25+ Staircases that should never be climbed: 'The worst staircase I have ever seen'

Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor

Jul 23, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

So you want to design a staircase. What characteristics do you want it to have? If you'd like it to be fragile, slippery, sharp, precarious, or just unsightly, I bet we have the exact staircase you're searching for. If you want a normal staircase, begone! This is only for the oddest of the odd, for the artsiest of artistic stair-owners.

DIYers of the world love a good construction project to take on, but some of them shouldn't be allowed to construct a staircase. I think a lot of these stair fails happen when people construct a staircase they're proud of… only to realize it is not at all up to code. Then they have to go in with quirky fixes or renovate the house differently to accommodate this. If you know the backstories of any of these houses, feel free to drop the story in the comments so we can all gain some extra knowledge on how and why these things happen.

Next, read about what happens when a fast food worker delayed a cop's order after that cop delayed them: "The officer… informs me that I will have to wait."

01

via u/TastyBoy
02
This person reports that they've fell down these "Looney Tunes" style

via u/YOU_GET_BLASTED

They went down "slipping like it was a banana peel" and report that although it was funny both times, they can "only take so much."
03

via u/TastyBoy
04
The gasp I gusp at this sight

via u/Last_Pay_8447
05
This is a real-life optical illusion

via u/Reymont
06
Carpenters in the comments gave this a 0/10 rating, with one person noting that the "railing is basically attached to nothing"

via u/Mr4528
07
This is either very cool or super dumb, depending on how adventurous your design taste is

via u/BikingVikingNYC

I like the rock, but the metal twist-tie thing binding it to the stairs is distracting.
08
Y'all should break out some neon safety tape

via u/drillenisse
09
Not even a rope railing or anything

via u/rampzn
10
I broke my ankle just looking at these photos

via u/KingRoachSITIG

Here's the angle from one door…
11
Imagine two people exiting the rooms at the same time and bonking their heads together Larry and Moe style, then tumbling down the stairs

via u/KingRoachSITIG

Maybe it's already happened!
12

via u/Inuj
13
When you see it!

via u/WEsauceCommunismHere

Hope the climber has exceptional arm strength.
14
These look really glossy for stairs

via u/CanadianGeeseGoose

Even in an artsy designer sense, the unevenness of these stairs just isn't doing much.
15

via u/Last_Pay_8447
16
Do not care for how close they are to a window...

via u/WolfsmaulVibes

You're one slip away from busting a foot through that glass!
17

via u/Frappuccino_unicorn
18
Many questions come to mind

via u/Last_Pay_8447
19
"Won't" is a good description here

via u/elizabethjane50
20
You're one distracted conversation away from a concussion

via u/OldManCoffeez
21
Just look at the view when you're descending!

via u/OldManCoffeez
22
Nice and sharp, just like a staircase should be

via u/Typ0r8r
23
"Cat stairs" oh I'm sure

via u/tokin4torts

Many people would love to climb this as well!
24
This is hilarious

via u/sergemeister
25
Perfectly flimsy, just like a proper staircase should be

via u/Last_Pay_8447
26
When you go tumbling down these, a monster lurking in the dark will break your fall

via u/Last_Pay_8447
27
Does the top half look like the stairs are slanted downwards?

via u/snark_be
28
Why yes, there are stairs in this picture

via u/NeedsMoreTeapots
29
There they are, only really visible from below. Yikes!

via u/NeedsMoreTeapots
30
It'll be real rusty when you sever your pinky toe with one misstep

via u/Ok_Knee1216
31

via u/Last_Pay_8447