The Curious Case of the Upside-Down Baluster
For those who appreciate folklore, there’s comfort in believing that an upside-down baluster on a staircase serves a protective purpose — keeping evil spirits from wandering up to the higher floors of a home.
For others less inclined toward superstition, that flipped spindle might simply appear as an odd, imperfect detail — a small quirk in design that nonetheless carries centuries of tradition behind it.
In the world of architecture and carpentry, where craftsmanship meets creativity, old customs often intertwine with function, weaving mystery into the fabric of design. One particularly intriguing tradition is that of deliberately installing one baluster — the vertical post supporting a stairway’s handrail — upside down. Though it interrupts the symmetry of the staircase, this unusual feature has deep historical roots and symbolic meaning.
see continuation on next page
ADVERTISEMENT
