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As far as home designs go, stairs are ones that you want to get right. Any flaw in the execution could lead to an embarrassing trip or, even worse, a serious fall.
We are so used to walking up and down stairways all day every day, that we don't even think to look if everything is in order. These truly horrific stair designs, collected in a list by Bored Panda, are on another level. Poorly planned, dangerous, and maybe even deadly, after seeing them, you might want to look twice before you take your next step!
Seriously, how these design fails even came to live? Scroll down to check out the very worst staircases you'll ever see, and take care out there!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Not A Good Carpet Choice For Stairs If You Ask Me
Are you ready for some scintillating stair facts? Of course you are! With thanks to StepJockey, here are a few things about home improvement that you might not have known.
- Stair climbing is officially classed as a ‘vigorous exercise’ and burns more calories per minute than jogging
- Stair climbing requires 8-9 times more energy expenditure than sitting and burns about 7 times more calories than taking a lift
- You burn about 0.17 calories for every step you climb, so you burn roughly a calorie and a half for every 10 upward steps
- You also burn calories going down. Every stair descended burns about 0.05 calories, so you burn 1 calorie for every 20 steps down
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#2
I've Seen Some Crappy Stairs, But This One Takes The Cake
#3
When You Let Satan Choose The Carpet
- For buildings with five floors or less, it’s nearly always quicker to take the stairs. Studies show office workers save up to 15 minutes a day by taking the stairs.
- As well as guarding against heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers, stair climbing releases endorphins that produce feelings of wellbeing.
- Just 7 minutes stair climbing a day has been estimated to more than half the risk of a heart attack over 10 years.
- Stair climbing cuts carbon emissions. By ditching the lift in a typical office you will save between 0.3 and 0.6 Kg of Co2 a day.
- Professional skiers often climb stairs to keep competition-fit. Many models do the same to keep their legs toned for the catwalk.
#4
Camouflage 101
#5
Built The Staircase Exactly As Designed, Boss
- Climbing stairs is a classic ‘short burst’ exercise and ideal for the time-poor. The biggest variable in stair climbing is your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn.
- Other variables affecting calorie burn while stair climbing include the angle of the stairs, your sex, climbing speed, age and general fitness.
- You burn more calories climbing stairs in high heels.
- It’s a myth that climbing stairs two at a time burns more calories. More energy is expended over time by taking things slowly.
- The greatest height reached climbing stairs in 12 hours was 33,000 feet by Chris Solarz of Philadelphia, USA. Solarz climbed 58,080 stairs.
- The 19th century is regarded by many as the golden era of stair construction. In the 20th century architects gave prominence to lifts.
#6
Stairs That Lead To Nowhere
#7
Stairs Of Death
- Now, with the emergence of ‘active design’, architects are once again making stairs more prominent.
- Many scientific studies show that simple stair prompts significantly increase stair usage. One trick is simply to point-out ‘hidden’ stairs
- The longest stairway listed by the Guiness Book of Records is the service stairway for the Niesenbahn funicular railway near Spiez, Switzerland. It has 11,674 steps and a round trip would burn over 3,000 calories.
- Going down stairs burns fewer calories but works and tones different muscles and joints. It’s also good for balance and coordination.
- The Roman architect Vitruvius established the first guidelines for the stair in the first century B.C, suggesting a 37 degree pitch. Most stairs are not dramatically different today.
So what are you waiting for? Forget the lift, take a few deep breaths and get climbing!
#8
Extreme Wheelchairing
#9
In Case Of Fire Use Stairs, They Said. Do Not Use Elevators, They Said
#10
Almost Broke My Leg
#11
You Don't Have To Be Drunk To Fall Down These Stairs
#12
These Stairs At A Movie Theatre
#13
These Aren’t Stairs. They Are Decorative Waterfalls. My Friend Walked Into Them And Slipped, I Laughed My Ass Off
#14
This Flight Of Stairs Outside A Door Is Death Waiting To Happen
#15
My God
#16
For When You Want A Near Death Experience Every Time You Use The Stairs
Whawhawhatsis 6 years ago
What's with stairs with no railing? Who thinks that's safe for a healthy adult, let alone a child or an older person whose balance isn't quite as good any more (i.e. me)?
#17
If You Choose To Go On The Left, On The Ramp, Because You Have A Bike Or Stroller, Then You Will Encounter A Step Later. But If You Choose Stairs Then You Will Encounter A Ramp After The Stairs
#19
How To Break Your Bones
#20
Man This Hill Is Just Too Steep. Hold On A Sec While I Take The Stairs
#21
These Double Stairs
#22
These Stairs
#23
These Stairs Must Be For Pets And Children Only
#24
These Stairs In Monaco
#25
These Stairs
#26
These Stairs In A College I Visited Had People Confused...
#27
These Stairs In My Sisters House Are A Joy To Use
#28
Someone Directed Us To These Stairs When We Were Lost
#29
These Stairs In A Residence Hall When I Was In College. Always Creeped Me Out
#30
These Stairs Are 1ft/30cm High
#31
The One Stair Slightly Shifted To The Side
#32
The Stairs To Nowhere
#33
You Win This Time, Stairs...
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago (edited)
Good place to hide your valuables. Though you’ll need to figure out a secret entrance; from the other side of the cabinet, or a way to move that stair. Just spitballing ideas here....
#34
These Stairs...
#35
Terrible Floor To See The Depth Of The Stairs
#36
Space Saving Stairs
#37
Let Them All Fall From Those Stairs
#38
Carpeted Stairs To Shower
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago (edited)
Constant dampness. Mold. Mildew. Gross. Plus, no room for a bath mat, because there’s only about 3 inches of space to step out onto.
#39
Nearly Died Carrying A Box Down These Basement Stairs
Mary Rose Kent 6 years ago
I lived in a place that had similar stairs. Amazingly enough, your legs/feet do eventually pick up the rhythm and oddities of the stairs.
#40
Stairs Leading To Nowhere At My School
#41
These Stairs
#42
These Stairs Made To Trip You
#43
These Stairs With No Access To Retrieve Items That Fall Through
#44
Even The Stairs At Ubsoft Have Glitches In Them
#45
These Beautiful Stairs
Martti Laurson 6 years ago
They do not lead you to weight room, they lead you to emergency room when you run fast enough.
#46
New Cinema In My City Has The Stairs In The Exact Middle Of The Screen, Forcing Everyone To Sit To The Side
#47
You Have To Take The Stairs To Use This Elevator
#48
"Extra Storage" Stairs Are A Tripping Hazard Deathtrap
#49
Random Stairs!
#50
The Carpeting On These Stairs
#51
Legit Saw A Kid Walk Up The Stairs And Stared At The Gate
Yenis Sanchez 6 years ago
It's a life lesson for kids. Take the easy way up and you'll end up behind bars lol
![Stair]s!](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/5d4c01bc13322_f5ZQNqspw1nG0h8LoeIqMpVIepBq47jf6YnI-mDJP18__700.jpg "Stair]s!")
#53
Crappy Stairs
#54
The Stairs To Nowhere, At Michigan Technological University, An Engineering College
#55
Escalators + Stairs. Bruh
#56
What A Perfect Spot To Build Some Stairs....
Martti Laurson 6 years ago (edited)
If you have hard time making choices, this staircase is a b***h!
#57
Time To Take The Elevator... Oh, I Might Take The Stairs.
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago
I hope there’s another, working, accessible elevator somewhere. Just think of moving day.
#58
These Extremely Disorienting Stairs At The Hotel We Stayed At Last Week
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago
Third time I’ve said it. Rubber strips at the end of each step. Why aren’t these places thinking of that after making such horrible design choices?
#59
Excuse Me! Could You Tell Me Where I Might Find Apartment 9 And 3/4?
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago
Looks like a single family house cut up into apartments, and this guy lives on the ground floor by the Old stairs to the upper floor. Keeping the old stairs may not be great for apartments, but terrific when someone decides to reconvert it back to a single family home.
#60
This Set Of Stairs At My Relative’s House. (I Almost Fell)
#61
Outstanding Stairs.
Karin Gibson 6 years ago
They built the stairs and then they were told they needed a disabled entry so the added it over the stairs.
#62
These Stairs At My School
#63
Stairs That Lead To The Corner Of The House
#64
Should We Make Stairs Or A Ramp? Yes.
#65
Pointless Stairs Found At The National Children’s Hospital
Eduard Korhonen 6 years ago
Clearly there was a door there at some point, but it's been bricked up
#67
The Stairs In My Parents House. You Get Used To Walking Down The Grippy Carpet Then The Last Three Steps Are Incredibly Slippy When Wearing Socks. Perfect For Killing Elderly Relatives
Heather Coburn 6 years ago
Four steps, mate. It’s FOUR steps, not three...ya don’t have to be old to take a solid hit on some steps!
#68
These Stairs Lead To Nowhere
#69
These Stairs In The Toronto Airport
#70
The Stairs On This Bridge
Marcellus the Third 6 years ago
I suppose it's to make it easier for bikes, but to force them to dismount first?
#71
What Are These? Stairs For Ants?
#72
I Like This Efficient Stair Design
#74
These Stairs
Kathy Baylis 6 years ago
Was the house converted to apartments, meaning they had to add a private entrance to the second floor? Over here the old back entrance to the house was?
#75
Only The Left Side Opens Leaving The Right Side Of The Stairs Useless
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What do you think ?
Chris Hardtke 6 years ago
About 80% of these could be summed up with “sometimes things get remodeled”.
troufaki13 6 years ago
So the people who designed these, the people who issued the permits, the people who built them... all failed to see the idiocy? And they got paid for that? They all need to give the money back and start looking for other jobs, preferably not involving people's safety!
Ben Tresham 6 years ago
Also who the f**k designed these, beauty needs function, without it is stupidity
Ed Souza 6 years ago
People need to understand that stairs are not meant to be optical illusions
Stephen Roberts 6 years ago
Stairs in Russia are a real hoot. They build the risers all the same height, except at the top or the bottom there's a different-height riser to make it all fit.
boredhuman 6 years ago
99/100 designs were made in the following situation. Person A (wasted): I bet you can't design a stair that will kills you instantly. Person B (even more wasted): Hold my three beers.
Judy Lovins 1 year ago
The saddest stair story I've ever heard is on 9/11, when folks try to escape took at stairs and ended up in a dead end with wheeled barrels and cement. Am I remembering this correctly?
Lucinda Overhoussen 6 years ago
Be interesting to know if kids lived at some of these homes... And whether they survived into adulthood.
Steve Moore 6 years ago
Quite a few of these are the result of changed safety standards. In some businesses, guidelines call for employees to maintain 3 "points of contact" at all times : One foot and both hands. The photos reflect the addition of another handrail so that the 3 points are maintained at all times, where the were formerly too widely spaced to allow for it.
Eliyahu Rooff 6 years ago
Almost all of these violate various building and life-safety codes in one way or another. There are good reasons that a safe set of stairs is usually a bit boring and predictable.
Taffy Lindley 6 years ago
Aside from the Avant-Garde stairwells, a few seemed to have been modded after the original structure was built
Memyselfand I 6 years ago
I wear bifocals. Walking down a normal flight of stairs can be terrifying. I can't imagine walking down any of these flights of stairs while wearing bifocals! :-/ bifolcals-...943805.jpg 
bill marsano 6 years ago
Great story, typically unimaginative headline. Should have been called '40 Staircase Designs that Should Make Lawyers Rich.'
Katherine Boag 6 years ago
I actually like the ones where a railing has blocked off part of some variable width stairs. I need a handrail going down stairs and if there are a lot of people I can end up stranded in the middle of the stairs.
similarly 6 years ago
I used to work in a safety engineering office. Every single one of these would fail US safety regulations for staircases, and more than half of them are outright illegal. US laws on staircases are VERY specific: consistent tread-riser dimensions, maximum and minimum step dimensions, rail height, rail distance, rail diameter, lighting, coefficient of friction, angle ... the rules just go on and on and on.
Glynis Lailann 6 years ago
I wonder how many people broke their ankles from these idiot designs?
Ben Tresham 6 years ago
Lol, I live in an old building with 5 flights of all different widths. Difficult sober in a rush bloody difficult pissed. #whynolift
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
Just a little note to go with all those photos of stairs with strangely patterned carpeting or otherwise with weird lines. When someone has had a stroke, oftentimes the ability to see depth correctly is hampered and this makes these stairs horrifically dangerous. The same goes for someone trying to get used to their new progressive, multi-focal glasses.
Leo Domitrix 6 years ago
Low-bid your retrofit, your remodel, etc., and you get... no money to remove old stairs and similar. Oh, and if you see railings, that's usually to help control foot traffic flow and they're installed way after construction. Local high school has a few of these.... Yep. Low bids get you what you pay for!
CbusResident 6 years ago
All of these were likely designed by my family members; our house growing up was like these staircases, minus the artsy-cool vibe of some of these and with way more mess around it all. In architecture the form must follow the function, not vice versa. Nerd-rage!
Nicky OldfieldDesciple 6 years ago
Why do I suddenly have the song "We're on the Road to Nowhere by Talkinhg Heads stuck in my head now?
Chris Hardtke 6 years ago
About 80% of these could be summed up with “sometimes things get remodeled”.
troufaki13 6 years ago
So the people who designed these, the people who issued the permits, the people who built them... all failed to see the idiocy? And they got paid for that? They all need to give the money back and start looking for other jobs, preferably not involving people's safety!
Ben Tresham 6 years ago
Also who the f**k designed these, beauty needs function, without it is stupidity
Ed Souza 6 years ago
People need to understand that stairs are not meant to be optical illusions
Stephen Roberts 6 years ago
Stairs in Russia are a real hoot. They build the risers all the same height, except at the top or the bottom there's a different-height riser to make it all fit.
boredhuman 6 years ago
99/100 designs were made in the following situation. Person A (wasted): I bet you can't design a stair that will kills you instantly. Person B (even more wasted): Hold my three beers.
Judy Lovins 1 year ago
The saddest stair story I've ever heard is on 9/11, when folks try to escape took at stairs and ended up in a dead end with wheeled barrels and cement. Am I remembering this correctly?
Lucinda Overhoussen 6 years ago
Be interesting to know if kids lived at some of these homes... And whether they survived into adulthood.
Steve Moore 6 years ago
Quite a few of these are the result of changed safety standards. In some businesses, guidelines call for employees to maintain 3 "points of contact" at all times : One foot and both hands. The photos reflect the addition of another handrail so that the 3 points are maintained at all times, where the were formerly too widely spaced to allow for it.
Eliyahu Rooff 6 years ago
Almost all of these violate various building and life-safety codes in one way or another. There are good reasons that a safe set of stairs is usually a bit boring and predictable.
Taffy Lindley 6 years ago
Aside from the Avant-Garde stairwells, a few seemed to have been modded after the original structure was built
Memyselfand I 6 years ago
I wear bifocals. Walking down a normal flight of stairs can be terrifying. I can't imagine walking down any of these flights of stairs while wearing bifocals! :-/ bifolcals-...943805.jpg
bill marsano 6 years ago
Great story, typically unimaginative headline. Should have been called '40 Staircase Designs that Should Make Lawyers Rich.'
Katherine Boag 6 years ago
I actually like the ones where a railing has blocked off part of some variable width stairs. I need a handrail going down stairs and if there are a lot of people I can end up stranded in the middle of the stairs.
similarly 6 years ago
I used to work in a safety engineering office. Every single one of these would fail US safety regulations for staircases, and more than half of them are outright illegal. US laws on staircases are VERY specific: consistent tread-riser dimensions, maximum and minimum step dimensions, rail height, rail distance, rail diameter, lighting, coefficient of friction, angle ... the rules just go on and on and on.
Glynis Lailann 6 years ago
I wonder how many people broke their ankles from these idiot designs?
Ben Tresham 6 years ago
Lol, I live in an old building with 5 flights of all different widths. Difficult sober in a rush bloody difficult pissed. #whynolift
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
Just a little note to go with all those photos of stairs with strangely patterned carpeting or otherwise with weird lines. When someone has had a stroke, oftentimes the ability to see depth correctly is hampered and this makes these stairs horrifically dangerous. The same goes for someone trying to get used to their new progressive, multi-focal glasses.
Leo Domitrix 6 years ago
Low-bid your retrofit, your remodel, etc., and you get... no money to remove old stairs and similar. Oh, and if you see railings, that's usually to help control foot traffic flow and they're installed way after construction. Local high school has a few of these.... Yep. Low bids get you what you pay for!
CbusResident 6 years ago
All of these were likely designed by my family members; our house growing up was like these staircases, minus the artsy-cool vibe of some of these and with way more mess around it all. In architecture the form must follow the function, not vice versa. Nerd-rage!
Nicky OldfieldDesciple 6 years ago
Why do I suddenly have the song "We're on the Road to Nowhere by Talkinhg Heads stuck in my head now?
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