Great points, I totally get where you’re coming from. I’m not a fan of wallpaper in stairwells either. Honestly, there’s something timeless about a plain-wood staircase that’s been treated with just stain or a clean coat of paint.
In fact, I’ve come across the work of recently, and their philosophy really resonated with me. On their site, they emphasise designing spaces that are “people and purpose-led”, where materials, layout and ambience are chosen to support everyday living.
Using that mindset, a wood staircase with a good stain (or a simple paint finish) becomes more than just functional, it becomes part of the home’s character. Done right, it reflects a design intention rather than just filling space.
That said, I think there is room for tiles or even bold design choices but only if the rest of the interior is simple and clean enough to balance them out. If everything else is minimalist or plain, then a feature staircase can work; but if you lean towards classic wood and subtlety, then a natural-finish staircase will almost always age better, look warmer and feel more welcoming.