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luanne_koskinen79

Need advice on stairway

I just had my floors refinished to match and just realizing the stairway now sticks out. What should I do? Please advise best way forward. Thanks In advance.


Comments (12)

  • last year

    Do I see wood tile at the bottom of the stairs and brown stained oak in the adjoining room?

  • last year

    No it’s solid bamboo. Yes oak in the other room. I stained the oak to match the bamboo. It has a gray tone. Thanks!

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    If you don't mind the stair stain you can incorporate the tones of the stair stain into your decor. Rugs, pillows, art, or pottery with a little of the reddish brown color will help the stairs become part of the decor instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.

  • PRO
    last year
    last modified: last year

    Sorry the stairs in the pic do not match the floor that is the issue . You could paint the treads black and add a runner if you do not want to go to the expense of having the treads match the floors. I find the white quite jarring on the risers so a nice ruuner would tone that down too. I find the wall color off with the floors too.

  • last year

    Stair runner, along with a small rug from same bolt with camouflage the different woods. Plus your rooms look empty right now. When you have furniture put back there will be other visual objects to lessen the differences that bother you.

    Chatham Mallow · More Info


  • last year

    So, what is stopping you from getting the stairs matched?


  • last year

    the choice of that bamboo is the issue

  • last year

    Correct, but I LOVE the bamboo!!


  • last year

    the cost to refinish the stair way is more than what I paid to refinish 3 rooms! Also, I have 2 stairways, one in the foyer and one in the kitchen. thanks for advice all.

  • last year

    I agree with a stair runner. Also, consider the color of the wood in your furniture--perhaps some is the same color as the stair railing. In fact, often several colors of brown wood look better than all of it matching.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    @luann: Sometimes the best solution to a decorating problem is to pull the eyes in another direction. That's why a stair runner and rug on the floor near the stairs will camouflage the mismatch in finishes. An artwork on the staircase wall would do the same. The mismatch isn't actually that bad. You also don't have your furnishings in place to guide the eyes elsewhere.

    Unfortunately, you haven't shown us the surrounding spaces, wall colors, etc. (Always post photos in a Design Dilemma from all sides so Commentors can see doors, windows, direction of light, wall colors.) I'm seeing brown walls that don't harmonize well with your new floors. If you change wall color to work better with new floors, that will also put the focus on the new floor color.