I think stain is nice because it adds a warmer element to the cooler white and grays.

I would paint it the same colour as the garage door colour.

Hi David, you have a beautiful landscape and home. I realize right now you want to fix the stair color but the moment I looked at the picture, I saw stepped landings at different levels to take you to the front door. It would meld into the existing terrain, a gradual few steps, then a landing continuing with additional steps all the way up to the front door area. Absolutely leave the tree and continue up to the front door. Then, remove the railing and incorporate a clear exterior glass or plexi-glass in place of the spindles. It will totally open the approach area. It would take a bit of grading and a couple of additional retaining walls (small and short) to accommodate the landing but oh my, when you are finished, it would be a show stopper. And then I would paint the front door some bold color; i.e. cherry red, turquoise. About the existing staircase, leave the stair treads natural stain (easier to navigate) and paint the handles or railings the dark gray. Good luck.

I would do same as the garage door! They will then “recede” more than they do now, or if you painted them something eye grabbing like white.

It looks like have a lovely property! I am sure the climb is worth it :)

Bump

Same as the garage doors and when it is possible do a set of stairs that has a landing part way up for safety and looks in fact it might be nice to have a wider staircase with multi level decking to make it look more inviting.

Thanks to everyone who commented. For those who have suggested reconfiguring the stairs to add landings, where would I start with that? An architect?

A good deck builder could draw up suggestions.

Don't paint, unless you want to set yourself up for scrapping and sanding in the years to come. Seen it on neighbors home. They painted it white, with supposedly correct prep and paint on a new deck, they did wait the recommended year to paint. They had old deck rebuilt, thought it was the old wood that made it so they were scrapping and painting multiple times. Seems it's just the nature of the beast. Use a oil based stain.

Izzy Mnt makes a good point. But before you do anything get some ideas and bids from a couple companies that do this for a living. A darker stain getting close to your trim paint color could do the trick. Rebuilding that stair will be quite expensive and only you know if it would be worth it.

Create landing (or riser) about 4 feet above the ground which is as wide as the one at the top of the stairs.

Wow!!! You guys are so helpful! Phuninthesun-thank you so much for the visual! I was just telling me wife how it would be cool to see what this could look like! I really enjoy the visuals if anyone has more. It would be really cool to see the darker stain color similar to the garage applied. Thanks again Phuninthesun.

I know most people are suggesting the stairs to be the same color as the garage doors but it sure seems awfully dark. Maybe the gray instead? Or gray with white railings?

I like them in the cedar with another landing

The stairs would be dark David but that way they recede and blend instead of being a focal point.

too dark for safety. i dont see them as an awful feature... any color you have to walk up and down every blessed one of them, i'd rather not worry about guests missing their footing.

a word about the second, lower, landing... the bottom of the stairs would have to come out further to compensate for losing 2-3 steps midway. not a tragic thing, but building isnt as magic as photoshop.

i agree, a good deck builder could do something interesting here. find one that has complicated designs in their online portfolio.

White trim like the hand railing or posts. Add a white detail to the door, maybe a beefier crown over the door.

You could add white finials at key points on the railing for cues on step changes. I like the darker colors and some good lighting for night time would solve most problems of footing.

ninigret - I absolutely am not a deck builder! My mockups are just to give a basic idea, not building plans. I have no clue how to add the second landing!

A darker color similar to the house would look better. Also if you install some lights in the stairs for visibility at night, I think they would look great.

Following

Phuninthesun, can you mock up one more picture with the stairs to be the same color as the body of the house? You’re pictures are really helping me!

That's as light as I can get them. Hope it helps.

Thanks Phuninthesun! You’re awesome.