The upside-down baluster on a staircase has hidden purpose
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.
Spiritual Symbolism
According to the Long Island Press, this superstition stretches back hundreds of years, to an era when spirituality and architecture were closely connected. Staircases, linking the floors of a home, were thought to symbolize the passage between different realms — the earthly and the spiritual. Some even viewed them as potential pathways for spirits traveling between worlds.
To ward off harmful or mischievous entities, carpenters began inverting a single baluster within an otherwise uniform staircase. The reasoning was based on the belief that evil spirits could only move along straight, uninterrupted paths — so by disrupting that order, the craftsman could prevent them from reaching the upper rooms.
Beyond the supernatural aspect, the upside-down spindle carried a spiritual humility as well. Many religious builders used the intentional imperfection as a reminder that only a divine being can achieve perfection. The flawed detail was a quiet nod to human fallibility and reverence for the divine.
Duality and Design
Outside of its mystical interpretation, the inverted baluster also embodies ideas of duality and harmony. A staircase naturally represents transition — the movement between above and below. Introducing a single element of imbalance, such as the reversed spindle, subtly reinforces this concept of balance within contrast. The deliberate imperfection becomes a visual reminder of equilibrium — between the physical and spiritual, the perfect and the flawed.
A Tradition Found in Historic Homes
This unique design choice is far from rare in older houses. In 2020, HGTV and DIY Network host Scott McGillivray drew attention to the phenomenon when he posted a photo on Facebook showing a staircase with one upside-down baluster near the middle of the railing.
“One of these things is not like the other,” he captioned — and the internet took notice.
Thousands of comments poured in. Some suggested it was intentional, rooted in tradition:
“It’s common in old homes,” one commenter wrote. “The carpenter believed only God is perfect, so one spindle was flipped to show humility.”
Another echoed the sentiment:
“Builders used to think making something flawless meant competing with God. Leaving a small imperfection showed respect and submission.”
Others were more skeptical — or simply amused:
“Maybe they ran out and hoped no one would notice,” joked one person.
“That would drive me crazy!” another admitted.
A Glimpse Into the Past
What might appear today as a design mistake is, in fact, a fascinating link to the past. These small architectural anomalies tell stories of faith, craftsmanship, and culture — reminders that buildings are more than wood and stone; they’re repositories of human thought and belief.
So next time you climb a staircase, take a closer look at the balusters. You may just be walking past a small piece of living history — one that connects the artistry of the past with the spaces we call home today.
