Staircase LED: Motion-Activated Step Lighting

Motion-activated staircase lighting is one of the most impressive home automation projects you can build. As someone walks up or down the stairs, LED strips sequentially illuminate each step, creating a cascading waterfall of light. It is functional (prevents falls in the dark), beautiful, and surprisingly achievable with Arduino and LED strips.

Why Staircase LED Lighting

• Safety: Prevents trips and falls on stairs at night
• Energy saving: Only lights up when someone is present
• Aesthetic impact: The cascading effect is a genuine showpiece
• Home value: Adds a premium feel to any Indian home
• Customisable: Choose colours, speed, direction, and brightness

Sensor Placement Strategy

Use two PIR (Passive Infrared) motion sensors:

• One at the bottom of the staircase
• One at the top of the staircase
• Walking up triggers bottom sensor first — cascade lights upward
• Walking down triggers top sensor first — cascade lights downward
• After a timeout (30-60 seconds), lights fade off in reverse order

LED Strip Selection for Stairs

• Warm white 2835 strip (IP65): Best for subtle, elegant staircase lighting
• 12V operation: Safe and easy to install
• 60 LEDs/m density: Provides even, gap-free illumination
• Cut to step width: Typically 70-100 cm per step

For Indian staircases with 12-16 steps, you need approximately 10-16 metres of strip total.

Arduino Cascading Light Controller

#define NUM_STEPS 14
#define STEP_DELAY 150 // ms between each step lighting
int stepPins[NUM_STEPS]; // MOSFET gate pins

void cascadeUp() {
  for (int i = 0; i = 0; i--) {
    analogWrite(stepPins[i], 255);
    delay(STEP_DELAY);
  }
}
void fadeAll() {
  for (int b = 255; b >= 0; b -= 5) {
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_STEPS; i++)
      analogWrite(stepPins[i], b);
    delay(30);
  }
}

Use MOSFET modules (IRLZ44N) to switch each strip segment from the Arduino PWM pins. Each step gets its own MOSFET.

Wiring for Multiple Steps

• Run a 12V power bus along the staircase (hidden behind the skirting board or under the handrail)
• Branch off to each step with short wire runs to individual strip segments
• Use WAGO connectors or solder joints — do not use tape connections for permanent installs
• The Arduino and MOSFETs can be housed in a small junction box at the bottom or top

Power Supply Calculations

For a 14-step staircase with 80 cm strips at 12W/m:

• Total strip length: 14 x 0.8m = 11.2m
• Power per metre (warm white 2835): ~4.8W
• Total power: 11.2 x 4.8 = ~54W
• Recommended power supply: 12V 5A (60W) with headroom

Waterproofing for Outdoor Stairs

• Use IP67 strips (silicone tube encased) for outdoor stairs
• Use aluminium channels with end caps to fully seal the installation
• Apply silicone sealant at wire entry points
• Use outdoor-rated junction boxes for the controller

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