what kind of lighting is best for the top of a staircase
Banister Lighting. Banister lighting turns your staircase into a focal design element of your space. Small recessed lights installed on the underside of your rail in between each provide ample illumination for the walking area without cluttering the walls, ceiling or stairs with fixtures.
Recessed lights are a less intrusive and less direct way to illuminate the stairs in your home. Recessed lights reside in the wall along each stair. Thus instead of extending light from the top of each stair and downwards, the recessed lighting emits a soft glow from one end of each stair extending to the other.
Cut light openings into the stair risers or wall mount the lights. Place lights about every two steps and cut them in the center of each stair riser. Wall lights work well if you have a wall on both sides of the staircase. Wall lights should also be centered. Drill 1/4 inch pilot holes into the riser or wall.