Staircases have always been part of my life, but I never paid much attention to the details—until I learned about the upside-down baluster. It looks like a mistake, but it’s usually a meaningful choice.
There are two main reasons why builders do this. One is to show humility: only God can create perfection, so humans leave a small imperfection to remind us of that. It’s a quiet symbol carved into the home.
The other reason is superstition. People believed that a perfect staircase might let evil spirits climb into the house. Flipping one baluster was a way to stop that from happening—a kind of spiritual protection.
These ideas fascinated me and made me want to look for upside-down balusters everywhere. Sadly, my current home’s stairs don’t have balusters, so I can’t check.
It’s amazing how something so small can hold such meaning. Next time you see an old staircase, take a closer look—you might find a secret symbol hiding in plain sight.
