You already have a traditional staircase with white baluster. If you want white risers, then paint them white, but changing to dark stain would look terrible.

And to be blunt, I hope this isn’t a DIY project. If you wanted a darker color, you wouldn’t change the wood, you’d change the finish of the existing wood. And I’m not sure you realize the huge expense of this.

How insightful. Thanks!

This is not a diy project. I’m expecting to pay around 15k-20k. Thanks for the rude comment.

This is what I had in mind.

What you have looks really good. Would not change it.

Oak does not paint all that well since it seems to eventually develop tiny cracks not even noticeable with wood finish but obvious with painted finish. Once it's finished/sealed, you'd likely need to strip off that finish even to get it to look good initially.

On the up side ... Oak is great looking wood for a natural finish.

Though I wouldn't, you could add a centered runner and leave some of the steps/risers visible on each side.

A better idea might be to add dark treads.

https://www.wayfair.com/rugs/pdp/red-barrel-studio-yadiel-non-slip-stair-tread-w002025489.html

Have you considered changing the visual of what you have by adding art to the wall?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/844631910/metal-wall-decor-metal-birds-wall-art?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_ps-a-home_and_living-home_decor-wall_decor-wall_hangings-other&utm_custom1=k_EAIaIQobChMI6P2psJOE8AIVmuCzCh0EVwQdEAQYByABEgKDN_D_BwE_k&utm_content=go_12567673668_122422058831_507253237357_pla-305562556206_c__844631910_197480842&utm_custom2=12567673668&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6P2psJOE8AIVmuCzCh0EVwQdEAQYByABEgKDN_D_BwE

https://www.wayfair.com/Winston-Porter--Branches-with-Birds-Metal-Wall-D%C3%A9cor-X114458096-L6851-K~W003347985.html?refid=GX434218283937-W003347985&device=c&ptid=925257832700&network=g&targetid=pla-925257832700&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=87183517&fdid=1817&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvpuYs5GE8AIVDvnICh00sAUpEAQYCCABEgJV6_D_BwE

The main reason im redoing my stairs is because they are extremely steep and my children’s bedrooms are on the upper floor. I don’t feel comfortable having my children and eventually neighbor kids climbing up and down them. If everyone is so against this design idea it would be much appreciated if you could post an alternative.

I've seen the dark/light look many times and think the stairs would look fine.

Here is one EXAMPLE You can find others by Googling "dark wood stained stairs and lighter floors".

Heather,

"Would light floors and dark stairs look bad?"

"The main reason im redoing my stairs is because they are extremely steep"

The color will not help with the steepness. I'd advise you not to reject this insight.

So treads need to be the same color as your floors is what you are saying?

Are you worried that there is not a distinct line between step and riser and you're afraid someone will make a misstep?

If I were going to paint either steps or risers, I'd paint the risers white and leave the steps oak but, perhaps, add the non-skid removable treads, too.

There are wood products that might well darken your steps but that depends upon the finish --would research that before trying it. I used a dark Old English scratch cover to both cover a scratch and, over time, darken the rest of my china cabinet to match -- I'd bought at an antique/vintage furniture store and consider it a bargain. I like the result for myself.

Another idea could be to add a material --a thin white hardboard or laminate -- a peel/stick material to the risers. One caveat: find out if the thickness of the riser material will change the overhang to a point that is unacceptable to you.

These risers are installed at about 9:35

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOcPPO4LRfI

The risers are installed here at just after 7:16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyX8Eke5_OE 

This one at 16:54

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmELYp6nFr8

Another with white laminate on your risers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyX8Eke5_OE.

IF the steepness of the stairs being a problem is a leg/physical strength issue, changing the color will not help. IF however, the safety issue is a visual/balance related issue, having a distinctly different (white) color for riser and step could well help as could the no slide treads.

I’m having the old stairs torn out. I am not refinishing the existing stairs. They are made of cheap material and I don’t like the craftsman style. The treads are small And the risers are high. It’s very steep. It feels like you’re climbing a ladder.

Is the difficulty with the steps more at night -- could lighting help?

Depending upon your specific issue, a reflector or night light in the stairwell could help.

In this vid (7:21) they're adding lights to the steps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHbcV54W8rU

if your stairs are steep, merely changing out the treads won't work. I think you realize that.

So what you would be doing is a completely new staircase? that's going to affect the length of what's currently there.

On a main stair, the maximum rise should be no more than 8 1/4 inches and the minimum run should be no less than 9 inches. To determine how many steps, or treads, you need, measure from the top of the finished floor on the lower level to the top of the finished floor on the upper level

You can figure your staircase w/a calculator.

Is your current rise and run somewhere within these numbers?

as for the color, are you removing those tiles? you may have to if you want to redo the staircase.

what about those wood floors? can you refinish them and make them darker? then all you'd need to do is refinish the wood on your staircase. paint the risers.

if changing your staircase, maybe you'll need a landing like this. in any case you can refinish your main floors to a slightly darker shade, and do the treads the same shade, or maybe one shade darker.

It looks like nice oak wood. it should take a dark finish. but to have those stained dark, and the rest of the wood flooring light, then no, it wouldn't look right

is this the look you want? you'd have to refinish your wood floors to match the treads.

nice wainscot up the side of the wall.

black railing/spindles, white risers. light oak stain a little photoshop for you!

this looks nice and picks up on the black in the rug. If you then did a type of wainscot up the wall (see pic below) it would give you that traditional look.

you could just leave it light and paint the baluster black. risers white

or paint the risers/bannister black, you get the dark looks but the wood stain can stay the same. notice the wainscot up the wall. ignore pictures

here's one stained a bit darker than the walnut stained floors.

change out the bannister and spindles to something like this

this is a before and after of a staircase we changed in our rental. (bad feng shui to have the stairs facing the front door!) So, we made an L. Is this something you could do?

From the pic, the steps don't look bad but if they don't suit you, you should change them.

If you're removing the stairs and replacing them anyway, then, space permitting, you might consider creating a "U" shaped set of stairs ( or at least an "L" shaped set of stairs) with a landing in order to have the stairs less steep.

This might help give you some ideas.

https://mydecorative.com/choosing-the-right-kind-of-staircase-to-suit-your-taste/

If you choose a "U" shape, your landing could be a "balcony" of sorts facing the direction the steps now face and your steps could turn back toward where the children are playing in your pic.

Good luck on your project, Do let us know how it turns out.

Beth, my tread is at the max and the riser is at the minimum. It’s just enough to be up to code. 😩 I like the traditional look. We just got our floors refinished so I’m not willing to redo those (right now). Would white oak treads and a darker hand rail look ok? Idk. Ugh this whole thing is stressing me out. I feel like just saying forget it and move or build.

this looks nice and picks up on the black in the rug. If you then did a type of wainscot up the wall (see pic below) it would give you that traditional look.

couldn't get the entire photo. do you like this?

you could still do this w/the black risers, or white risers and white spindles.

I like the black. you could do ONE shade darker on the stair treads. one shade darker than your flooring.

do a similar type of wainscot along side on the wall. and along the front portion,

do this if you want a more traditional look

the other thing you can do is a runner.

Thank you suezbell for all your suggestions and kind words. I’d be open to doing a landing but it might be odd because the ceiling in our dining room (off to the right of the stairs) has a tray ceiling. The stairs lead into the front door as well.

what do you think about a runner? you could do a slightly darker tread, and cover most of it w/the runner.

I love the antelope selection

similar stain color to your current wood. looks nice w/the warm charcoal runner

Karastan Savannah Scenes is one to look at

Prestige Mills Deerfield is the other

use leftover for an area rug

Thank you Beth! I do like that idea. Maybe I’ll look at some pics of white oak treads and a darker handrail with white balusters. You are always so helpful. You helped me on another design issue I had. Thanks for taking the time and being so positive.

If you're wanting to just address the visual for now rather than an entire change, it might be possible to remove/move the post at the bottom of the rail up/back several steps and have the bottom several steps made wider and/or turn.

https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Stair_Winders.php

Getting rid of the spartan (plain/unadorned) craftsman look could be just a matter of widening and wrapping around to the side the bottom two steps. This page (need to scroll down) calls a wide bottom step a "Bullnose" step. I've seen images where the bottom two steps were turned this way.

https://civiltoday.com/construction/building/139-stair-staircase-parts-components

Yes! That’s exactly what we are planning to do. Except two steps would be bullnose. We need to add two steps to lower the rise and make the tread longer.

Bath, I was planning on doing a runner as well. Thinking something more simple like beige though.

If there is a visual safety issue with the steep stairs -- easily defining each separate step and needing to better define the risers -- choose safety first and go ahead and either paint the risers or add a white panel of some kind to them. I'd prefer the non-skid treads that shouldn't damage the steps over the carpet that will leave tack/nail holes if you ever remove it but, again, choose safety first .

Your home and your steps should reflect your taste. Do suggest that if you're choosing a runner, choose an easily cleaned material -- children will track in dirt ... it is all but inevitable. You can decrease what they track in, though, with a bench with shoe storage below the bench seat at the door(s) they enter and get them in the habit of removing their shoes and wearing "indoor" shoes in the house ... IF the adults in the home all lead by example, that could help protect your new flooring as well.

Heather, yeah I guess the antelope isn't for everyone. I liked it because it gave a little punch, but was still subtle, and would hide any stains.

I don't think this is a bad reflection of your taste or what's going on in the home! To me, this is somewhat of a neutral. and it comes in many diff colors.

it's not like I suggested going w/ snow leopard! (although, I like this too)

Your home is pretty neutral. have a little fun!

but something beige, and hearty could be a sisal runner. these aren't super cheap, but they will hold up to kids and look nice

I like the wainscot w/this one too

Really like the wainscoting idea suggested by Beth H. :