Yes I would paint the risers. Use a good primer and a tough paint since, without a stair runner on top, these risers will get bashed by shoes. Try a paint that's formulated for floors.

I made a mistake and opted for painted white risers. I regret it every day because they have black marks on them from shoes. Unless everyone in your family agrees to take off shoes in the house, do not paint them white. I am now looking for a solution to my white risers and nobody can come up with a solution, except painting them white again.

I always recommend a carpet runner for stairs for safety reasons. Do paint the risers white, as that's a beautiful look, but also put a runner down to protect the stairs and to make them less treacherously slippery.

On Pinterest, I've seen them painted with chalkboard paint.

I have had painted risers and loved the look. I kept a small jar of touch up paint for small marks, needed every 5-6 months & takes only a few minutes.

Yes, paint them, shoe marks will happen on what you have anyway so they might as well look better. A good floor enamel paint will be easier to clean than the stained risers you have.

Or get creative.....

Thanks for the quick replies! Would I have to sand and prime the laminate risers before painting them?

Yes

I wouldn't worry about sanding too much. Just wash them well so they're very clean and the primer should stick well. Interesting ideas above about other alternatives to white paint. I would NOT recommend blackboard paint because that stuff is so delicate you could scratch it off with a fingernail. It's highly pigmented and ultra flat so chalk will display well on it, but it isn't practical for use on stairs. The black paint is dramatic, but if anyone has depth perception issues, it might make them unstable climbing or descending the stairs. The white, which contrasts with the wood tread, makes a nice (safe) contrast.

Before you paint, I would wash the laminate with deglosser (you can get it in the paint aisle at any hardware store, or at a paint shop). This will take the gloss off the laminate, and help the paint stick. While you are there, I would ask for a priimer that is specifically designed for painting over laminate. I personally prefer Zinsser primers, and have used Zinsser Bondz with success, but there are a number of brands out there. It will help the paint stick to the laminate. I would also use an epoxy-based floor and tile paint. I painted over our hideous stick-on vinyl tile floors with Zinsser Bondz, followed by Benjamin Moore's floor and tile paint (which you can get tinted to any color). 6 months later, it still looks perfect. For extra durability, you can add a layer of polyurathane varnish, which will mean you can wipe any shoe marks off. Go for glossier, rather than flatter finishes for extra durability.

Will this work?

It should be fine, but definitely degloss and use a primer first, even if it says you don't need one. The primer will give it that extra strength, and it is in a high-use area.

No, I wouldn't recommend it. You need a good quality primer/sealer and a floor paint for your finish coat. You want something that's going to stick well and be durable and washable and resistant to scratches etc. Go to a professional paint store (not the big box store) and they'll be able to guide you.

Thanks everyone!

Somewhere on this site, you will find wallpaper on stairs that look beautiful! Will also save sanding time.

HI -- No ones has mentioned TILE . I think a tile on the risers - might work for you . Easy to put on and care for.And can be very interesting.The choices are endless. But if not , then I think a stair runner is better than just painted.

I do like the idea of a stair runner once I paint them. How does the runner stay in place?

There are several suggestions. You will have to choose which you like best. My suggestion would be to paint the risers white or black. Use a primer even if your paint has a primer in it. Yes, clean the stairs very well. Also, keep a small container of the paint handy for touch-ups. If you have children or pets or elderly in your home, please consider using a carpet runner. That little bit of carpet and padding goes a very long way to silence noice and pad a fall or a stumble and laminate is slippery, hard, and loud! Sisal runners are gorgeous and can be very durable and soft.
Best of luck to you!

Stair runners are either stapled by your installer so they look invisibly attached to the stairs or you can use purchased stair rods that hold the carpet in place. See www.stairrods.ca for lots of examples.You can purchase stair runners by the running foot or you can have them made from broadloom carpeting, cut in strips and edges bound, either invisibly serged or with decorative tapes on the edges.

Be sure to use OIL Based Trim paint.

Your advice, mstarkey60, is good in theory but oil paint has been phased out over the last few years. There may be still, in your area, a source of these, but it's unlikely. Latex paint has improved a lot over the years, however. I recommended a "floor paint" that is specially formulated to be extra tough.

White subway tile would look great.

I just checked out some stair rods online and with an average of $10 each I think my budget will not allow for it. The light laminate I have now already gets scuff marks although not that often. I do love the clean and open look of the white and will just have to maintain them.

Stair rods are the "luxury" option. However your installer can attach the runner so it is invisibly adhered to the stairs. Count how many stairs you have and how wide the runner will be, and give that information to an installer for an accurate quote. An underpad will also be recommended.

I suggest painting the risers white as well. A stair runner with hardware looks great and absorbs a traffic pattern well. Consider a synthetic product like olefin for the runner, it is very hardy and easy to clean. Hope that helps Charmean Neithart

Yes olefin is very tough, but if you're a bare-foot family, test the feel of a sample with your toes! I find olefin really creepy to walk on :)

It sounds like wool is not in the budget of this homeowner but it's the ultimate in luxury and long-term beauty. A compromise might be a good quality nylon.

Check the carpet rating and see if the carpet you choose is rated heavy duty for stairs, since lighter products will eventually crush. That's if you are choosing a pile carpet of course. A nice way to go is to choose a flat weave like a sisal-look, which won't have crushing issues.

Thanks again everyone for all your suggestions!

Given that you will only need a small amount of carpet for the runner, I suggest you look for ends of rolls or remnants. These are pieces of carpet left over from other jobs. Carpet sellers often sell these off at greatly reduced cost. This means you can get a much higher quality carpet than you would otherwise be able to afford. The tighter (ie closer together) the tufting the harder wearing it will be. If you want a strip down the middle (rather than covering the whole stair), get them to overlock the edges for you.
And I agree with Cynthia, the barefoot test is essential when buying any carpet.

White would look beautiful but high maintenance. I would start with a carpet runner first and then decide if you really want to take it to the next step and paint.

This is the sort of DIY paint job that is not. There are very specific steps to be taken with the prep work, primer, thin layers and urethane finish. It is worthwhile to hire a professional (someone who comes highly recommended by your paint store). Then you also need to understand the process, the best product(s) and to make certain you are getting what is required. It's up to the painter to do an exceptional job, but only after both of you are on board with the what and how. If painting, it needs to be white.

I strongly agree with Karen about hiring a professional to paint.

What about chalk paint? No prepping other than cleaning with a degreaser. Seal with poly. Just discovered this product & am in love with the simplicity!

What do you consider a good primer and paint?
Thank you.