I agree about adding a door to the basement stairs. Put the hinges on the left facing the door and have it open toward you. Then add a pretty runner to your stairs and change out the light for something like a semi flush drum shade fixture.

You door and case the stair to basement. You add a runner to the exposed stair.. If you dislike the finish, you can paint spindles, risers to trim white, all else to a soft black. Presto. Because BILLIONS of people have a stair.

Not a Pro.

If the basement stairs are used often, I have seen a glass pane door put in for the basement door.

Some inspiration:

Entry Door · More Info

Pleasant Valley · More Info

Add a door to the basement. Do you like the gray color of the risers? You could paint them white and the same for the spindles. The treads looks nice so I wouldn't cover them

I think your stairs look nice, and I like the color of the paint. A runner will make them more of a focal point, if that’s what you prefer, but will be more difficult to keep clean. Think hauling a vacuum up the stairs. Agree- add a door to the basement stairs.

Agreeing with everyone, its not the stairs going up that look bad its, the big gaping opening to the basement, an attractive decorative door would make all the difference.