Here’s a fun idea to think about, what if you go 2-3 shades darker from the paint color on the riser trim. Then do a dark charcoal gray on only the spindles. This will avoid the wear on the handrail- that would stay wood grain. Then as time goes on if you want to paint your doors you might consider one shade lighter then the rail color on your doors to tie it all together. Hope that inspires! Would love to see how it comes out! - Tiffany ( the design doula lol)

* oops I meant the spindle color not rail color in regard to potential door color

I think painting the spindles white and leaving the railings wood, would help update. Then if you still think it looks off, do the risers....but it may be ok as they are mostly covered by the carpeting.

I would do the spindles and the risers.

9

Sorry- I have no idea why that 9 popped up there!

I agree with Houssaon. But I think you would find it helpful to start looking at "painted staircases" on Pinterest. At some point, you'll know what appeals to you and what doesn't.

If you are not taking out the carpet, then simply paint the spindles white and leave the handrail wood.
If in the future you take the carpet out, then you can update the stain on the stairs and handrail to match your flooring with potential for painting treads white as well.

My very similar staircase before and during DIY paint project. Partner insisted on carpet and I wanted that awful, worn whitish carpet out so badly, I agreed. We went with a subtle pattered carpet.

Yes very similar. 😊 Looks great!

Whats the paint color on your walls?

White spindles and black or other dark color on handrails

My wall. SW Alpaca.

White spindles and risers with black handrails.... black handrails will match hardware on your stained doors. Stair treads remain stained.

You need to sand off the existing finish on the handrails and spindles. Then you can stain them darker. Going towards a blacker color will give you the high contrast, more modern look in many of these photos. Make sure to protect the carpeting! Stain can be very watery.....

I had intended to stain my hand rails. Unlike the spindles which were natural oak with clear coat, there was some sort of pickled whitish treatment under the poly coat (or whatever it was) that was awful to try to get off. I stripped, then sanded so much the entire house was filled with sanding dust and still, when applying the stain, the wood looked like giraffe. Plan B: urbane bronze that went on like a dream.