I suggest to get what you like. I never worry about trends, as they come and go. I planned out my new oak staircase for years, prior to getting it installed by a carpenter who specializes in staircases. I knew I wanted black iron balusters with knuckles. I got exactly what I wanted, and carefully planned for.

What is the style of the interior in general? What is the style of the stairs and the handrail?

Kculbers - Thank you for sharing your beautiful staircase! It looks beautiful. You’re right that trends come and go! I truly have always loved the look of iron balusters with some added detail.

Thanks Laura; follow your heart!💗💗

Palimpsest - The house is definitely transitional, it has an overall traditional feel but with some modern spin. The majority of the other finishes I chose (ie. trim, cabinets, faucets etc) were the simpler options and not ornate at all, but with subtler details. My walls are all white and I have a mid-tone hardwood floor (almost a maple syrup colour). Stonework around fireplaces .The stair handrails will be stained to match the floor. I cannot recall the name of the style of the posts, but they actually look fairly similar to the photos that kclubers attached but the wood is smooth without any added grooves or carving. So there aren’t a lot of heavy details in my home but not a lot of very straight lines either lol. Hope this makes some kind of sense!!!

Trends are just that, they come & go in a flash. .Get what YOU like, you’ll be happier in the long run.

Last summer I redid a railing and chose to alternate knuckles with plain balusters. So if we're out of fashion we can be out of fashion together. :-) I also wanted something that wasn't all plain. I know mine looks much better than what was there before so I don't have any regrets. Whatever you do in any room could be out of style in 5-10 years, so I believe in pleasing yourself like the other commenters said.

Kandrewspa - I really did choose the alternating style and it was my first choice because I thought it was such a pretty look! It’s just SO hard to not second guess my choices though when I see photos of all the new builds and current interior design trends. And then I wonder if I made a mistake! I guess this could apply to any renovation decisions though. I hope you still love your staircase a year on :)

I think what you are doing is fine, based on the other details. All plain might really be too contemporary, and just because a lot of new builds are doing it, doesn't mean it's the best thing to do.

My niece's builder-house has 6 panel doors and traditional looking millwork but a very contemporary horizontal metal handrail on the stairs. That's what they do, but I don't think it's a great mix. T

Palimpsest - Thank you for your input. I originally wanted the alternating look based on my personal preference and what I wanted. My mind started to change only after I saw some photos of other new construction homes. I suppose I shouldn’t allow myself to be too swayed by trendy stuff on social media!!

I would select a baluster that is simple in design. We were doing the balusters you like for Italian and Mediterranean homes in the 90s.

Thank you Beverly - those examples are beautiful!

Do what you like. You’re the one who gets to live in the house.
Having redone a staircase, I assure you these decisions are, it was. I alternated plain with a more decorative baluster and questioned myself a lot. But I loved it when it was done.

*hard. These decisions are hard. Sorry for the typo/autocorrect.

Ours are like @kculbers and our home is more traditional. It took a few tries to explain what I wanted to our contractor. I guess it isn't normally done around here which is personally how I like to do things.

I think it's kind of a telling (and sad) thing about interior design mentality these days that something as permanent as a staircase, can become so "dated" that you want to avoid something people were doing as long ago as the year 2000. Pretty soon everything in the house is going to have to be as easily disassembled as Legos so you can cart it off the landfill every 7 years.

It’s just SO hard to not second guess my choices though when I see photos of all the new builds and current interior design trends.

My house is in a neighborhood of 18 new custom houses. My house is a green craftsman style house. Every other house in the neighborhood is a white or gray "sugar cube", meaning very contemporary. Not once did I worry that my house wouldn't be "on trend". In fact, years from now when these sugar cubes are no longer on trend and people are trying to change them to "update them", my house will still look good because I did nothing "on trend".

Your balusters will still work years from now.

One of the cute houses in my neighborhood is a 30s Tudor cottage. Their staircase has the original metal balusters that look quite similar to the ones with the knuckles. If it was in style 90 years ago, I think it qualifies as a classic style.

A Craftsman-style home would most likely have wood balusters and railing.

All white homes have always been in style, just not among those put up by builders.

At the end of the day it is your house, if you like that stile and want it, use it. Who cares what anyone else thinks and if by some chance you HAD to sell, baluster style will not hold up a sale.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I especially appreciate the comments that mention that it is more important to do what you personally like instead of simply following trends. You are all right about that. I attached some photos of my new stairs. Although I think all plain balusters would have looked classy and simple, I think what I chose looks nice too, and lends to a more homey feel. I didn’t go with all plain because my intitial thought about it was that I was afraid of the railing looking almost commercial or something. So I went with a more decorative option (and then still second guessed my choice lol).

In any case, I love my new railing and now I don’t think it’s dated - a lot of the homes listed on the MLS in my area have a similar style. Many were built in the past 5 years so maybe not so dated after all. One day it will be just like everything else in my new house lol.

Anyways, I think both looks are very nice, and one isn’t necessarily better than another :) I really appreciate this conversation regardless and it gave me perspective!

(Forgot to mention the wood will be stained to match my floor and the risers will be painted white to match my trim and interior doors)

Laura: it looks lovely!!

Thank you kculbers :)

A Craftsman-style home would most likely have wood balusters and railing.

And your point is what Beverly? I wasn't saying my house has metal balusters. I was commenting to her feeling like she needed to do what everyone else was doing.

My staircase:

Laura your staircase looks lovely and classic. It will definitely stand the test of time.

Thank you so much cpartist :)