I’ve always lived in multi-story homes but never paid much attention to their staircases. One staircase in particular was grand—but I never took a close look. Now that we’ve moved, I regret not noticing something special: many staircases include a single upside-down baluster.

Not a Carpenter’s Mistake

If you’ve ever spotted an upside-down baluster on a staircase, you might have assumed it was a builder’s error. Surprisingly, this is rarely the case. Builders and carpenters often install one baluster upside down on purpose.

Tradition and Superstition Behind the Baluster

Two popular beliefs explain this practice: