Stain it to match the floors, if you can.

Poplar is paint grade wood. Blotchy as all get out when stained.

Agree with raineycarole. Especially if you are having a professional do it for you.

Poplar doesn't stain well. It won't take the stain evenly. I would paint it white.

Thank you for the responses , that's what I was afraid of with the poplar. I will paint it instead of staining. Thanks for the suggestions!

Stain. Stain stain stain. I have ebony stained oak floors (almost black) with the same stain used on the poplar handrail. No one has noticed it's not the same wood. Paint feels gross on a handrail- always sticky.

If it's going to be ebony you can probably stain it. It will probably take at least two or three coats to get the deep coloration. First coat will likely be blotchy as mentioned. you might even use some color in the clear topcoat, but in the end it will look deeper and richer than solid paint. Stain and Seal Ebony by Faux Effects is a great solution over any wood, kind of a combo between stain and topcoat, lots of body.

Here's a before and after recently done on Houzz. She could not remove carpet so bottom step was painted to match the others.

Thanks for the tips! Your right I really would like the railing to feel like wood rather than paint.

Decoenthusieste is that handrail painted of stained?

She mentioned stain and paint, so I'm not sure. You can read through the post and see what you think. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/help-with-stain-color-for-banister-rails-dsvw-vd~3604777

stain it. poplar wood shouldn't be an excuse not to stain it. especially for a professional woodfinisher.

Paint is not sticky! SW paint cleans well. But for you I think stain.

You're overestimating the miracle working powers of a ''professional woodfinisher''. LOL! If someone wanted it stained, stain grade materials should have been specified in the contract. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken $#!¶.

That looks great thanks! I would really like to keep the wood grain look and that looks awesome.

Stain. I have stained poplar and it's fine.

My handrails look great, that said I stained them and finished them myself (in my previous life I studied furniture design)

I disagree with the "paint is not sticky" comment too - maybe not at first, but give it a year or two. Paint + skin oil + whatever is on all those hands = sticky.

You can buy a can of wood conditioner to apply before the stain, MINWAX makes one. Helps the stain go on evenly.

We have poplar baseboards and built ins. I was also concerned about the way poplar takes stain. I had several sample boards, with and without conditioners. Finally came across the Zar brand of stain. Well worth the cost and time in locating it! The poplar takes this stain evenly, no blotching, no conditioner needed and came out beautifully!

Here's an article that might help: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/make-poplar-look-pretty

First try staining. You can paint over stain but you cannot stain over paint.

Yeah I was thinking the same Leelee

Anniebird what brand and color of stain did you use on that handrail? very nice!

I wish I knew:). It was done by a professional painter.

I agree with Sophie! Paint in this case. Poplar does not stain well!

For the person who used ZAR--do you remember which product you used? I see they have several. I have to stain the edges of the treads (middle has carpet) and they are poplar. Thanks.

Poplar stains fine, just should have been stained and at least two coats of poly before assembling.