A lighter colour would brighten up the area, however there are some darker pieces of furniture that tie in with the current balustrades. It all depends on budget. That will determine weather you re-use the current set up in some way or start again with all new. You could have ornate metalwork panels to create a feature between the posts to replace the wooded spindles

What don't you like about what is there now?

This will be an expenzive change if you want new spindles for instance so please advise what you want to change.

The least expensive change would be to paint the spindles white and leave the handrail the way it is. The carpet you have on the stairs is not inconsistent with this look. If you do a complete replacement of the handrail and spindles you might be shocked by the cost. Stair work is more challenging and requires more skill than some other types of construction. But if you redo it you can do many different things.

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That black says someone recently 'updated' it. Do you know what it looked like before? Wouldn't it be a frustration if you end up return it to the original!! What are you attracted to? Iron spindles are all the rage. They would show off better if the railings weren't the same color.

Thank you for your comment. Yes, we updated this years ago (we've lived in this house for over 20 years) but its looking so dated and scratched up. i do like iron spindles but what color do you suggest for the handrails and bottom trim?

@millworkman I don't like the dated shape of the spindles and the orbs on the banisters. i was quoted around $4,500 to replace the entire thing with iron spindles and wood railings. I want to be sure that what i choose will look right with the flooring and the furniture.

its just that they are all scratched up and look pretty bad in real life. I am wondering what to do with it, as it needs to be redone. thanks

I would paint it to match the trim.

I think the current stairway looks dark and heavy and weighs the room down. I would get a price for a good paint job (Fully sanded and re-painted) and a price for replacement.

You will need to weigh the cost vs the benefit to determine if you want to replace everything or just replace some of the elements or just paint.

This is not a great visualization, but thought it might be helpful to get an idea of what things would look like if you painted everything white.

Hi again. Any thoughts on these options? One is light blue the other navy. I can continue searching or maybe someone out here has images to share with better ideas! Thank you all in advance for your input.

I like a cleaner looking aesthetic so, no question, I would want to replace the railing. The current railings are heavy, clunky & very 'colonial' looking and a bit at odds with the furnishings.

While I like both of the carpet samples, IMO, they are too geometric looking when you count in the stairs. The stairs & railings will give you all of the geometry/ lines/ texture that you need. Adding a bossy carpet will make things look messy.

Thank you so you’re thinking something more abstract or solid color not geometric?

Yes.