Hi! I just realized I forgot to mention an important mistake to avoid in my previous post. Please forgive me!
Make sure the design of the staircase railing will allow you to install a child’s safety gate at both the upper and lower level of the staircase to prevent children from climbing the stairs. Many parents and grandparents use a removable gate. These gates are also used to prevent dogs from going up or down the stairs.
An alternative to the removable child’s safety gate is to have a custom gate made to match the staircase railing. When not in use and left open against the wall, this gate can be a decorative element to the staircase.
The custom decorative gate works well if you are hosting any type of open house or party and you do not want guests going upstairs.