The Stunning Design Element HGTV's Hilary Farr Uses For Added Staircase Safety

Staircases can be more than just a way to get from one floor to the other — when done correctly, a staircase can be part of a home's design and add to the overall flow and style. Modern staircases are no longer simply hidden behind carpeting or wood panels; instead, they feature updated elements like glass, steel, and chrome. But even with the design updates, stairs pose a risk for accidents or injuries. Hilary Farr, of HGTV's "Tough Love with Hilary Farr," used her design skills to add a walnut railing to the top of a staircase that doubled as a safety feature for the homeowners' children.

Before Farr added the railing, the stairs had an open design that posed a risk to young children who could easily fall or jump over the staircase. "I wanted to do this as a design element as well as safety for the children," Farr said during the episode about her added staircase feature. "The main thing is they are safe."

If you are worried about the safety of your staircase, you don't have to do an entire renovation on your stairs. In fact, Hillary Farr's safety solution involved something that is actually quite simple to do. Farr added walnut bars to the top level of the stairs, and to get the same feature, you will need a professional who is well-versed in cutting wood, or you can attempt the project yourself.

If you plan to DIY the safety railing, determine how many wood posts you need and cut them according to size. Keep in mind the space between each post should be small enough to prevent children from climbing through or getting their heads stuck. You also want to make sure your posts are tall enough. Farr used a walnut for the posts, but you can opt for any type of wood or color (you can easily paint wood posts to your liking) to match your home's design.

If your space does not allow for a new railing, there are other ways to keep your stairs safe and child-proof. Baby gates are a great and easy go-to when you are first looking to add safety, but they can also be an eyesore. For more permanent safety options, consider adding a banister guard, which prevents your child from falling through the poles on your banister. If you have an older home, you may also want to consider re-doing your stairs if the steps are uneven sizes and lengths. This can create chaos for young children and any older family members who may be using your stairs.

More simple ways to add safety to your stairs include adding carpet by either outfitting the entire stairway with carpet or installing a runner to your hardwood stairs. You can also add lighting or reflective tape to the stairs to make it easier for people to see where they are stepping. And if you are looking at a cluttered staircase right now, try and keep it clutter-free, as the more items on the stairs, the more likely someone will trip and fall.