I would do hardwood and do the steps the same as first floor, then landing starts the new second floor flooring.

I would continue the hardwood and keep the same stain color throughout the house.

Another vote for hardwood everywhere. I'd have the same stain everywhere too (first level plus stairs plus second level). If you must, you could lighten the second level to a classic medium brown (no gray tones at all-outdated now and looks like a flipped house). You could ask your flooring person for a quote to refinish the downstairs to match a medium brown if you dislike the dark tone.

Thanks for the feedback. We are keeping dark wood downstairs, not changing. Just wanna see how common it is to have diff color upstairs for a 2 story home.

Most homes are one color throughout. Definitely do the steps the same color as the hardwood on the first floor.

If you have to have two colors, the steps usually match the first floor since it’s often visible from an entry.

Thanks for ur thoughts @RedRyder. It does make sense with using the same 1st floor color as my entrance sees the stairs right when u walk in. I am having a dilemma over this as well since I plan to remodel the stairs railing to black metal. Now I am seeing dark hardwood floor with dark metal rails. Yikes.

I found an image online where I think it might look like.

I wouldn't recommend having a light stain upstairs and dark downstairs--it's much more cohesive to have the continuity of the same flooring throughout the house. Since you asked.

The stair treads underneath the carpet look to be the same as the downstairs flooring, so I would keep them. I'd also keep the wood railing unless it's not stable. The photo you showed with the dark floors and the black metal railing look very commercial and industrial, so unless that's the look you want, I'd advise against it.

I like all one flooring for all the public spaces for sure and I aslo think the stairs should be the same as the main floor since they are seen together on entry. I think all one color is nice but often the upper floor has cheaper flooring in any homes . The ideal is all one .

Hold off on the horizontal metal banister/rails idea. Get the floors done first. The reason you don't love the picture you posted is not just because it's dark - it's because it's not right for your house.

Do the banister/rails later. Floors are one of the biggest design/color decisions in a house. Get the two levels looking cohesive. Listen to @Diana Bier Interiors, LLC.