Do you want to use a runner again? or do you want to have bare stairs? Stair runners will help with wear on the stairs, and also serve as an acoustic buffer to sound of people going up and down the stairs. (Those stair rods are a pricey purchase, too)

I’m not to sure. I don’t really like those to be honest. I’m not really sure I would find something that I would like. Never really seen them in a house.

You could paint the face white and keep top of steps wood? Seems to be a common update

This wood is so old it’s coming up with the uninstall of the screws lol

Amber - that is not good - you probably need a finish contractor to come in and evaluate the wood on the stairs - for structural integrity. If you need to change out the wood - that is going to be a big job -

Can you take another photo of what you mean by "coming up with the uninstall of the screws"?

Amber, I remembered a question here from awhile back regarding stair runners. I found the link...in case it's any help. Guess you need to deal with the wood first.

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/advise-on-wool-sisal-runner-for-stairs-please-help-dsvw-vd~4366617?n=86[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/advise-on-wool-sisal-runner-for-stairs-please-help-dsvw-vd~4366617?n=86)

Wow thank you so much! I love those dark stairs.

This is what I mean about the wood being damaged..

Fill the holes with wood filler and stain the top of the steps darker

you may be suprised what a good sanding and filling will do with the added help of a stair finish carpenter tidying things up.

I fall down stairs a lot, so I would need carpeting or I’d kill myself. Lol.

When I took the carpet off of my stairs I hired someone to hand scrape and stain the stairs and then I used matching tile (mine is Travertine) on the risers. I am very pleased with the look.

That looks great! How much did it cost for the staining of the stairs??

I finished mine, but they were really rough in areas. I heard from others to be careful with wood filler since it frequently takes stain differently and shows. Some said to do a matching filler after staining the stairs. I just left mine a little distressed because it goes with the style of my home. I use stair tread regs. I am really happy with them except the they don't protect the white risers from getting scuffed by people's shoes. Mostly we don't wear shoes in the house, but a few times plumbers or delivery guys have scuffed up the white risers. The stair tread rugs come in many styles.

I fell down the stairs more with the carpet on.

Update

I think the bare stairs look lovely with the wood

Agreed but I would like to change the wood color

Amber,
My apologies. I had this work done in 2010 and the stairs were only a part of the wood work. We also had New hand scraped hard wood floors installed in our office by the same person, so I can’t remember how much it cost. However, the look is great and the stairs haven’t started to show wear in 7 years. We have five adult children, three grands and two large grand-dogs. So - when we have visitors the stairs get quite a bit of use. Best wishes for a great outcome. I really don’t like carpeting on stairs at all. It gets worn and stained.

I would paint the risers white but leave the treads because it matches your railing. Make the treads darker, then you’ll have to change your railing, etc...

You have the same wood on my stairs when I pulled up my ugly green carpet. The treads are yummy oak and the risers are crappy pine like yours. Why they didn't use all oak??? I was ecstatic that I had a good wooden staircase that I could refinish and not have to re-carpet. My house is from the 1975. I scrubbed them good with a bleach water solution, puttied over screws in risers, sanded, stained and sealed the wood. I didn't paint my risers, but I would recommend it. Mine stained the same, but I know they are two different woods and the risers don't look as nice as the treads to me. But nobody has said anything and my kids would of. I would of painted the risers, but painted risers remind me of a colonial style staircases and I don't have a colonial home. I did mine 2 years ago and they are not showing any sign of wear.

few ideas. I happen to love the black and wood together.

the runner option can be a great look w/painted risers

White painted risers are perpetually scuffed with black marks from people's shoes. Paint them a darker color if you must paint them.

my bother did the opposite of Georgia Little: he kept the wood risers and did tile on the tread. It looked good and was cheaper than new treads.

The reason I chose tile vs paint on the risers is because I didn’t want the scuff marks.

Didn't read all the comments, but please consider carpet again if you don't wear shoes in your home. We like to go barefoot or in socks, and in our previous home that didn't have a rug, I and my friends have slipped a couple of times on the stairs. It wasn't pleasant. Since we are a no-shoes in the house home, I always make sure that it has carpeting on it, even though look wise, I prefer it without.

Before and after of my stair update. I'm really happy with the tile risers.

Before

After

Mine was similar, had it stained on site and painted. No rugs, fall hazard on a curved staircase.