Forget Curb Appeal: This Is the New Focal Point Selling Homes Faster

If you want to sell your home faster, forget about curb appeal—2026 is the year of the statement staircase.

Yelp's 2026 Trend Forecast found that “staircases will be shedding their strictly utilitarian reputation and receiving more design attention in the year ahead.”

Frances Katzen, founder of The Katzen Team at Douglas Elliman, said we’re seeing a clear shift from first impressions happening outside the home to first emotional impressions happening the moment a buyer walks inside.

“Curb appeal still matters, but interiors are now doing the heavy lifting, and staircases have quietly become one of the most powerful visual anchors in a home,” Katzen said. “They are often the first architectural element buyers experience, and they set the tone for everything that follows.”

Why statement stairs are emerging as a selling point

Rupert Cowley, a sales specialist at Multi-Turn, a made-to-measure staircase company, added that rather than being purely functional, staircases now act as a kind of “interior front door,” becoming a powerful differentiator in the market.

“A striking staircase can convey craftsmanship, quality, and thoughtful design from the moment someone steps inside, often before the rest of the space is experienced."

Another reason is that a grand or stunning staircase can convey a sense of luxury.

Joaquin Rodriguez, co-owner and marketing director of the vacation rental and property management company Stay in Costa Rica, underscored another point: Modern real estate searches are digital, and a compelling interior photo can be the first thing that makes a buyer put their feet on the grass.

“It is only fair to admit that even a perfectly implemented architectural element indoors gives a feeling of eternally gained luxury, which a freshly cut grass will never be able to reproduce in the long run,” Rodriguez said.  

Other experts, such as Alexander Zilberman, founder and principal architect of Alexander Zilberman Architecture, echoed the sentiment, saying that a staircase can be approached as furniture or conceptual art.

“This is because stairs are beyond functional. Vertical circulation, structure, and spatial sculpture tend to be more prominent features in luxury homes that greet guests and potential homebuyers. There’s more opportunity in creating an extraordinary moment,” he said.

Finally, another reason for this shift is more pragmatic and straightforward: You can generally tell a house's age and the level of care it received by looking at its staircase.

Dean Bennett, residential contractor and president of Dean Bennett Design & Construction, said that the kitchen and bathrooms may be updated and new buyers value updated homes, but the staircase can signal age.

“This is because it has historically been expensive and difficult to update or redo a staircase, and the work requires a specialized contractor. As a result, staircases rarely get updated,” he said.

What styles resonate with buyers?

Yelp’s 2026 Trend Forecast found that homeowners are embracing “bold fabrics, wood refinishing projects, and playful touches like tiled risers and bold paint colors.”

These include stair runner installation (up 402%), custom carpet installation (up 835%), and stair refinishing (up 26%), according to Yelp.

Experts also revealed a slew of additional styles that can appeal to buyers. For instance, Erin Remington, director of sales and curation at Saatchi Art, said she favors a bold abstract art, or dramatic black and white photography piece, or a unique mixed media weave work for a staircase.

Additional favorites include open-riser and floating stairs, as “they maximize light and space, creating an airy and modern aesthetic that appeals to contemporary tastes,” according to Cowley.

Mixed materials, such as combining wood, glass, metal, or stone to deliver contrast and texture, are also a favorite as is custom detailing, he said.

“Steps that are sculptural, illuminated, and highly personalized elevate stairs into experiential design moments,” said Cowley.

A (stair) case that played a defining role in buyer response

Scott Hustis and Mark Jovanovic, co-founders of Paradigm Advisory, represented art dealer Barbara Gladstone’s former Chelsea townhouse (344 West 22nd St.). It sold for $13.1 million, $1.105 million over ask—in a fierce bidding war and went into contract in just 12 days, setting a record price per square foot for a Chelsea townhouse, they said.

“At 344 West 22nd St., the staircase is the first emotional moment in the home, setting the tone before you ever step into a living room. It shows how interior architecture has become the new curb appeal, with buyers responding immediately to how a space makes them feel the moment they walk inside," they said.

They added that it was designed by Annabelle Selldorf as part of Gladstone’s renovation, and that the staircase functions as the architectural heart of the home—"equal parts circulation and sculptural statement."

Does this feature deliver real resale value?

Paradigm’s Hustis and Jovanovic said that when done thoughtfully, a statement staircase can deliver real resale value. While it may not appear as a line-item valuation, it elevates perceived value, strengthens emotional connection during showings, helps a home stand out in competitive listings, and can shorten time on market. In today’s market, that differentiation often turns interest into action, they added.

Several experts agreed that, from a resale standpoint, this trend is not about over-personalization.

Katzen noted that when done with restraint, statement staircases photograph exceptionally well, elevate the perceived quality of a property, and help a listing stand out in a crowded digital marketplace.

“In competitive markets, that visual impact translates directly into stronger buyer engagement and, in many cases, faster sales and better offers,” she said.

Overall, many say that this trend reflects broader changes in home design priorities and in how buyers value space and experience.

“People increasingly prioritize interiors that feel personal, expressive, and Instagram-worthy, not just houses that look good from the street,” Cowley said.