Space-saving stairs for small apartments: how to choose the perfect solution

Living in a small apartment doesn't mean having to give up space to make room for a staircase. Space-saving stairs for small apartments are now one of the most sought-after solutions in interior design, because they combine aesthetic strength, practicality and a reduced footprint. In this article, we'll help you find your way through the different types and models we've designed to meet this need.

Contents

• Why a space-saving staircase makes a difference in a small apartment
• How to calculate the space needed for an interior staircase
• Rintal alternating-tread space-saving stairs: Small and Mini
• Spiral stairs: maximum floor area savings
• Compact open-riser stairs: Knock 65
• How to choose the right space-saving staircase for your apartment

Why a space-saving staircase makes a difference in a small apartment

In a home with limited square footage, even the smallest amount of space plays a key role. A traditional straight single-flight staircase can require several linear metres of run, taking away valuable space. Space-saving solutions, on the other hand, allow you to halve this surface through three main approaches:

• Shaped treads: alternating-tread stairs (also known as "ship's stairs") use asymmetric treads that partially overlap, allowing for a steeper rise without compromising safety on the climb.
• Spiral design: spiral stairs are an optimal solution for square or circular floor openings, developing vertically around a central pole.
• Open-riser structures: open-riser stairs let light pass through, increasing the perception of spaciousness in the room.

How to calculate the space needed for an interior staircase

Before choosing the model, it's worth understanding how much space you actually have and how much you'll need. The starting point is the height to be covered, that is, the clear height between the floor of the lower level and that of the upper level. Everything else depends on this value: the number of steps, the riser (the height of each individual step) and the tread (its depth), which together determine the horizontal run of the staircase, that is, how much floor space it will occupy.

The calculation isn't complicated, but it requires several variables to be kept consistent. A riser that is too high makes climbing tiring; a tread that is too short makes it dangerous. The most widely used rule, known as Blondel's formula, links the two values so that the step feels natural.

Formula: 2 × riser + tread = 62-64 cm. For a comfortable staircase, the optimal values are around 17.5–19 cm for the riser and 20–25 cm for the tread.

For a complete guide to the calculation with practical examples, step-by-step formulas and ideal parameters for every type of use, we invite you to read our dedicated article: How to calculate an interior staircase: formulas, standard measurements and practical advice.

Rintal alternating-tread space-saving stairs: Small and Mini

When space is truly minimal, stairs with shaped, alternating treads prove to be an optimal solution: they reduce the horizontal footprint compared with a straight single-flight staircase, allowing access through a smaller floor opening.

Small

The Small space-saving staircase is our most compact model, designed for those who need to solve the problem of connecting floors with minimum footprint and without sacrificing structural strength.

Key technical features:

• Natural pine wood treads, shaped and alternating
• Staircase width: 60 cm
• Painted steel structure (White 22, Silver Grey 01)
• Connects heights from 80 to 356 cm
• Available in straight, single-turn or double-turn versions
• Riser adjustment system for precise fitting
• Can be assembled independently with suitable DIY skills

Find out more on the dedicated Small page.

Mini

Mini is the space-saving staircase designed to make the most of the tightest spaces. Thanks to its shaped, alternating treads, it allows a comfortable climb while reducing the footprint to a minimum. Made of beech wood, the treads are available in different colour finishes, to fit consistently into any home setting.

Key technical features:

• Beech wood treads, shaped and alternating
• Width: 61 cm
• Painted steel structure (White 22, Silver Grey 01)
• Connects heights from 81 to 357 cm
• Available in straight, single-turn or double-turn versions
• Riser adjustment system

Find out more on the dedicated Mini page.

Spiral stairs: maximum floor area savings

If the floor opening is square or circular and floor space is limited, a spiral staircase is often the optimal solution. Its vertical development around a central pole makes it an elegant and striking structure, capable of occupying a corner of the room without losing character.

Hoop

Hoop is our space-saving spiral staircase designed to occupy the smallest possible floor area, while maintaining great installation flexibility.

Key technical features:

• Available in 118 and 138 cm diameters
• Pine wood treads that bring warmth to the room
• Load-bearing structure and balustrade in painted steel (White 22 and Silver Grey 01)
• Balustrade with vertical steel balusters
• Riser adjustment system for precise fitting to the room's height
• Connects heights from 103 to 648 cm

Find out more on the dedicated Hoop spiral staircase page.

Phola

Phola is the modular spiral staircase that combines the natural appeal of wood with the strength of steel, for a result that is both solid and refined.

Key technical features:

• Wide range of diameters available: from 105 to 180 cm
• 40 mm Finger Joint beech wood treads
• Painted steel structure with an extended choice of colours (White 22, Silver Grey 01, Anthracite Grey 03)
• Modular balustrade with carefully crafted finishes
• Connects heights from 123 to 648 cm
• Tread finishes: 8 (Natural 12, Bleached 84, Walnut 25, Sand 27, Cement 89, Dove Grey 87, Wenge 23, White Lacquered 94)
• Structure colours: White 22, Silver Grey 01, Anthracite Grey 03

Find out more on the dedicated Phola page.

Gamia Metal

Gamia Metal is the spiral staircase for those who put durability first and don't want to give up a bold visual character. It is the ideal solution for industrial lofts, contemporary design settings, or simply for those who want the staircase to become a recognisable decorative feature.

• Available in 120 and 140 cm diameters
• Treads, structure and balustrade entirely in painted steel
• Wide range of finishes: White 22, Silver Grey 01, Black 14, Red 92, Blue 34, Green 35, Yellow 36
• Balustrade with vertical steel balusters
• Riser adjustment system for precise fitting to the room's height

Discover all the features on the dedicated Gamia Metal page.

Compact open-riser stairs: Knock 65

Space-saving solutions don't always have to take the form of a spiral or an alternating-tread staircase. Open-riser stairs with reduced widths are an elegant alternative for those who want to keep the linearity of a single flight without sacrificing the comfort of the climb. A straight structure, even in a confined space, ensures natural and intuitive movement, suited to everyday use. What's more, the essential design of an open-riser staircase fits easily into modern and minimalist settings, where visual lightness is part of the project.

Knock 65 cm

Knock, designed by Giugiaro Architettura, shows that space-saving and design are not contradictory concepts. The open-riser structure amplifies the sense of lightness and allows light to filter through along its entire length. The option to integrate LED lighting also turns the staircase into a striking feature in the evening hours.

Key technical features:

• Beech wood treads
• Staircase width: 65 cm
• Painted steel structure (White 22, Silver Grey 01, Anthracite Grey 03)
• Available in straight, single-turn or double-turn versions
• 8 wood finishes available (Bleached, Natural, Walnut, Sand, Cement, Dove Grey, Wenge, White Lacquered)
• Riser adjustment system for precise fitting
• Option to integrate LED lighting

Find out more on the dedicated Knock page.

How to choose the right space-saving staircase for your apartment

Every apartment is different, and the right staircase isn't always the most compact or the most affordable: it's the one that best meets your specific needs. Before choosing, we suggest carefully evaluating these four aspects:

1. Shape and size of the floor opening: this is the starting constraint and often the decisive one. A narrow, rectangular opening points to straight or alternating-tread stairs; a square or circular opening, on the other hand, opens the way to spiral stairs, which make use of every centimetre vertically.
2. Frequency of use: a staircase used several times a day calls for a generous tread and a width of at least 80 cm. For secondary access to an attic or mezzanine, even the most compact models guarantee safety and practicality without taking up unnecessary space.
3. Harmony with your interior: a space-saving staircase shouldn't just work, it should also sit well in your space. Our models offer up to nine wood finishes and seven structure colours, so they can fit any style: from contemporary to rustic, from minimalist to industrial.
4. Intended use of the upper floor: if the connection to be solved leads to an attic or a service room, the most efficient choice is a retractable staircase. Our solutions take up no space when not in use and are activated only when needed: the floor surface remains completely free throughout the day.

If you have any doubts about measurements or about the most suitable configuration for your space, we are here to help: contact us and we'll help you find the right solution.