You’re walking through an old house — maybe it’s your own, maybe it’s one you just inherited, or maybe you’re just the curious type who likes to notice the little things.
The woodwork is charming. The staircase creaks just right. You run your hand along the banister, appreciating the craftsmanship, when suddenly… something feels off.
One of the balusters — those vertical wooden spindles holding up the railing — looks a bit strange. It matches the others in shape and size… but something about it is just wrong. A little off-balance. The pattern doesn’t flow quite the same way.
And then it hits you.
It’s upside down.
At first, you might think it’s a mistake. A fluke during a rushed renovation. Maybe someone just wasn’t paying attention when they nailed it in.
But here’s the twist: in many older homes, it was done on purpose.
That’s right — in certain regions and historical periods, flipping a baluster was actually a subtle signature left by the craftsman or builder. A tiny act of rebellion. An Easter egg. A way of saying, “A human made this.”
Why? Because in some traditions, only God could make something perfect. So to avoid the sin of pride or the illusion of flawlessness, a single element would be intentionally altered — just slightly. Just enough to stand out if you’re really looking.
It’s sometimes called a “spirit bead” in quilting, or a “humility square.” In woodworking? That upside-down baluster might be the one deliberate imperfection in an otherwise perfect staircase.
Of course, not every flipped spindle has deep meaning. Sometimes it really was just a mistake — but even that tells a story. A story of a real person, likely tired, likely working with hand tools, doing their best. And leaving behind a tiny reminder that houses aren’t just built — they’re lived in, flawed and full of charm.
So if you spot one in your home, don’t rush to fix it.
Smile. You’ve just found the one part of your staircase with a personality.
And well — I, for one, had no idea either. 😲
