While spiral staircases are sometimes used in tight spaces or to achieve a specific aesthetic, there are real reasons to avoid them, particularly if they are in the center of a house.

According to the premises of Feng Shui, they are known to energetically produce a whirlpool effect, draining the qi from the house or sector they occupy. The corkscrew shape is harsh and pierces the energy of the sector that they occupy, negatively affecting that sector. If located in the center of the house, it literally ‘pierces the heart’ of the house. If located near the primary entrance, the entering qi is captured by the staircase and rapidly runs up and down the staircase then back out the entrance. Wherever there is curved architecture, the Qi cannot rest or be slowed to a comfortable pace. It just gathers speed, moving around and around creating yang energy that never settles.

Small-diameter spiral staircases characteristically have steeper risers with pie-shaped treads, which are narrower on one side. This makes navigating them more difficult and hazardous (particularly going down), for children and adults with mobility and balance issues due to diminished visibility and small tread surface on the inside curve. Because of the nature of the corkscrew, there’s diminished headroom so taller people tend to hit their heads on the stairs above them. Unless it’s in a corner, a free-standing/floating spiral staircase tends to chop up a space and it is an awkward barrier to navigate.

Moving bulky furnishings and boxes up or down a spiral staircase is often difficult, unsafe, or untenable due to the diminished width and angle of the steps.

Because some spiral staircases don’t meet code standards for stairs, they are not permitted for primary access and egress between floors, so the outside diameter of the staircase must be enlarged to meet code standards. This can require a larger footprint/square footage than a standard multi-level straight staircase. Of course, this can be done where there is ample overall square footage, but it’s awkward for smaller spaces.

There are ways to help mitigate the energetic flow of curved/spiral/circular staircases but I’ve had mixed results. Nonetheless, if you have a curved staircase, you can add up-lights along the outside of the treads that direct the Qi up. You could also try adding an earth element, such as crystals or earthenware pots on the inside curve of the stairs. Another way to slow the Qi flow would be to add art or sconces along the walls of the stairway.

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