I Showed a Designer My Cramped, Chaotic Staircase Landing, and Her Advice Made It 10x Better

I grew up in a traditional two-story house, which is a popular house style in the Midwest. Going to bed meant going up a flight of stairs, turning the corner, climbing some more, and then landing on an upstairs hallway that opened up to the bedrooms. My room was first on the right. I loved running up those green-carpeted stairs from ground level, rounding the corner, and sprinting up the last leg to the big hallway.

The flat terrain of my neighborhood was all I knew, so I never thought houses could be built on hills, or that first-floor bedrooms existed. Going “down” to bed was definitely not a thing. But in Los Angeles, my house is built exactly that way. And when my family descends the staircase to the downstairs bedroom level, I want them to be welcomed into a restorative area — one of beauty, peace, and comfort. 

The stairwell landing here, though, is generally chaotic and cramped. Rather than feeling welcoming, it presents obstacles and confusion. The problem is this space has become a catchall for the family’s belongings. It tends to be a cluttered purgatory for empty suitcases, discarded lamps, mirrors, and framed pieces all in transition. It’s far from the tranquil moment of transition I had in mind.

To turn this area into an inviting, relaxing zone, I’d need an interior designer’s eye. Yes, some of the things I mentioned above had to be discarded (or put back into their original places) even before the “before” photos you see here. But that wasn’t enough. So I reached out to designer Jean Liu in Dallas. Her thoughtful, expert ideas were game-changers. So I’m going to walk you through her suggestions in case you have a staircase landing, entryway, or transitional spot that needs some love, too. 

Liu’s first suggestion didn’t come as a surprise. “If at all possible, I would find another home for the bookshelf and the floor lamp,” she advised. “Not only does this small space feel overcrowded with furniture, it also adds to the visual noise of a tight area of the home.” Liu suggested paring down the landing so that instead of getting lost in a jumble, the pieces there would shine. 

The bookshelf was a challenge, in part, because we have nowhere else to put it but also because my husband and I love books. Also, it’s super heavy. We decided to temporarily move it to the garage — i.e. “purgatory II” — until we can sort out a permanent new space for it. The lamp moved back to the primary bedroom, until I later realized I missed the softness of its light and returned it to the landing.

Next, Liu said our design choices could use some refining. “The table with photos and artwork above it creates a nice moment,” she generously offered. “I would just suggest cleaning it up by editing some of the photos, hiding the cords that can be seen below the table, and perhaps centering the table and artwork in the entrance of the staircase instead of along the entire wall of the landing.” 

What a revelation! I didn’t realize that the table and artwork hadn’t been centered all along. The photos I could manage, and I could certainly play with the table and artwork spacing. She also suggested finding a larger piece of artwork to use on the wall where the table was now, which gave me pause. 

I could easily move the table, but the artwork was a conundrum. That photograph had hung there since we moved in, so it felt like it belonged there. I couldn’t imagine replacing it, but I had to see her vision through. 

Browsing Anthropologie, I came across this gorgeous, oversize Pastural Distressed Paper Tapestry. I could see it now: This tapestry was magical, enchanting. I instantly fell in love with it, and the brand offered it to me as a gift for the makeover. So I’d follow Liu’s suggestion by swapping in this piece.

Lastly, Liu addressed the rug I had underfoot. “I love the use of the rug here to give the landing some warmth,” she began. “However, I might prefer to see a lighter color rug that allows the space to feel airier, especially against the darker wood color of the flooring.” Genius.

Not only did Liu suggest a lighter rug, she also saw the need for a different type of pattern within the rug. “I would also explore the idea of using a rug that does not employ a center medallion, since this current pattern forces the eye to determine what is the center of the space,” she said. 

Liu questioned whether, in this case, the center of the room is the center of landing — or the center of the staircase. To avoid this centering conundrum, it’d be better to try a different style of rug. “By going to an all-over pattern, it blurs what center is while still enjoying the warmth, texture, and layer a rug offers,” Liu explained.

On it! I went straight to Ruggable to fulfill Liu’s vision and quickly happened upon this pretty Pimpernel Vintage Plush Rug, which the brand also sent to me for testing. Without the center medallion, I felt that this rug would change the nature of the space, in both color and design. 

Implementing these changes and putting together the new pieces felt like a free-fall dive, not knowing where exactly I would land. I put my trust into Liu’s vision before I jumped, though, and I’m so happy I did. What a dramatic change her ideas made! 

Both the tapestry and the rug serve to lighten the space, and Liu nailed it with her idea of a lighter rug contrasting with the dark wood of the floor. The absence of the bookshelf opens up the space and frees up the emotional attachments I had to so many of the books (and framed photos), which felt somewhat heavy. Also, I’m so happy all the dark wood isn’t dominating the space anymore. In its revived and refreshed form, this space now feels like a proper landing — and one which will lead to peaceful sleep and pleasant dreams for all. It’s a neutral, beautiful, seamless transition into the bedroom level of our home.