As the hallway is the entrance to your home and usually the first thing a visitor will come across, you need to take more care in making this space inviting than other areas.

This connecting space needs to be light and welcoming, so lights are able to provide this, especially at night. However, the lights you opt for can be whatever style you like. Wall lights are proving quite popular as they do not take up room on the floor. These lights are also able to create the perfect mood in the hallway.

Moving on to the stairs, you might want to use floor level lighting to illuminate the steps you need to take on your ascent up the staircase. Alternatively, track or spot lights can offer directed lights to certain areas and these can be wall or ceiling mounted according to your preference.

There are many ways to accentuate your stairs and make more of a statement in your hallway, with lights being one of the most effective.

They found that the doctors took less time to climb the stairs of varying levels than it did waiting for the elevator to arrive and take them to these floors.

A prominent cardiologist at the University Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland, Dr. Philippe Meyer, agreed with these findings that climbing is good for office workers as long as they only have a reasonable flight of stairs to go up each day. He said:

“Taking stairs may save time if you are in a three- to four-story building, but certainly not if you work at the Empire State Building.”

As well as saving the office worker time. Meyer also saw a number of tangible benefits in terms of exercise. In his own study carried out last year, he found that workers did notice some improvements to their health through an increased usage of the stairs, but only when going up around 20 stories per day. This is more than the average person, so it is always advisable to consider other forms of exercise to supplement this.

The research carried out at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that doctors saved around 15 minutes during their workday by simply taking the stairs rather than the elevator.

This was partly put down to the fact that there is no waiting time for the staircase as opposed to the lift, therefore making it a more efficient way of getting around the hospital.

With health professionals advising that it is good to find ways to add exercise to a person’s daily routine by choosing the stairs over a lift, these findings are sure to make people think again before going for the less energetic route to the next floor.

However, the senior researcher of the study, Dr. Thomas Wilson, noted that people usually head straight for the lift as a matter of habit, expecting it to save them valuable time. But he pointed out that this is not always the case.

He added:

“People should seriously consider taking the stairs.

“I think we’re all in the habit of just punching the elevator button.”

In many countries it is now considered the law to provide handrails for people to use, should they wish to do so. Giving them this option at places like sports stadiums, cinemas, restaurants and museums makes a person more confident when ascending or descending the steps.

If a person is elderly or unsteady on their feet, the handrail is there to reassure them that it is there to support them and stop them from falling. This is a big fear of those using stairs.

So whatever the purpose for having a staircase constructed, make sure you at least consider the merits of handrails. These are not just limited to their primary function of offering support and comfort for those using the stairs.

As well as this safety feature they can also be ordered in a variety of designs so they actually bring something to the overall look of the staircase. This is an added bonus as it can make for a beautiful feature too.

One thing that is able to provide both of these benefits is staircase lighting. This is because they can be used to illuminate the way as a person goes up or down the steps, thus making it safer for them to do this at night.

Many people do not contemplate the lighting until their stairs are already fitted and in place, meaning that their choice of lights is limited to what is on the landing as well as on the ground floor below.

These days, there are all sorts of bespoke lights that can be installed within steps themselves or the wall next to where the staircase is to go. This means that in addition to providing lights to make the stairs safer, they can also be used for decorative purposes too. You can opt for wall lights, chandeliers or even downlights placed at certain angles to guide people.

One of the most interesting new releases is the Fitbit Ultra which is something for those who really like to keep up to date with their exercise intake as well as their technology.

This handy little device lets you work out how much exercise you are getting at home and work as you go about your daily routine. You can find out how active you really are and measure your performance while playing games and gaining achievements.

The accelerometer installed in the gadget means that when you take the stairs instead of the lift you can feel better about yourself, while being able to share this with your friends on social networking websites.

The Fitbit Ultra can simply be clipped on to your belt or kept in your pocket as you move around your office or place of work. Now you can tell if going up the many steps that make up the huge staircase is worth it when you check your latest statistics. It will also offer encouragement along the way!

Door swags or wreaths are not just good for hanging on the door outside your home as they can be placed on the stairs as well. You can position the swags at intervals going up the steps, with wreaths tied to the stairs using pretty ribbons.

Ribbon of various textures can be tied to each railing, with a bow or cluster of flowers placed on each top point. You can also decide to space out fruit or flower clusters along the banister, with each tied with these decorative ribbons.

If you have a wide enough stairway, you might wish to think about placing small potted Christmas trees or plants by the side of the steps. Bows can be added which conform to the décor of your home.

Whatever you do, make sure that it is all carried out with safety in mind, as you wouldn’t want to create hazards for those using the stairs.

When it comes to staircases, there are ways you can make it appear even more welcoming. You do not even have to spend a fortune decorating it either as some of these tips are fairly cheap to do.

The rest of this article and the following one will be discussing what decorations can be used to make it look more beautiful and dramatic in keeping with the Christmas festivities.

Firstly, if your stairs are fitted with a railing, you can decorate it with stairway creations that are perfect for this wonderful occasion.

Garlands are an option you can consider as these can be made out of various materials such as ivy, pine and other decorative objects. You can always choose to add a few simple touches like ornaments and metallic berries, plus ribbons made out of satin or velvet. Flowers are another nice touch you can include on the railings or newel post.

While this is not going to garner sympathy with much about anyone else, it is a well-known fact in the world of show business that certain big names like things to be just right for them when making an appearance.

This leads us on to one particular request which has been revealed recently. When singer Mariah Carey was due to appear on Alan Carr’s talk show, it has been reported that she asked to have a staircase assistant present.

The diva was said to have made this dressing room demand in advance of the date and requested that a person was appointed to check the stairs to ensure she was able to descend them.

As Mariah is known to wear high heels it does not sound like as far-fetched a stipulation as it first seems, especially as she certainly would not want any embarrassing entrances onto the set. Still, even if she was only concerned with losing her footing on the steps, it is still an out-of-the-ordinary request – while the expensive champagne ordered certainly wasn’t.

Many couples have ascended at least part of the 1,576 steps that take you to the top in order to celebrate wedding proposals and get to stand in the famous observatory and look out on sprawling New York City.

Now there is even more reason for those about to get hitched to consider this remarkable landmark for a visit as the owners of the building have teamed up with wedding planning website ColinCowieWeddings.com to offer four couples the chance to get married on the 61st floor of the Empire State next year.

Unfortunately, this is only open to American citizens, so those in the UK will just have to make do with the wondrous views they get when they climb the staircase and to say they have been to one of the world’s most cherished attractions.

For the lucky couples, they will be able to enjoy their ceremonies and receptions in complete luxury.

Empire State Building Director of Brand Development and Public Relations, Melanie Maasch, said:

“For 80 years, the Empire State Building has enchanted lovers from around the world.

“From silver screen love scenes to sky-high proposals, the iconic Empire State Building continues to be the most romantic building in the world to celebrate the most romantic day of the year. We are so excited to partner with Colin Cowie who will undoubtedly provide an unforgettable, exclusive wedding experience for the couples.”