paint them a new colour for a new feel.

They can be made from various kinds of woods

Wood in almost all its forms presents natural patterns that were developed for years during the trees’ growth.

If you have an affinity for a particular wood, you should be able to find spindles cut from it. Spindles are produced from woods including birch, poplar timber, hemlock, white oak, ash, dark hardwood and more.

Pine is the most popular wood for producing wood spindles, as it’s relatively inexpensive and readily available yet visually pleasing.

They can be more affordable than the alternative

Wood spindles can be significantly cheaper than metal spindles, depending on the wood or metals in question.

For example, metals like wrought iron, nickel and chrome are usually more expensive to produce and craft than wooden alternatives.

Do your spindles match the style of your home?

You might prefer the look of one type of spindle. But something to take into consideration is whether or not your choice of spindles matches the overall style of your home.

You may be drawn to metal spindles, but if your home has a much more traditional aesthetic, with wooden features, they probably wouldn’t look right. Whereas wooden spindles would fit in perfectly.

Will the spindles fit in your current staircase?

Depending on the spindles fitted previously, your staircase might not be equipped to take a change of spindle. Switching from wood spindles to metal ones, for example.

If you’re switching to a drastically different spindle, you need to consider any more improvements that need to be made to your staircase or handrail to accommodate them.

Are metal spindles or wood spindles right for you?

As you can see, there’s plenty to think about in choosing between metal spindles and wood spindles.

But whether you choose metal or wood, your new spindles will transform your staircase and give it a much-needed visual boost.