Read this post…more particularly #9. It appeals to me because of all the wood. Might a true black on the stairs be too stark?

https://www.thespruce.com/best-black-paint-colors-4588891

Thanks. I read that article and Black Beauty is in the running. I do worry that on the paint card the lower color has a lot of Blue in it.

I used this for a front door and it is gorgeous:

B.M. Black Forest Green

I plan on keeping the risers stained wood to break it up and tie in with the rest of the house. Eventually adding a blk/tan herringbone runner. I have mostly painted furniture.... some black... in that room.
I do however like #9.

Ooooo. I look at that!
We’re currently doing work in our kitchen replacing countertop, backsplash, appliances. This will give you an idea of wood tones (although lighting is awful in this photo). I’m not there so can’t provide a photo of staircase.

janet, I've painted w/a lot of BM colors on wood.

can I see the stair treads? you said you're using wood filler. Do the treads have a grain? (like oak) or are they super smooth where the wood filler will sand to blend?

Also too, depending on the size you have to fill, a bondo filler would be a better choice.

let me see the treads

as for the black, take the base 4 can to the paint guy, tell him you want BM Black, and then tell him to add a few more squirts of black tint to the recipe. (he can do it manually) I did this w/my Advance in black. you'd be surprised at how much blacker it comes out

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/joannes-little-door-phvw-vp~109444140

I won’t be at the house for a few more days. Mostly the treads are damaged by staples and some gauging. Our carpenter said he can get them in pretty good shape for painting but didn’t think stain on treads would come out too well. I think they are pine. The first step before newel post is oak.

Yes....a similar runner but Black and Tan.
That’s why I was trying to stay with a true black.

There are no completely neutral blacks very readily available to us, from the major high-street paint companies. All blacks, whites, greys belong to measurable Hue Families along with the more obvious colourful colours.

Choose a black from the same Hue Family as another major element in the space, for a monochrome palette.

Choose a black from an adjacent Hue Family as another major element in the space, for an analogous palette.

Choose a black from an opposite Hue Family as another major element in the space, for a complementary palette.

Or as suggested - it’s possible to find a very dark colour, but which still contains more Chroma for a somewhat softer effect, whilst still providing contrast.

(See Behr Peppery + SW Urbane Bronze)

Oh that’s confusing..... my ceiling is White Dove. But all the walls in adjacent rooms are wood.... slightly orangey brown. Just thought black would be safe as I have painted a few pieces of furniture black.
So possibly #3 BM Black????

janette,,,no need to be confused.

Like I mentioned, if you want the blackest black, just have the paint guy manually add a few more (I did 4 extra squirts of lampblack w/mine) to the base of BM Black. "Black" is BM's darkest black. I've used it and found it to be a little too gray. that's when I asked for the paint guy to make it more black. That's what the 4 extra squirts do.

I've used on on my window, (the glossier inner portion is this black paint. the trim color on the wood are diff staining methods)

do you want the stairs to blend, stand-out, compliment, or what?

You don't have to do black.

marylee gave you some other options like urbane bronze. Iron ore is also a good one.

just depends on the wood in the room and the look you're after.

again, gonna need some pics.

All of those ‘blacks’ will work with White Dove technically. You could choose one to see how well it sits in your space, with your lighting, alongside White Dove.

#3 is complementary to White Dove, so they are likely to enhance each other’s qualities & make each other - zing.

Urbane Bronze & Peppery sit a little closer to the Yellow-Red Hue Family, where your orangey wood is likely to belong. They still give a dark contrast to White Dove but they are slightly lighter and have a bit more colour than #3. So the effect together will be somewhat softer & more mellow.

Zingy + strong contrast?

Dark but more mellow?

Which best suits your wishes and lighting in your space?

We’re adding matte black iron balusters on the stairs, keeping newel, risers, stringers and banister wood. So, thought doing the stairs black (a warm black?) would tie it all in. I think a jet black might be too harsh.
I do like the Iron Ore color but fear it would bring another color in the mix.
I can post a photo on Thursday of stairs.