Make a Statement
A staircase does more than connect the floors in your home—it provides you with a prime place to show off your sense of style. If you're looking to add personality and pizzaz in a way that will be unmissable to anyone who walks through your front door, check out these inspiring designs that prove the power of paint.
Stick Up
We all know it's possible to paint treads and risers, but have you ever thought about adding color to spindles? Follow the example here and beautify your balusters by painting them in graduating tones. The key is sticking to a single hue so that it still looks grown-up.
Martha Stewart
Orange Crush
Want to give the illusion of a rug without actually having to buy one? Paint a 'runner' in a favorite color like orange and for an additional accent, paint a stripe above the baseboard to lead the way up.
Take a Number
Why stop at color? These stairs are painted in a soft yellow with a burnt-orange border, then each is highlighted with a number. You can do the same with a couple cans of paint and differently sized stencils meant for house numbers.
Stacey Brandford
Perfectly Patterned
Rainbow Effect
Love color? Want to make a big change? These stylish steps are what you might get if you combine smart color choices with only a few hours spent painting.
All Aboard
With risers painted in different shades of blue and a rope used in place of a wood handrail, a fun nautical-theme design like this one is easily within reach for even beginning DIYers. No serious talent needed! Just paint, rope, and time.
Jonathan Adler
Nice Neutrals
If you want to jazz up your stairs but aren't big on color, keep it simple with a neutral palette. You can played it up as much as you like using patterns, creating a layered, even opulent, design.
Apartment Therapy
Words Work
Consider your steps an open book! Write a favorite saying, a cheerful greeting, or a memorable quote on the risers. Be silly or witty—or just plain welcoming, as in this "come on up" treatment.
Green Rules
Here's an easy way to get emerald green, Pantone's "Color of the Year," into your life! Paint the color on your stairs, then repeat it in picture frames hung, for the most striking effect, on a white-painted wall.
For More...
If you are interested in more on painting, consider:
10 Creative Uses for Chalkboard Paint
Painted Cabinets: 12 Reasons to Transform Yours Now
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!