What is a stair lift and what sets Stannah stair lifts apart

Stannah has been a proud, family-run business for 150 years. We have a strong commitment to promoting independence and breaking down barriers. With our stair lifts, our customers have a product that fills them with trust and confidence. Over 40 years ago, we added stair lifts to our product range and since then, we have helped over 850,000 people make the most of their day. Navigating the everyday challenges that come with stairs is a common experience worldwide, and Stannah keeps this in mind when designing its solutions.

While some people still carry old perceptions, many are beginning to see home stairlifts as practical, modern conveniences that enhance comfort and accessibility—not symbols of limitation. For more than 40 years, Stannah has worked to make stairlifts feel like thoughtful, contemporary home upgrades rather than products tied to outdated ideas. Today, many people who choose a stairlift appreciate the added ease and independence it brings to their home, without feeling self-conscious about having one.

A recent AARP survey found that over 70% of adults in the U.S. feel that home accessibility solutions are becoming more widely accepted as part of thoughtful home design. While there’s still progress to be made, Stannah has helped support this shift in perspective.

Since our inception, we’ve worked to move past outdated stigmas and encourage a more positive view of practical home-access products—especially for older adults who want to stay comfortable and independent at home. In the past, many people postponed adding helpful features like a stairlift simply because they worried about how it might look. Today, more homeowners are choosing to plan ahead, seeing these solutions as smart, stylish upgrades that make everyday living easier.

That’s why we believe that sharing positive real-life examples and creating visually appealing designs has encouraged greater acceptance of our stairlifts and other practical home-access solutions.

As the very word indicates, a stair lift is a lift that takes a person up and down the stairs while sitting on a chair. That is why sometimes it is also known as a “chairlift”. However, at Stannah we believe that a stair lift transcends its literal meaning. A stairlift offers far more than a convenient way to navigate the stairs. Beyond its practical function, it can bring meaningful improvements to everyday living by helping you feel:

• More confident moving around your home
• More independent in how you use your space
• More at ease knowing your home feels comfortable and accessible
• Free to enjoy each floor of your home without hesitation

All in all, it helps you reserve your time and energy for the things that matter most.

Stannah has reimagined what a stairlift can be: a modern home convenience—much like a dishwasher, washing machine, or vacuum—that simply makes everyday living smoother and more comfortable. The key difference is that a stairlift also adds a sense of ease and confidence when using the stairs, offering a level of day-to-day reassurance that few other home appliances can match.

Stannah wants to continue to overcome the resistance some people feel towards purchasing a stair lift because of the stigma associated with them and the fear that their home will look like a care facility.

Some may still think of a stairlift as a luxury, but we’ve seen how much of a difference it can make in everyday comfort and convenience. Simple tasks—like heading upstairs to grab something or going down to switch the laundry—become effortless again. Imagine checking on the dog or moving between floors without hesitation or stress.

These day-to-day moments bring the stairlift into a more personal, familiar part of the home, far from anything that feels clinical or institutional. Our focus has always been on removing barriers and creating solutions that suit modern households—not just one age group. Stannah designs are built for people who want practical, stylish, future-ready ways to make their homes easier to navigate for years to come.

Stairlifts are for anyone who wants a more comfortable and accessible way to move between floors. Many people who choose a stairlift can walk independently but prefer an easier, smoother option for using the stairs—whether due to personal preference, confidence, or simply wanting a more convenient routine at home.

In the past, some homeowners waited until navigating the stairs became especially challenging, but today more people are installing stairlifts proactively as a smart home improvement that supports long-term comfort and independence. This forward-thinking approach also offers added peace of mind for family members who want the home to feel easier to navigate for everyone.

While it’s understandable that some people wait, many customers tell us that once they’ve added a stairlift, everyday life feels noticeably simpler—and they often wish they’d done it sooner.

Not all people are the same, not all homes are the same. So, each customer and each stair lift is unique! We have a stair lift to suit everyone!

Our stair lifts are unique because they have been designed to blend seamlessly into your home. Whether you live in a classic or contemporary home, or if you have a straight or curved staircase, we will help find the right chair for you; along with a wide selection of upholstery choices, so our customers can get the perfect stair lift to match their home décor. We also have outdoor stair lifts that could be the perfect addition to your yard or garden.

Since we launched our stair lift line over 40 years ago, we have applied our expertise to producing stair lifts that combine strict principles of design, pleasing aesthetics, safety and long-term value. From the osteoarthritis suit we use as an empathy tool for our design team, to the wood trimming we offer on our Starla product, through to our ergonomic seatbelt, we continually strive to develop innovative features that keep our stair lifts at the cutting edge of technology to ensure exceptional quality. The result is the manufacturing of elegant, yet robust stair lifts that stand the test of time.

For some people, deciding to add a stairlift felt like the biggest hurdle—not because of how it works, but because of old ideas about what it represents. Many individuals who could benefit from practical home-access solutions hesitate at first or feel unsure about using them in front of others.

Cultural associations linking home-access products with aging or limitation have shaped attitudes in the past. But for most Stannah customers, the comfort, independence, and ease a stairlift brings quickly shift those perceptions. They discover that having a smooth, reliable way to navigate the stairs gives them more freedom throughout the day and helps their home feel more accessible overall.

When might a stairlift be a good addition to your home?

• Family members encourage you to consider an easier way to navigate the stairs
• You find yourself taking extra steps or detours to make the stairs more manageable
• Using the stairs leaves you feeling drained or less energized for the rest of your day

By installing a stairlift, you can focus on enjoying your home to its fullest and preserving your energy for the things you truly enjoy. Choosing one sooner simply means you’ll enjoy its benefits for even longer.

As for Stannah, we will continually think of our customers as increasingly and generally more brand and design conscious, keener to assert their individuality and embrace aging with a positive attitude, making the most of the technology at their disposal.

Written by Stannah at 04-09-2023