Just painting the risers (the vertical part) would brighten them up. Doesn't have to be bright white but a softer white, would break it up a bit but you'd still have plenty of wood exposed.

Here's another way you can do it, by painting the skirting white, leaving treads and risers stained.

This was one of today's ideabooks: [houzz= https://www.houzz.com/magazine/set-staircases-racing-with-a-striped-stair-runner-stsetivw-vs~4033112 w=300]

I agree with the carpet runner, don't put it to wide and choose a light color

The carpet will wear and you will have to vacuum it. I would paint it off white...

I would paint the risers white. I currently have carpet and runner on my stairs and I find it a real chore to vacuum and clean spots off the carpet. I'm planning on tearing the carpet up and painting.

I would use Citristrip, and sandpaper. then re-stain, and use a really durable fast drying urethane like the kind used for flooring. It's a beautiful staircase, just remember it's easier to paint over it later if things don't work out with refinishing than it would be to remove the paint once it's done. Also, I noticed the flooring is not well coordinated with the stair color. If that really bothers you, I vote either cover the flooring, or tear it up and redo either all in a nice medium to dark stone looking tile, or hardwood that goes with the stairs. Good luck and have fun. I'm nearly finished with a ground floor apartment in a 100+y/o house it's more fun now than when I started 2 years ago.

Thought of putting tiles ?

Good luck finding affordable labor to tile stairs....

I like your stairs as they are, but they would also look good with white painted risers.

i say paint the risers. See how you like that first, then add a runner if you still need more contrast.

Tiling the risers is a cool look, depending on the flavor of your home.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/8200-big-view-mediterranean-staircase-austin-phvw-vp~205371

Generally not enough room to use tile. It needs to be anticipated during construction. Plastic laminate is a possible alternative as is Chem.metal.com s products as they are think and can be pre cut for glue application by DIY.

Painting and stenciling the risers and re-finishing the treads, would give you the same look as that first pic (which I love) posted by ct design. Judging by the wear on those treads, and since there are only four of them, stripping and fixing the colour shouldn't be too much of a problem. Am interested to see the finished project. Good luck with it !

I'm not seeing a picture by CT Design???? I keep missing these things, something isn't connecting. Anyway, I'm wondering, if you painted the stairs and then coated them with a marine varnish (like they use on boats) will that provide extra protection against wear? Hmmmm.........

I like the stairs as they are.

I agree with painting the risers white. It also makes it easier to see the treader, therefore less likely to fall.

I've seen homes with painted risers covered in scuff marks from shoes so that puts me off. I've stained my stairs because I am DONE with vacuuming stairs. To be honest, and I don't wish to offend, I've leave the stairs alone and focus on that timber panelling and turned posts which I presume back your kitchen cupboards.

I'd prefer to have that whole timber section (having removed those posts) disappear behind a dry wall right down to the floor and extended to the newel post at the top of the short flight of stairs If this area was was dry walled and painted white the timber stairs wouldn't seem like too much timber

Those stair treads don't appear to be oak, which is a durable hardwood that can stand up to foot traffic. Since replacing the treads with oak would be expensive, I would leave the stairs as is and install a runner leaving some wood exposed on the sides. Try to find one in a contemporary striped pattern to freshen up the vibe.

Interesting mix of styles. Your glass cabinet and black leather chair speak of a more modern vibe whereas your house is VERY 80s country. To integrate the 2 looks, I would remove all of the railings ... including the awful wood wall above the chair, and replace it all with a black wrought iron rail.You could keep wooden posts but in a more contemporary style. It would open up the space for light. By removing the wall of wood, you could keep your wood stairs and trim, as the wood wouldn't be so overpowering as it is now. Just restain the stairs. Also ... remove the wooden shelf in what I assume is the kitchen and replace it with a large piece of artwork. That will help to reduce the 80s country vibe that is clashing with your modern sensibilities.

My dilemma is more complex: the stairs to the second floor underneath the completely worn out carpet are half oak (the sides of the steps that show) and half pine (the parts that don't show). We have replaced the carpet twice, now we want just have it ripped off and get the steps painted. I don't think the pine will withstand high traffic, though. To add to dilemma: floors upstairs are bamboo (recently installed), downstairs (original) - light stained oak. Any good suggestions?

Do something decorative to the risers.

Your stated dilemma is for painting the stairs or not, but you like wood grain.

The stair treads look worn and discolored, especially in the section with nine steps. I would refinish the treads. Then put a coat of hard wearing clear finish designed for flooring on them (non-slip). Remember, if you paint over wood, it is much harder to get the paint off than fixing a refinishing error on natural wood

If you paint the risers white, they will look pretty for a while, but they will eventually get dirty and scuffed.

There are carpet treads that stick on and are washable if the main problem is that your treads are made of a soft wood and show wear quickly.

There can be practically no deflection or give in your stairs no matter who plans to tile step risers. If stairs are not reinforced and sturdy then your grout will crack and the tiles will eventually come loose. Don't rely that every tile contractor will ensure the structure is adequate. Ask questions and don't let them tell you it's nothing to worry about.

I just wonder how scuffed up the risers will get from being "toed" ?

However, your stairs are beautiful.

I like the idea of stenciling or painting the risers only. I've had white risers with stained steps. While the contrast is beautiful, the white does show lots of scuffs. I ended up painting them and the rest of the woodwork in the house a sage green, which was more forgiving. It looked equally beautiful with the parts of the staircase that were stained mahogany.

I really like your wood stairs. Looks like they just need a little sanding and restaining. If you paint the risers and skirting white, consider painting the balusters white, also.

I don't think your stairs need changing, just a little bit of TLC. I would opt for a lacquer or oil finish as it will fare better in this high traffic area.

As some others have suggested, I personally would just sand and re-stain them. In the event you wish to apply some sort of covering to the step NaturalAreaRugs.com carry a selection of staircase treads that are applied to just the top of the step. (Once logged on to their site, under 'search' just type in "stair treads".)

There are many good comments made. My first impression when I saw your staircase was that the tile floor and walls don't blend well with it. If you took the idea of painting your risers and balusters to a light neutral in the same family of color as your tile your would incorporate the surrounding tile floor nicely. I understand the point of scuffing on the risers so perhaps taking the tile idea but painting a pattern in the riser area and protected it with on the of the coatings mentioned in previous comments would be a good answer. I also felt that your contempory display cabinet was such a different style element from the space and couldn't tell what the wood structure is behind it. Can this structure be altered with paint as well?

Good luck with your project.
Karlene Hunter Baum

Mr clean eraser sponge does a great job of cleaning the white risers I have. They balance light tile with the bamboo floor and keep it light. I am very happy with the effect.

There are colored stains, My basement doors are stained a beautiful light lime green!

Paint the risers high gloss white and refinish the treads....it is classic and timeless. :)

I like your stairs as they are; maybe just some good old fashioned scrubbing and maybe a little whitewashing to the risers. Simple Green is a fantastic cleaner that degreases also. I love it. A darling stencil on the risers in black and a protective finish and you are good to go.
http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/staircase-stencil.html

well. If your primary style is country, it might ne nice to pick up some of the grayed colors in your decor and paint the risers one of those colors, or even all of those colors. I've seen them done with book titles on the colored risers (might not work for you), or rebuilt with drawers for the risers. The treads look worn. If your look is more contemporary, maybe paint the treads black and the risers and the rail white.

Salllan13, what are your thoughts?