we just closed ours in! The open stairs felt very unstable. We then added a huge closet under the stairs for extra storage as the hall closet was pretty small.

I've never had to clean so much as since having open stairs. Dust, dust, dust, not on the stairs, but under them on the furniture below, and we're shoes off at the door people...

Open staircases feel more contemporary. Agreed with a closed staircase for my personal home since it seems safer.

Closed definitely!!

Love the clean, open, contemporary look!

We had open staircases in our last home, but now we are building I definitely would go for closed. No dust, no cluttered cat hair or falling cats anymore,,,,

I like the look of open risers, but if you hit the back of your ankle on any of them you will very quickly change your mind! :)

Interesting, both sample pictures have somewhat open risers...
We have open risers and love them, they let so much light through what might be a dark stairway.

Opened when the house can take it, a contemporary one like on the photo.

I have closed ones, and they are the most practical. But maybe when there isn't little kids running around I would love to have a house with open stairs. In a design standpoint I think they look so nice! (:

I adore the look of open risers, it feels alot arier.

I think closed risers should be the default. Example 1 shows a good use of open risers but unless they are used to admit light they are distracting and disorienting. The primary use of stairs is convenient and safe vertical circulation.

Completely depends on the style and design of the home/building. Not exactly a fair question

I personally like the open risers as they lend themselves to so much creativity. The treads can be of a variety of materials such as even glass. However, it certainly does depend on the style and circumstances of the home and occupants.

Open risers feel 'unfinished' to me. And totally unsafe for kids.

To me, open look fine for going down to a basement with a washing machine but add a really cheap quality going to bedrooms. It would be one of the first things I'd remodel if I moved into a house.

Hubby built an open staircase outside the two storey garage and used the wrong screws. When they finally rotted out, he was the one who went down hard when they let loose. Ouch.

I like open but agree with the comments about feeling unsafe with kids and pets. I wonder if there are some screens or something so you have the feeling of openness but still have the safety...

closed is safer in my opinion

I have lived with both and they all feel and look great to me

We have open on our deck, and I hate them. There's a short run and a long one, and I only use the short run because the long one feels so unsafe. My dogs feel the same way. We are rebuilding the long run soon, and they will be closed, and have an extra step added as well, so they are not so steep.

Open is far too dangerous.

I love the look of open, but have had them before and cleaning is a huge issue. We now have closed but with a glass railing that gives the light airy feeling. Best of both!

Closed. Partyof1 - my heart goes out to you... My deepest condolences for your loss. Love and luck for a bright future with this baby.

Closed definitely. I just don't like an open staircase. I have a young niece and it's just safer for all involved when they're closed. Even for an adult, it's better. And trying to clean an open staircase is a complete nightmare.

HI - I physically cannot navigate open riser or see through stairs . My knees go weak and I feel ill . Something from my childhood I guess .

Partyof1, I am so sorry for your loss.

To partyof1 - That is a powerful reason to stay with closed risers. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am so very sorry for your loss. That, alone, is reason enough to close the risers.

Stairs scare me, and open risers are a stairway to anxiety. The only thing worse would be glass spiral stairs. Eesh! I like carpeted closed riser stairs. Not scary at all. If you do fall, the carpet cushions your fall. It also makes them quiet.

As a serious acrophobic I HATE open stairs and take elevators in lots of those "open airy" malls, galleries etc. with glass railings on escalators and open stairs.

Closed. I have toddlers and open stairs, not a good combination!

I was going to say open, but after reading Partyof1's post, for my grandchildren's sake, I would go with closed. So sorry for your loss. We have a one story, so no stairs.

A credit would be nice thank you

Closed for me. I get the heebie geebies walking up open stairs. Don't like ladders much either!:)

Party o 1? I don't see the post you are all talking about

Open Risers

J Design Group, Modern Interior Design Firm in Miami, Florida. http://www.JDesignGroup.com

Does anyone know which are cheaper to build and install? Arguing with my partner over which ones to have installed in our new home being built.

Open actually bothers me and gives me a bit of vertigo. So closed it is for me!

During design, we were offered a totally open option- sort of in the middle of the downstairs area. Beautiful, but too scary for me! Also wasn't excited at the decor dilemma, furnishing around them.

We ended up with somewhat of a hybrid, although much more closed than open. It works, even for this old lady.

Bottom risers

Upper risers

The effect is fairly open and airy, yet completely protective. We love it.

Closed are less expensive, but if open stairs are part of your design, then go for it!

I was wrong then...I was arguing that open must be cheaper because there's less wood. #tryinganythingtogetmyway LOL!!! I wanted open. Oh well.

We have a quote for both open and closed versions of an otherwise identical staircase. The open version is a little over 10% cheaper due to less wood being used.

We are in the process of building a house and the quote for the open risers is 10X’s more expensive than closed. The difference is that the single tread now has to be a stronger quality wood and that’s where the cost is.

Open scares dogs and children

I agree that open staircases feel more contemporary, and in some houses it opens the place up, but if I am looking for a house to buy, I walk out as soon as I see open stairs. It doesn't only scare dogs and children, but me too! I have a fear of heights, and a phobia has nothing to do with logic, so I simply can't walk up on open stairs. Don't even mention glass floors on upstairs walkways!