Anyone ever painted their stairs?

mikeb222

In a moment of madness I decided to paint the stairs white. So I undercoated them and then 2 coats of Vinyl silk to match white bannister.
They look alright but not spectacular.

Did I use the right paint do you think?

I am now thinking of a runner. Anyone done the same?

System

we varnished ours in the previous house it made them very slippy so we ended up putting a runner down.

anotherbaldrick

they are deadly if someone comes down in stockined feet. Ours were varnished but after several family members did the trip on their buttends we got them carpeted.

Jonesya

Similar situation, I primed, undercoated then glossed mine - I wouldn't think vinyl silk emulsion would be tough enough long term.

I think you definitely need to fit a runner, the glossed areas on mine would be lethal, if not for the runner.

You need to shop around the runner though as it can be expensive depending on type/source and by all accounts some of the grass type ones can be slippy.

cattie

You should have used something like Eggshell or Satinwood paint. Emulsion is not very hard wearing you will find when used on wood.

I'd say get a runner as bare wooden stairs can be deadly if you slip.

supersaver1000

We painted the stairs in our last house and they looked great. We used B&Q everywhere on the spindles etc but used satinwood on the treads so that it was harder wearing. Didn't have problems with slipping. I wanted to get a runner to add some colour, but a runner was going to cost too much. If I was doing them again I'd paint a runner on (see Pinterest) for ideas. Could you paint a nonslip paint - perhaps make your own? I made some homemade chalkpaint last week from a recipe on the shabby chic thread - they are a very friendly helpful bunch.

I think I have seen something on Pinterest where someone carpeted the individual treads but not sure about that. I liked the clean look of the stairs.

Good luck. Will be interested to hear what you decide.

usignuolo

I painted mine several years ago. Painted the centre, running down where a runner would go, biscuit, and the sides white. I think it was vinyl silk or satinwood but certainly not gloss. Worked pretty well. We have had no problems with slipping.

I debated adding a stencil to the sides of the centre stripe to make it look more like a real runner, but never got around to it.