Today, we’ll be talking about painting wooden stairs! Stairs get overlooked as areas for colorful painting projects. We believe, though, that they have great potential for adding personality and interest to home interiors—statement stairs if you will. Let’s get colorful.
Riser
The riser is the part of your stairs that leads to the next step. It’s the vertical piece that connects each tread. Approaching a staircase, a good chunk of what you see will typically be the risers, so there’s a lot of room there to play around. You can go with just one color for a minimalist look, one color in different shades for a playful but cohesive vibe, or go all in and choose different colors for each riser.
Because risers are a low-touch surface, you can go with a water-based painting system for it. No strong paint smells! Use Boysen WoodPrime as the primer and Boysen Permacoat Latex as the topcoat. There are many readily available colors for Permacoat Latex and even thousands more via Boysen Mix & Match stations. Let your imagination run wild.
Tread
The tread is where your foot lands. It’s the horizontal surface that you step on. These see the most wear-and-tear so the material for treads is often chosen for their durability. It follows that the paint used for it should be too. Paint the tread in one color for that instant pop. Keep in mind that painting treads in different colors can make stairs confusing to use.
You’ll need paint that can take quite a bit of abuse. Boysen Acqua Epoxy has outstanding abrasion resistance. It’s specifically made for floors and can withstand foot traffic so no need to worry about your paint looking worn out anytime soon. For your primer, you’ll need Boysen Epoxy Primer.
Baluster and Handrail
Handrails are the top part you hold on to while you go up and down your stairs. Balusters, meanwhile, are the vertical portions supporting the handrails. They also prevent falls. Your balusters and handrails can be painted in one color or in different hues. Go for darker handrails and lighter balusters for that classic look but don’t be afraid to explore and find a color combo that you like.
Bring out the old reliable. The go-to Boysen paint product for painting wooden surfaces is a good choice for your handrails and balusters. Boysen Quick Drying Enamel comes in 22 readily available colors. If that’s not enough, you can get more hues by mixing your own paint color with Boysen Oil Tinting Colors. For your primer, you’ll need Boysen Flatwall Enamel.
Combo It!
You can, of course, paint more than one part of your stairs. Go with the same color for both the riser and tread and then a different hue for the baluster and handrail—or a different combo altogether! The choice is yours. Just remember to use the right product for the part of the stairs you’re painting. Alternatively, if it’s more convenient for you, you can use the Boysen Epoxy Enamel system for the entirety of your stairs.
What are you waiting for? Take your interiors to the next level with a beautiful set of stairs.
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