Staircase & Void Lighting Ideas

Staircases and voids are some of the most beautiful yet challenging spaces to light.

Too often, they’re either overlit and harsh, or left dark and forgotten.

The right lighting not only makes these areas safe but turns them into architectural features that connect your home beautifully from one level to another.

In this guide, Lucretia Lighting shares simple, practical ideas to help you plan effective and stylish lighting for high ceilings, staircases, and voids.

Lighting in these tall, open spaces serves two key purposes: safety and style.

• Safety: Stairs need even illumination to prevent shadows or dark steps.
• Style: Well-placed lighting draws the eye upward, enhancing height and drama in your interior.

When done thoughtfully, it creates flow and continuity — guiding you naturally between levels while highlighting your home’s architecture.

Here are the main lighting types that work well for staircases and voids:

• Pendant Lights:
  A striking pendant or chandelier can anchor the centre of a void, creating visual impact. For double-height spaces, a cascading design adds movement and fills vertical space.
• Wall Lights:
  Ideal for staircases. Positioned at regular intervals, they create rhythm and help light each step evenly without glare.
• Recessed Step Lights:
  Discreet but functional. They provide safety and add a subtle glow that makes stairs feel inviting at night.
• Ceiling Downlights:
  Provide general ambient light for visibility. Use adjustable types to direct light down the stairwell.
• Linear or Strip Lighting:
  Works perfectly along handrails or under steps for a clean, modern look.

At Lucretia Lighting, we often combine multiple types to balance brightness and beauty — ensuring the space feels layered rather than flat.

Lighting height is crucial in tall spaces. Here are some quick guidelines:

• Pendant Height in a Void:
  For two-storey spaces, hang the lowest point of the pendant roughly at the midpoint between floors. This keeps it visible but clear of head height.
  For very high ceilings, consider multi-tier or adjustable pendants that can be customised to your void dimensions.
• Wall Lights on Stairs:
  Usually installed about 1.5–1.8 metres from the step level. Keep spacing consistent for even illumination.
• Step Lights:
  Install 15–20cm above each tread for balanced glow and safety.

Pro Tip 💡: Use dimmers to control brightness — bright during the day, soft in the evening.

The tone of light makes a huge difference:

• Warm white (2700K–3000K): Creates a welcoming, luxurious atmosphere.
• Neutral white (3500K–4000K): Provides a cleaner, contemporary look.

For most homes, warm light works best — it softens hard surfaces and adds warmth to vertical spaces.

If the void receives lots of natural light, neutral tones can help maintain balance.

• Hanging lights too high: They lose impact and get lost in the space.
• Using too few fittings: The stairway becomes unevenly lit, with bright and dark patches.
• Ignoring maintenance: Inaccessible lights make cleaning or replacing bulbs difficult — choose fixtures with long-lasting LEDs.
• Mismatched finishes: Keep fixture finishes consistent with other areas for a cohesive design.

Every fitting should look intentional — part of the architecture, not an afterthought.

At Lucretia Lighting, we view staircases and voids as opportunities to create drama and depth.

Our designers work closely with homeowners and architects to customise pendant heights, beam angles, and finishes that complement each space.

Because when light is used thoughtfully, even the simplest staircase can become the highlight of your home.