Black…start with the rail..that might be enough for you..if not do the spindles as well.

Exterior, Entry, Living Room, Kitchen and Bedroom · More Info

Great idea qam--pull the eye away from staircase to more dramatic elements like a rug, console table, great art, bigger lamp. In that vein, wrap some patterned carpeting around the actual stairs to go with an entry rug.

Alternative Flooring - Quirky B Fair Isle Reiko Carpet · More Info

Chatham Mallow · More Info

Thank you all for your comments. qam999, I’m going to give this some thought. I really appreciate your feedback.

If you paint it black, don’t use glossy paint as that will bring more attention to it

Don't paint it black. It's not interesting enough to be a highlight like that and the parts are too thick and bulky.

Listen to qam...

I would leave the railing the color it is and paint the walls a darker color. Something to coordinate with adjacent rooms.

I know this railing all to well. My relatives have it and well they left it alone. Do as ckamenic mentioned paint the walls a darker color.

The only way to update this railing is to replace it Or have it stained to match your wood floors. Big expense.

Painting it white will only be more up keep.

Painting the top rail black will make it stand out.

You don’t need to paint your walls a darker color to have definition. You can get that by painting the stringer (apron) the white of your woodwork.

I think you could do a lot with the staircase to make it interesting….IMO, it isn’t the staircase itself that is unattractive, it is the carpet that dates it.

Here is a photo of railing/spindles much like yours….meeting white tile.

I like JudyG's suggestion. Paint the stringer a darker color or stain it darker. Warm up the wall color as well.

I don't hate the staircase at all, I actually rather like it. I think what is competing with your staircase & railing is all of the square shapes & lines in the small pattern of your floor tile, which is also so similar in color so that it looks like a bunch of busy lines. All of those busy lines from both the tile & the stair railing are 'competing' with each other. I know your not asking about the floor tile, but please excuse me for saying that I think that is what it causing the staircase not to look as good as it could. Even simply a large area rug over the tile to cover it could enhance the look of the stair case. Or a much larger scale of tiles, or adding wood flooring. Updating the rug on the stair case to something with a lower pile, something smoother and sleeker could also help rejuvenate the staircase. Just my two cents take them or leave them.

There are so many wonderful styles and colors in stair runners. Check out carpetrunners .com. They have many how to videos and step by step information to make it a fun and enjoyable project. Ann Lamm Interior Design, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

All of these are great suggestions. I had a very similar stair rail on a remodel I did last year. Changing out the railing requires that it is brought up to code. That can be pricey when you have a limited budget. If the railing is in good condition, keep it and change the steps to wood! Then you can do a runner like pictured above or just leave the wood. You could paint the rise and have wood on the step/run of the stair.

Country Villa Townhouse Remodel · More Info