Stairwell lighting: pendant lights, wall lights & decorative lighting for stairwells

Depending on the type of staircase and the design of the entire surrounding space, and taking into account the function and design of the entire building, SATTLER works with the customer to find the right staircase lighting. Below you will find an overview of common types of staircases, the regulatory requirements for staircase lighting, recommendations for stairwell lighting, and specific lighting recommendations based on projects that have already been completed.

More about lighting design
Modern staircase in an exposed concrete building, integrated luminous ceilings run along the underside of the staircase in square, divided strips and in turn illuminate the steps and corridors below.

Illuminated ceilings on the underside of the stairs ensure homogeneous, full illumination of the steps below with straight, counter-running stairs with turning landings.

With its movable luminaire heads, the AVVENI VERTICAL is one of the favourite pendant luminaires for staircase eyes on spiral staircases, spiral or multi-flight counter-running staircases with turning landings.

 

Stairwell lighting — bespoke for every type of staircase


Every stairwell lighting scheme has different requirements: How bright should it be? Should the light fitting be a decorative feature or provide subtle task lighting? In public buildings, hotels, hospitals and office complexes, the stairwell serves a representative function — the lighting must fulfil both roles: safety and visual impact.


SATTLER works with architects, interior designers and lighting designers to develop the right pendant light for the stairwell, the perfect chandelier for the landing or the ideal wall light for the staircase or stair step lighting. From standard designs to bespoke solutions — all from a single source.

 

Let us advise you!

Questions about staircase lighting? Contact us for more information or a no-obligation consultation on the right staircase lighting.

 

Which staircase is planned?

The type of staircases determines the right lighting solution. Whether it’s a straight multi-flight staircase, a spiral staircase with a central landing, or a single-flight straight staircase — SATTLER understands the requirements and has the right solutions. Here is a selection of lighting solutions we have implemented:

 

 

An excerpt of realised lighting solutions for different types of stairs:

Multi-run counter-circular staircase

 

Integrated luminous ceilings  on the underside of the stairs above in a modern company building ensure homogeneous, full illumination of the steps below.

 

Here the straight, multi-run, counter-running staircase with turning landing.

View from a modern waiting area with two chairs and acoustic elements on the ceiling onto a modern stairwell in an exposed concrete building. Integrated illuminated ceilings from SATTLER run along the underside of the stairs in square, divided strips and in turn illuminate the steps and corridors below. | © Brigida González

Single-flight straight staircase

 

The lighting in the foyer with a large,  wide-area ring pendant luminaire ANELLO is repeated on the first floor in a smaller version. The overall room lighting in combination with the light-coloured steps ensure that the staircase is correctly illuminated here. 

 

Here in the modern administration building with a high entrance area, a single-flight straight staircase leads from reception to the offices. 

Anello 2m and acoustic panel from SATTLER in the staircase | © SATTLER | Werbe-und Medienagentur Mohring

Spiral staircase with eye

 

The branched AVVENI VERTICAL pendant rod luminaire with its movable luminaire heads that spiral upwards is ideal for the staircase eye of a spiral staircase with several flights, as here in this company building. 

 

Thanks to the various high-quality surface colours of the AVVENI luminaire series, as shown here in polished aluminium, the luminaires blend harmoniously into the room concept.

AVVENI VERTICAL - The luminaire for stair cases: Staircase eye of the company GEMÜ Ingelfingen. White flat railing, black steps and rod-shaped luminaire, the AVVENI vertical 6, with several round flat luminaire heads positioned along its length and extending away from the centre of the rod

 

 

 

Entrance area with staircase with straight single-flight staircase of a modern private house and focus on decorative lighting thanks to a modern chandelier consisting of 3 TOCCATA ring luminaires.

Decorative lighting in the stairwell

Lighting design with special pendant luminaires           

 

  • Decorative luminaires with a design language that matches the architecture or as a focal point that deliberately contrasts with the style of the neighbouring room design.
    Thanks to our many years of experience, we can also realise high ceiling heights, such as in stairwells, as well as special designs for the suspension of glass roof constructions and more. Put us to the test!

  •  

 

An eye-catcher is often used to illuminate staircase eyes or for prestigious staircases and stairways.

 

View from below of three large ring luminaires radiating outwards, CIRCOLO INVERSE with a diameter of 1.32 metres, suspended one below the other in a glass tower.

Modern chandeliers & light objects

Ideal lighting for the staircase eye: modern chandeliers for the stairwell made of ring lights from SATTLER's standard lighting portfolio such as TOCCATA or as new combinations of existing lights such as the SLIM series. The EVOLUTION VERTICAL, consisting of various connected cylindrical elements, is also an excellent lighting element for use on stairs. In addition, complete in-house creations are repeatedly realised as project luminaires. The possibilities are endless.

 

Staircase eyes with modern chandeliers made of ring lights:

Lights for the stairwell eye: Concrete school stairwell with large-format ring luminaires in the stairwell eye | © Thomas Koculak

 

Inspiring projects with filigree ring lights from the SATTLER lighting portfolio and, in addition, customised object solutions:

TOCCATA

 

 

The modern TOCCATA chandelier from SATTLER is available in various diameters from 3 to 5 luminaire rings and creates a different and always very harmonious, elegant image from all sides.

 

Ring light chandelier positioned in stair openings or above the landing of a spiral staircase.

Lamp stairwell / chandelier for the entrance area: Side view of the TOCCATA, a modern chandelier consisting of several connected individual ring lights that form an inverted pyramid shape. | © Luminarium
View from below onto the ceiling of a modern chandelier consisting of several light rings that form a spiral shape: the TOCCATA 1900 pendant light. | © Luminarium

Customized luminaire: SLIM lighting object

 

The SLIM luminaire series with its diameters of 380 mm to 1.9 m and various beam directions and a large selection of high-quality surface colours enables a harmonious combination to create a new lighting element, individually selected to suit the spatial possibilities.

 

Matched to the staircase eye, these customized luminaire consisting of 7 SLIM rings from Ø 600 mm - Ø 1240 mm, both direct and outward-illuminating, combined to form a lighting object. 

View downwards to a special luminaire, like a modern chandelier consisting of several directly illuminated ring luminaires, in a stairwell of a staircase with multiple straight flights of stairs. | © Via Modular Licht + Gestaltung GmbH

Special luminaire: Light object 
SLIM circular segments 

 

Customised solutions are also used in stairwells. Both special shapes with these curved, inward-radiating circular segments based on SLIM and customer-specific colours, selected according to the surfaces of the floor numbers, have been realised in this individual lighting object. The suspension of the lighting elements at different heights draws attention to the stairwell of this multi-flight straight staircase.

Chandelier, light object in the stairwell of a company building of the VCC Group, consisting of circular segments of SLIM ring luminaires shining inwards and the aluminum luminaire profile in gold. | © eydos GmbH

 

Staircase eyes with tubular modern chandeliers:

Modern chandelier for staircase eye: EVOLUTION VERTICAL 1: Zoom to a tubular golden chandelier, shown between 4 white walls, a pendant lamp for a staircase eye of a private residence. | © SATTLER

PALITO Chandelier

 

A kind of chandelier or light object can also be created by arranging various horizontally aligned tubular PALITO luminaires, suspended at different levels. The horizontal or inclined position of the luminaires can be individually adjusted.

 

The stringer staircase with its spiral basic shape and treads made of a warm wooden floor and light-coloured flat railing houses the PALITO light object in its staircase opening.

Stringer staircase with a spiral shape made of a warm wooden floor and light-coloured, flat stringer banisters whose staircase opening accommodates a light object consisting of rather horizontally floating tubular pendant luminaires (PALITO chandelier). | © FAKTORLicht
  • Architect icon Architect: asp Architekten GmbH, STUTTGART | light planner: FAKTORLicht
  • Icon: Image credit/photographer – copyright information for image ©FAKTORLicht
  • Icon: Products used in image – link to product details PALITO

EVOLUTION VERTICAL 1

 

The EVOLUTION VERTICAL 1 is a modern tubular chandelier with direct and indirect light in elegant champagne gold. 

 

The individual vertical, tubular lighting elements are connected to each other at different levels on a transverse body framework. The different levels and selected positioning of the spotlight elements in cylindrical luminaire bodies create a different image of the luminaire from each side.

 

Above the straight historical dark wooden staircase, the luminaire appears elegant and fresh at the same time.

View over a historic wooden banister to a modern tubular chandelier in elegant, discreet champagne gold, which is suspended above the staircase.

EVOLUTION VERTICAL 3

 

The EVOLUTION VERTICAL 3 pendant luminaire is also particularly suitable as a modern chandelier for high stairwells with wider stair openings.

 

Here, three lighting elements are connected together. The power supply and suspension always runs through the luminaire above into the one below, ensuring a straight line and preventing unnecessary suspensions from spoiling the visual appearance.

 

The elegant, timeless surface colour of the luminaire also brightens up the appearance of this rather darker straight stone staircase.

View of a pendant luminaire consisting of three modern golden chandeliers (EVOLUTION VERTICAL 3), in a stone staircase with glass stringers of a textile shop for modern, elegant menswear.

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Lighting at the staircase and turning platform

Utilise emerging spaces and transitions! Luminaires illuminate the room, serve as a visual cue, as a link between levels and much more.

 

One of the most harmonious elements is and remains the circle.

 

We offer a variety of ring lights in different sizes and beam directions. 

 

Let us inspire you and discover the SATTLER lighting portfolio!

to the lighting portfolio

 

Extract of realised projects with filigree ring lights such as the SLIM or large-format ring lights such as the CIRCOLO:

Stairway with directly or indirectly illuminated ring luminaires
In a historic bank building, Slim Wall luminaires in various diameters were used to create accent lighting and the ceiling height was extended using indirect SLIM luminaires. The SLIM provides direct lighting to illuminate the basic lighting in the corridor area. | © Andreas Zimmermann Fotografie
SLIM - ring light combination

 

Two SLIM direct and SLIM indirect ring luminaires above the staircase together with the SLIM WALL wall luminaires integrate the staircase into the room, creating a harmonious spatial image.

 

At the same time, the luminaires emphasise the special geometric shape of the spiral stringer staircase.

Staircase with direct and indirect ring 
luminaires
Corridor in a modern office building, on the right in the picture a white ring light (DUETTO direct/indirect 1924 mm).
  • Architect icon WSK Ingenieurbüro f. technische Ausrüstung OHG, Saarbrücken
  • Icon: Products used in image – link to product details DUETTO
DUETTO - Filigree ring light with additional indirect light

 

Several direct and indirect ring luminaires from the DUETTO series 

range characterise the staircase of a modern company building.

Staircase with large ring luminaires
View upwards in a stairwell with a glass handrail and a round outward-radiating luminaire, CIRCOLO INVERSE (diameter 1600), in the centre of the wooden ceiling. | © Ella Bessette
 
CIRCOLO - large-format ring luminaire

 

The CIRCOLO INVERSE version of the large-format ring luminaires is used here. Shining directly and especially outwards and large, it illuminates and attracts attention and marks the staircase opening.

Turning platform with ring luminaires

 

Hanging lamp for stircase: Turning landing of the staircase in the historical private residence of Lohmann & Rauscher with SLIM direct ring light (aluminium polished) | © Lohmann & Rauscher
  • Architect icon Pro Office GmbH
  • Icon: Image credit/photographer – copyright information for image Lohmann & Rauscher
  • Icon: Products used in image – link to product details SLIM
SLIM - Filigree ring luminaire

 

A direct beam SLIM ring luminaire directly connects the end of one wooden staircase at the turning landing with the beginning of the straight staircase that continues, picking up on the oriel shape on the intermediate level and rounding it off. 

Discover other profile luminaires in other geometric shapes as pendant or surface-mounted luminaires, such as the elliptical narrow SLIM ELLIPSE, the DOPPIO ELLIPSE, the large-format ELLIPSE, the rounded triangular shape of the filigree SLIM DELTA and the large-format SOFT DELTA, the pointed square shapes of the filigree GIOCO and the rounded square shapes of the large-format SOFT QUADRA and SOFT SQUARE or others.

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When using the decorative pendant luminaires shown, additional lighting elements such as wall luminaires, spotlights or downlights and backlights are often included,

such as wall luminaires, spotlights or downlights as well as backlighting,

to ensure continuous staircase lighting. 

 

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Wall luminaires for illuminating steps:

 

With some types of stairs, it is difficult or impossible to suspend luminaires. For example, wall luminaires are recommended for spiral staircases. 

 

Of course, there are also other customised creative lighting solutions such as lighting directly on the steps or in the handrail. 

 

Other types of luminaires that can be installed on the underside of the staircase above, depending on the type of staircase, are of course surface-mounted ceiling luminaires, downlights or spotlights.

Decorative and functional wall lights for illuminating steps and staircases

SPILLA

252

PALITO WALL

420 mm

LUCE VERDE SLIM

WALL

1300

SLIM WALL

380

SLIM WALL

1900

Five ring lights from the GIRATA VERTICAL series in various bright colours – purple, white, red and green – and in various ring diameters are suspended at different heights along a white wall, shining into the centre of the circle and illuminating the wall at the same time. Several black bar stools are lined up to the left below them.

GIRATA

VERTICAL

1240

A leather sofa corner at night, with a light-coloured wooden table in front of it, on which stand a glass of water and an espresso cup. Next to it is a smaller wooden table featuring the AVVENI Concrete table lamp, comprising a concrete base and a round, flat lampshade, which illuminates the scene.

AVVENI CONCRETE

88 mm

PALADIO WALL

DIREC / INDIRECT

1,130 mm

BECU

305 mm

Movable, rotating and/or swivelling wall luminaires or ceiling luminaires

PALITO WALL

420 mm

EVOLUTION SPOT

S

110 mm

Close-up of two cylindrical spotlights, EVOLUTION SPOT, in a black track.

EVOLUTION SPOT

M

157 mm

AVVENI PURE

WALL

80 mm

AVVENI SINGLE

134 mm

AVVENI LIGHTLIGHT

TRACK SYSTEM

262 mm

A leather sofa corner at night, with a light-coloured wooden table in front of it, on which stand a glass of water and an espresso cup. Next to it is a smaller wooden table featuring the AVVENI Concrete table lamp, comprising a concrete base and a round, flat lampshade, which illuminates the scene.

AVVENI CONCRETE

88 mm

Recessed power track (PALADIO TRACK) with two FINO SPOT 2 movable cylindrical spotlights, one in white and one in silver.

FINO SPOT 2

165 mm

Spots & downlights - the little helpers for the right light

BE 2

square

118 mm

Corridor in a modern office with strip parquet flooring, illuminated by small round recessed spotlights, BE2 luminaires. Through a glass front, you can see into an adjacent meeting room with a table, chairs and rectangular SOFT SQUARE ring luminaire.

BE 2

round

118

BE 3

square

142 mm

Corridor in a modern office with strip parquet flooring, illuminated by small round recessed spotlights, BE2 luminaires. Through a glass front, you can see into an adjacent meeting room with a table, chairs and rectangular SOFT SQUARE ring luminaire.

BE 3

round

145

White ceiling with two flat, round ceiling downlights AVVENI DOWNLIGHT PURE, with white edge and circular prismatic diffuser.

AVVENI DOWNLIGHT

PURE

196

PALADIO DOWNLIGHT

300 mm

Modern chandelier for staircase eye: EVOLUTION VERTICAL 1: Zoom to a tubular golden chandelier, shown between 4 white walls, a pendant lamp for a staircase eye of a private residence.

Planning stairwell lighting - Our tip: use the product families:

 

Our tip for selecting lights for stairs: 

 

In addition to many decorative pendant luminaires, wall-mounted luminaires & spots from the same series or basic shape are available — this creates a harmonious lighting effect throughout the stairwell.

 

EVOLUTION VERTICAL <> EVOLUTION SPOT

 

AVVENI VERTICAL <> AVVENI SINGLE, AVVENI PURE ....

 

SLIM DIRECT <> SLIM WALL

 

PALITO <> PALITO WALL  or FINO SPOT

 

Discover more varied lighting options for staircases from SATTLER!

 

Further inspiration for staircase lighting

Customised staircase lighting in the handrail

Straight staircase with wooden treads, concrete side walls, a metal handrail on the inside of the walls on both sides, from which light shines downwards onto the steps.

Large-format luminaires with RGB in the staircase eye

Interior of a modern building, on the left it shows a corridor on a higher floor, in the atrium/staircase leading to the exterior glass façade there are 6 large-format square, SOFT QUADRA, and rectangular, SOFT SQUARE, frame luminaires with RGB suspended at different heights, each shining in a different colour: red, green, blue.

Cylindrical luminaire module in the concrete staircase eye

View of a luminaire ensemble of the cylindrical pendant luminaires FIO, made of round, transparent acrylic rods, and TIA, made of a golden aluminum tube, in a stairwell of a concrete staircase.
  • Architect icon Wentz Planungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. GmbH Frankfurt
  • Icon: Products used in image – link to product details FIO | TIA

 

Lighting design for stairs

Take advantage of our experience in lighting design for stairwells!

 

From the "standard" and beyond...

 

Special architectural requirements or simply the particular conditions in the room often require a customised solution for the luminaires used in the stairwell. The special design can relate to the shape, colour, suspension, technical configuration or even the complete design of the luminaire. There are few limits to the design possibilities and our special projects department provides support in every respect, from lighting design to installation, in order to minimise the number of interfaces in the project.

Let us advise you!

Inspiring projects and lighting solutions for stairs! Contact us for more information or a no-obligation consultation.

 

 

Things to know about lighting design for stairs:

 

The trade magazine licht.de has summarised the most important points:

 

 

✔ Stairs often have a prestigious character.

✔ Above all, however, they must be safe for the user, because stairs and corridors are traffic routes and also escape routes.

✔ Emergency and safety lighting must therefore be installed and maintained in accordance with standards.

 

✔ Light shining down from the top landing creates short, soft shadows.

This means that steps stand out clearly from one another and each individual step can be easily recognised.

 

! Hard cast shadows significantly impair the visual task. They are caused by tightly focussed, directional light.

! Diffuse light without shadows should also be avoided. This is caused by too much light coming from the wrong direction; steps can then no longer be distinguished from one another

 

✔ The right choice for staircase lighting is wall or ceiling luminaires with wide beam light distribution, installed parallel to the staircase.

✔ It often makes sense to mark steps with additional orientation lights. They are installed in the wall or, in the case of wide stairs, recessed directly into the risers. Depending on the design of the light, every step, or at least every third step, must be illuminated.

✔If wall luminaires are used in the staircase area, care must be taken to ensure that the light source does not dazzle people going up or down the stairs.

 

✔According to DIN EN 12464-1, the guideline value for staircase lighting is at least 150 lux. Lighting with 200 lux is more comfortable and safer - and hardly causes any higher operating costs.

FAQ on stairwell lighting & lighting for staircase eyes

 

 

 

 

Let our lighting designers advise you!

We will be happy to provide you with further information on lighting for stairs, in particular specific luminaire proposals from SATTLER that fulfil the requirements and also your individual wishes.

 

 

 

Just ask us!

Inspiring projects! Please contact us for more information or a non-binding consultation on the right staircase lighting.

Author: Lydia Lange

+49 7161 9201930
export@sattler-lighting.com
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