Wall behind staircase - I have a similar stair arrangement with washer and dryer below staircase. It is hickory with clear finish for the inner kickboards and 14" wide diagonal side board that faces into the room. It will be carpeted down the middle.
Should the color above the stairs stay on the lighter side and only above the stairs, leaving the wall under the stairs the first floor color? »
This tendency of warm colors to advance can be seen at work in this yellow-green accent wall. That accent wall is pulling the stairs closer to the dining table. Of course, it's not actually moving anything, but the perception is that the space feels closer.
If you're deciding on a paint scheme and there are elements in a room that you want to draw closer, point them in a warmer color.
Use the stairs as sculpture. Like the above staircase, but in reverse, these white metal stairs extend out from the lime green wall and seemingly float in mid air. The simplicity of the handrail only adds to the illusion of this structure.
In this bright, open space, the wasabi wall color becomes a connector between the main level and upstairs.
Tip: Stairwells make a great area for accent color because the stair wall will allow for the color to flow from one level of a home to another, creating harmony in the entire house.
I could block off the wall area facing the bathroom and make some focal point there as you come down the stairs. How can I use that area in conjunction with the remainder of the basement