What Colour Should I Paint my Stair Risers? Is White the Only Choice?

The stairway risers are next to discuss in our series of colour when painting your home.

Previously we discussed bringing colour and life to a stairway with painting it. The main stairway in your home may be located in the foyer, off the entryway, or in another prominent area of your house. If this is the case, you probably want the stairs themselves to look good and reflect your style. If you’ve chosen not to install carpeting on the stairs, a set of plain white or wood stair risers can look out of step with the rest of your space. If this is the case, consider painting the risers to give the area a whole new decorated look. While risers don’t get stepped on, they do get scuffed and kicked regularly, which makes the stairs look dingy when you enter the home and look up at them.

Why Paint Stair Risers

There are two parts to every step, the tread where you foot lands and the riser that sits just beneath it. While the tread is the part of the stair that gets all the action, the riser is the more visible portion when seen from below.

For this reason, many people choose to decorate their stairs with things like carpeting or tiles. These have drawbacks, however; carpeting has to cover the tread, too, so it gets worn faster, and tiles can go out of date very quickly. Paint, on the other hand, covers only the riser – not the tread – and it can be touched up or completely covered over much more easily than removing and re-installing tile. Paint can also be applied to the risers in a variety of different colors and patterns; if you feel like your stairs need a new look, just give them a new coat of paint. The same can’t be said if you get tired of tile or carpeting.

Painting Stair Risers in Dark Colour

A lot of stairway trim and risers get painted in white or off white, cloud white being the default choice. Lately, darker colours even black are being used with some great results. The look is almost dramatic, so much so that the stairway itself becomes the focal point by just painting it. The picture shown is by Lamont Painting and Decor, a Contractor operating in London Ontario. The black enamel used works very well there.

Patterns and Ideas for Stair Risers

It’s fairly customary to paint stair risers a bright, glossy white while the stair tread gets a coat of protective stain. While this looks nice in formal spaces, it isn’t always the best choice for all homes. Consider some of these other options instead.

Playroom Stairs. If you have a set of stairs on the back of the house leading to the kids bedrooms, or a flight of stairs leading to a third floor playroom, why not give the risers a fun, bright pattern to lead the way? A few examples that work in these cases include:

• Painting bold stripes in primary colours like yellow or blue onto a white riser
• Painting circles or dots in multiple colours on the risers
• Painting each riser a different colour to create a rainbow going up the stairs

Rustic Stairs. If your home is more rustic or rural, then a glossy white paint is probably not in keeping with the rest of your décor. In this case, a rustic or distressed paint job in a solid colour makes the most sense. Consider looks such as dry brushing or sanding away some of the paint in places to give it a more rustic appeal.
Decorative Stairs. If your home is highly decorative with lots of color, pattern, and movement, let your stairs reflect this with a patterned or faux-painted riser. Some choices include:

•  Painting a chevron pattern in a soft neutral like gray or cream
•  Faux-painting the risers to look like marble, leather, or plaster
• Painting wide stripes in a colour found in a nearby room

Other Ideas

If you don’t want to dress up or bring attention to your stair risers, but glossy white paint or carpeting isn’t for you either, consider using one of these ideas to complement them:

• Paint them a soft colour like gray, cream, or taupe to soften their appearance
• Use a matte or eggshell paint, rather than a high gloss
• Match the wall colour next to the stairs to blend the risers in with the wall

Update Your Stairs

Stairways are a big part of many homes. Make sure yours matches your surroundings and complements the rest of your décor. Consider painting your risers to make a difference.
Ecopainting is a Painting Company with a lot of experience decorating interior surfaces such as stairways and trim.
Call 416 733-7767 for any assistance and colour suggestions.

These decorating tips were shared by Sarabeth Asaff .