To paint or not to paint the staircase?

Is your wooden staircase starting to look tired and dated? Have you ever considered painting it?

Wood can give your home a warm and comfortable look whilst complementing your traditional or modern interior décor. However, when used on the stairs, it receives constant foot  traffic, and the varnish topcoat will eventually wear off – exposing the bare wood.

Painted wooden staircases have become increasingly more popular over the years – offering the warm, rustic feel of natural wood whilst allowing you to put your personal stamp on things.

Below we look at some of the factors you need to consider when deciding if a painted staircase is right for your home.

·         Cost

Whilst there are lots of things you can do to spruce up your stairs, such as swapping old stair parts for new ones and fitting a carpet stair runner, paint is one of the most budget-friendly options. It allows you to transform your space without breaking the bank.

Learning how to paint a staircase yourself is also a good idea and will save you the expense of hiring a professional painter and decorator.

·         Efficiency

Adding a lick of paint to your staircase is a simple DIY job that won’t take you too long to complete, yet it will drastically change the look of your hallway and landing.

Before you start, you’ll need to remove old carpets, repair loose or broken stair parts, fill in holes, sand rough patches and hoover up dirt, dust and debris. Though it may take you a while to prepare your stairs, it will ensure a smooth surface, ready for a fresh coat of paint.

·         Flexibility

With painted wooden staircases, you have infinite colour options – ranging from bright and bold hues that work well with neutral colour schemes to light and white shades that are guaranteed to brighten up your space.

Depending on the look you want to achieve, you could paint each step the same colour or alternate them. Pick one colour for the treads and handrails and another for the risers and spindles. Or perhaps you fancy experimenting and creating a pattern?

Whatever you decide, painting your wooden staircase can be lots of fun and reflect your personality.

·         Safety

Most people opt to use a satin or semi-gloss finish when painting their stairs. These are typically used as floor paints and are extremely durable.

Although both types are usually fine for the risers (the vertical uprights between each step), they may prove to be dangerous on the treads – resulting in slips and falls.

However, a good way to make your steps less slippery and dangerous is to use a good quality primer, base coat and a top layer

·         Maintenance

Painted stairs can start looking dingy or scuffed quicker than other options – but there are several things you can do to keep them in tip-top condition.

For example, when choosing a colour to paint your wooden stairs, consider a darker shade. This will hide dirt better and make it harder to spot specks of dust.

Asking everyone to remove their shoes before going upstairs will also help to protect your painted staircase from scratches and scuffs –keeping  them cleaner for longer too.

Using durable paint will enable you to clean your painted steps using warm water and a soft microfibre cloth, too.

Is a painted wooden staircase right for you?

Before you decide whether to paint your existing wooden stairs or upgrade to a painted wooden staircase, it’s worth weighing up the pros and cons.

If you’re still on the fence or need an expert opinion, consider contacting staircase specialists, like the team at Abbott-Wade. They’ll be able to talk you through the options available and advise you on the best solution for your home and individual needs.