Maybe I should tie a long, soft rope to a top and bottom newel post when they visit! LOL

Since this an Old House forum -- why, given that the bedrooms are upstairs, would they build a house without a rail on one side, given it was 1939 and it was a professor who built the house?

In my renovation, I added a first floor master suite, with wide doors, off the back, so I can age in place.

I don't know, but I do understand your concern. I have a friend who grew up in an old farm house and when he married, he and his wife lived there for awhile (parents lived in another house by then). Anyway, they had a central staircase similar to yours and no side railings. It seemed SO steep and I always felt as tho I was going to fall forward going down it. He was used to it.

Yours is very pretty by the way.

I was thinking the same thing as you ... rope?

Your house is beautiful, and I love the coloured ceiling

Schoolhouse -- your moniker is familiar. I was on the old Gardenweb as WonByHerWits.

dyhgarden, your staircase is beautiful. I was going to suggest a velvet or corded rope type of hand rail.

A neighbor at the cabin used an old wooden ladder. Neighbor is having some vertigo problems. He moved his bedroom from upstairs to the front room. He installed a ladder on its side as a temporary stair railing.

YES! I remember you WonByHerWits! long time no see..er...read. Hope all is well.

I'm adjusting to my new downsized life. My husband died three years ago at age 60 of brain cancer, so I sold the home and gardens I used to blog about and purchased the 1939 fixer, which has been a good project for me. Thanks

Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss dyhgarden.

My condolences dyhgarden.

I would go with a single wooden railing, possibly of the existing profile, on the right side looking up the stairs. Likely code will require continuous rail, which will up the price.

If you just add a railing on the right above the existing lower section, it likely will require only two wall brackets and thus would be removable without a lot of fuss.

I've got young grandchildren and a spouse that seems to fall a lot. I'd make darn sure that their was a railing present on these stairs!

I agree with Salti - go with a single railing on the right and try to match the existing railing.

This is what the railing looks like in our home. There are 8 steps up to a landing and then another 4 steps to the second floor.

Honestly, people were just hardier in days of yore. My very scary, steep, hardwood floor staircase in my 1913 bungalow had no signs of ever having a handrail. I installed one for ME, no kids involved. I had a handyman put up one that looked just like Marie's above. When I moved from that house, I took it off to get my furniture down. Pretty simple actually.

To be honest I would not use a velvet or other rope. I need something to really grab onto if I slip on the hardwood floors; not something that could rip or pull away. Oh, I also found that investing in non-slip socks is a must!

"Honestly, people were just hardier in days of yore."

Nope, they just didn't live as long as we do.