There are several considerations you should make, including the type of material you are wanting to incorporate and the style that would best complement your home.

Wood spindles sit in a grooved track in both the handrail and base rail. The size of the spindle (32mm or 41mm) will determine the size of this groove. Grooved handrails and base rails come with infill (also known as track or filler) which then sits between your spindles.

Spindles need to be secured between a base rail and a handrail, so once you have made a choice on your spindle design you can select the right handrail and base rail to suit.

Sanding, painting and varnishing wooden spindles allows you to give your staircase a bespoke finishing touch. Consider using a Hardwax Oil for a hard-wearing and attractive finish on your stair spindles and other stair parts made from materials such as pine and timber.

This Oak & Chrome spindle allows you to mix and match styles to create the perfect look for your home. The wood on this spindle is American White Oak and comes un-finished and the Chrome has a shiny finish.

If a spindle has split, you’ll need to replace it. If it’s just come loose at the top or bottom, you’ll simply need to tighten it.

Closed string staircases enclose the stair treads and risers and the spindles are fixed to a base rail at the bottom and a handrail at the top.

Wooden stair spindles are a classic choice for staircases, especially in period properties. Wood is strong and durable and easy to paint if you decide to change the look of your wooden staircase.

To utilise a mixture of styles, consider combining wood and metal together in your spindle design. The Forge range fuses traditional timber with a solid modern set of modern fittings. This can enhance the staircase aesthetic and create contemporary elements with its spindles.

Chamfered spindles (also known as stop chamfered spindles) are square at the top and bottom and have a narrower square decorative middle. They are similar in design and style to square spindles. Popular materials include:

A diminishing staircase is when the handrail going up the stairs hits the ceiling line. As the spindles hit the ceiling line they begin to shorten in size.

Spindles must be properly spaced to achieve an even and consistent look and for building regulation purposes. Building regulations state that gaps between the balusters should not exceed 100mm. A domestic property can have a handrail height of 900mm for both stairs and landings. Commercial properties should be a minimum of 900mm on stairs and 1100mm on landings.

If only a couple of spindles are damaged, you can replace them individually. There are numerous popular spindle designs ready-made and available to install in place of damaged spindles. However, if you need a more bespoke spindle design, our expert woodturning service can easily replicate your existing spindles.

The material is a popular choice with homeowners looking for an industrial look. Architectural interior designer Louisa De Paola shares her recommendations: “Bespoke wrought-iron spindles are a real statement and range in styles, so for a contemporary space I’d specify a simple hairpin design in a matt-black finish. For a classic contemporary home, my favourite would be a sleek art deco design in an antique brass finish.”

These stair parts are available in a variety of different styles and materials, which you can discover from our stair spindle range.

Suitable for all types of internal joinery including floors, stairs, doors, furniture and kitchen worktops. Just two coats of our Clear Hardwax Oil will protect and enhance wooden surfaces.

You can mix and match metal spindles—for example, alternating simple straight spindles with ornate ones—to create a truly unique balustrade. For inspiration, you can view a full range of black metal spindles here.

A simple way to give your staircase a total revamp is to replace timber spindles with iron spindles. Wrought iron contrasts perfectly with wooden stair parts to create a warm and welcoming stairway.

Our superb black metal spindles offer sturdy, strong and low maintenance options. Black metal spindles are the perfect way to add a modern and sleek feel to your staircase.

If you have young children, a balustrade with sturdy spindles with a hardwearing finish is probably going to be your preference. Families with young children usually choose spindles over glass panels, which can easily show fingerprints and smears.

Square spindles are the simplest spindle design and are a popular choice for contemporary homes, particularly those with a minimalist style. The simplicity of square spindles tends to make them cheaper when compared with other designs, so are a great option if you’re updating your wood staircase on a budget, or if you plan to sell the property and are looking for a style with universal appeal.

The benefit of chamfered spindles is that they suit modern and traditional properties. As they are wooden, you can paint or finish the balusters to achieve the look you want and your preferred style.

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If you’re considering bucking the trend for wooden finish spindles, then you can find out more with our guide on stair spindle colours.

Hemlock stair parts come unfinished, and can be finished by painting, varnishing or waxing. Barley Twist spindles also come in Pine and Oak.

The style and period of your property may also play a part in your choice of spindle design. If you want to retain the property’s period features, a traditional wooden spindle may be more in keeping with the home than a contemporary metal spindle.

This Classic fluted spindle is 900mm x 41mm, and is part of the Classic Richard Burbidge range. The Classic range is unfinished, it can be finished by painting, varnishing or waxing.

Cut-string staircases leave the stair treads and risers exposed, and the spindle sits directly on the stair tread. For this style, you will need two spindles on each tread. The front spindle should be 900mm long and the back spindle 1100mm.

The colour you choose for your staircase spindles will help set the tone for the décor throughout your home and give your visitors the right first impression.

Loose staircase spindles can not only ruin the overall look of your balustrade but pose a danger to people using the staircase too.

Revamping a staircase with damaged spindles can make a huge difference to a home for both practical and aesthetic reasons. Depending on the condition of the existing spindles, there are different degrees of renovation that you may need to carry out. Before you start, ask yourself the following questions:

Spindles (also known as a baluster) are vertical posts that connect the base rail and handrail on a staircase. They form part of the balustrade; the collective name for the base rail, handrail, newel post and spindles. Stair spindles (also known as a baluster) are vertical posts that connect the base rail and handrail on a staircase. They form part of the balustrade; the collective name for the base rail, handrail, newel post and spindles.

Metal is a versatile material that can work well with wood or metal handrails and base rails. The wide variety of styles available means that you can pick a design as ornate or as simple as you want to suit your home and reflect your style.

According to experts, young professionals generally prefer metal spindles or glass panels. Older homeowners tend to go for a classic contemporary look with a timeless feel, such as natural oak spindles.

This Pine traditional spindle is part of the Pine range of modern and traditional stair parts. It has a top block length of 178mm, middle turning of 539mm and bottom block of 178mm. Pine stair parts come unfinished but, they can be finished by painting or waxing.

When tackling a run-down staircase it’s sometimes necessary to replace all of the spindles on the balustrade. Aside from ensuring the staircase is safe and sturdy, this also offers a great opportunity to change the look of the staircase, either by modernising or restoring original features.

Spindles are often the most decorative part of a staircase and vary in design from traditional wooden stair spindles to contemporary metal designs.

At either end of the run of spindles there will be a sturdier post, known as a newel post, which supports the entire balustrade. You can read more about newel posts for stairs here.

The purpose of the balusters, or the spindles, is to support the handrail. They act as a safety feature to eliminate the risk of anyone falling; whilst adding aesthetically pleasing elements to the home.

This spindle is part of the Dark Hardwood range of modern and traditional stair parts. Dark Hardwood stair parts come unfinished, and can be finished by varnishing or waxing.

It is important to ensure that each spindle is accurately spaced along the balustrade. This depends on whether you require spindles for the landing, the rake (the stairs), or both; taking into account the width of the stair spindles themselves.

The key advantage of metal spindles is that they’re extremely strong and durable and require very little maintenance. They also offer easy installation as some metal spindles have adjustable lengths and come with adjustable brackets.

Apply two coats with a brush or roller. One coat of Treatex Hardwax Oil Natural can be applied underneath Treatex Hardwax Oil Clear Gloss.

Whether you choose contemporary or traditional spindle styles will largely depend on your property type. But with so many options available, it can be challenging to know where to start, especially if you’re looking to combine traditional and contemporary styles or want to try something completely unique with custom-made spindles.

The Hemlock barley twist newel post is part of the Hemlock range of modern and traditional stair parts. We recommend partnering this newel post with the Barley Twist Hemlock spindle.

This spindle is part of the Hemlock range of modern and traditional stair parts. Hemlock stair parts come unfinished, and can be finished by painting, varnishing or waxing.

When you’re selecting new stair spindles, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions to ensure you choose the right stair parts for the job.