If you believe in folklore, it may bring you comfort to know the upside-down baluster on the stairway banister is to keep evil spirits from inhabiting the upper level of your home.

If you’ve seen an upside-down baluster on a staircase, it’s not a construction mistake—it’s a tradition rooted in folklore.

Historically, staircases were believed to connect the physical world with the spirit world. To protect homes from evil spirits, carpenters would place one baluster upside down to break the pattern and confuse any spirits trying to pass through.

In some Christian traditions, this inverted piece also symbolized human imperfection, serving as a quiet reminder that only God is perfect.

So next time you spot one, remember—it’s not just decoration, it’s a symbol of protection and humility.