21 Best Painted Stair Ideas to Revamp Your Space

By
Ashlyn Needham
ashlyn needham
Ashlyn Needham
Ashlyn is a writer with 6 years of experience covering home-related content. She holds an English degree from Appalachian State University, and loves blending her passions of writing and home decor into compelling, helpful reads. 
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
and
Ashley Knierim
Photo of Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 03/04/25
Painted staircase with gray railing and black and white patterned steps

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Painting your staircase makes an impactful design statement in any home, especially since it is one of the first things people see when they walk through the front door. There are several ways to use paint to decorate your stairs, from creating a faux runner to painting the whole thing in a solid color or adding a pop of color on your risers.

Check out these painted stairs ideas in a range of styles for inspiration.

  • 01 of 21

    Color-Blocked Stairs

    green and yellow painted stairs
    Pufik

    We can't think of a better way to return after a long, hard day at work than being greeted by these bright blue and yellow stairs from Justin Bernhaut. We love the faux carpet runner look created by the deep blue block coloring. Plus, the deep color is a great way to hide marks and dirt without a lot of elbow grease.

    Continue to 2 of 21 below
  • 02 of 21

    Faux Runner

    blue and white painted stairs

    theothersideofneutral / Instagram

    A carpet runner can be nice, but these nautical-inspired stairs from The Other Side Of Neutral prove you can create the same effect with paint. Stick to the same guidelines you'd use when selecting a carpet runner, and you can swap out your "runner" for a lot less money than a real carpet. 

    Continue to 3 of 21 below
  • 03 of 21

    Ombre Stairs

    blue ombre stairs
    Mommy Shorts

    What's happier than ombre? If you've already tried the ombre wall trend,  these blue stairs from Mommy Shorts will take the look to the next level. We love the idea of transforming our boring staircase into a sea-inspired oasis that will make us excited to start the day. Though it takes a little bit of an artistic eye to get it right, a few test swatches can help you master this look. 

    Continue to 4 of 21 below
  • 04 of 21

    Pantone Stairs

    stairs painted with pink pantone shades
    Bloesem Living

    Calling all Pantone lovers out there: Bloesem Living featured these stunning rose stairs emblazoned with each color's code. Think you're the biggest color fan? You may even want to update your stairs every time Pantone releases their color of the year. 

    Continue to 5 of 21 below
  • 05 of 21

    Monochrome Risers

    living room with black and white painted stairs

    The Vintage Round Top

    We're all about black-and-white color schemes so it's no surprise we're obsessed with these stairs from The Vintage Round Top. The stark black, white and natural wood style blends seamlessly with the modern living space while helping to break up the white accents. 

    Continue to 6 of 21 below
  • 06 of 21

    Gray and Distressed Stairs

    distressed gray staircase

    skonahem / Instagram

    If you're all about vintage, pre-war style, these distressed stairs from Sköna hem are right up your alley. The deep gray color adds dimension and depth, while the distressed surfaces lend a vintage, shabby chic feel. The best part? Making new wood look old is an easy DIY. 

    Continue to 7 of 21 below
  • 07 of 21

    Painted Top

    stairs with top painted black
    Maison de Pax

    If a wild bold ombre or chevron stripe just isn't your thing, these subtle, modern stairs from Maison de Pax are a beautiful alternative. They may not be a crazy bright color, but the crisp white and black contrast adds dimension and gives off a luxury feel with little effort.

    Continue to 8 of 21 below
  • 08 of 21

    Green Galore

    bright green staircase
    Sour Jones

    We wouldn't have pictured neon green stairs in such a formal space, but this beautiful staircase from Sour Jones proves it can be done—and look stunning. The pop of color on the riser adds a brightness to the foyer without a lot of natural light. If you're ready to dive right into the painted stair look, why not start with something as bold as green?

    Continue to 9 of 21 below
  • 09 of 21

    Peachy Stairs

    peach painted ombre stairs

    arseniclace / Instagram

    No matter the season, corals and peach colors work wonders and add a spunky, unique flair to any style of home decor. These bright peach stairs from designer Natalie Jacob give off such an easy, happy-go-lucky vibe, especially when paired with this fun greenery wallpaper. 

    Continue to 10 of 21 below
  • 10 of 21

    Simple and Classic

    stairs painted with chalkboard paint
    Kammys Korner

    These gray stairs from Kammys Korner are subtle, classic and beautiful. If your stairs are looking a little worse for wear, a fresh coat of paint and a little elbow grease can make them true centerpieces once again. 

    Continue to 11 of 21 below
  • 11 of 21

    Two-Toned

    half white and half brown painted stairs

    _three_little_birds / Instagram

    If you have a small space, a wide staircase can look bulky and oversized. These half-white stairs from Three Little Birds are the perfect solution. By splitting the stairs in half with paint, it creates an illusion of a narrower staircase that works well with the rest of the space. 

    Continue to 12 of 21 below
  • 12 of 21

    Runner Mate

    black stairs with a white and black runner
    Bright Green Door

    There are many reasons why a carpet runner is a good idea—it adds texture and reduces slips and falls, especially in homes with active children. If you want the best of both worlds, these stairs from Bright Green Door prove paint works just as well on a carpeted stair as it does on a naked one. 

    Continue to 13 of 21 below
  • 13 of 21

    Wallpapered Stairs

    painted stairs with wallpaper

    kos.home / Instagram

    Unless you're a trained artist, creating elaborate murals on your stairs may be out of reach. These gray stairs from KOS Home use both paint and self-adhesive wallpaper to create a designer look. It's easy to find budget-friendly wallpaper that will create a luxury feel without a lot of money. 

    Continue to 14 of 21 below
  • 14 of 21

    Banister Paint

    staircase with a teal banister

    kimbahills / Instagram

    Already love the way your stairs look? You can still mix things up by adding a coat of paint to your banister, as seen in these stunning stairs from designer Kimba Hills. We love how the bold teal banister matches an accent door in the entryway, creating a cohesive look. 

    Continue to 15 of 21 below
  • 15 of 21

    Tiled Risers

    geometric tiled stair risers

    Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

    Tile, tile, tile. There's a reason why this home improvement option is all the rave nowadays, which is why you shouldn't exclude it from your staircase. Tiling your risers is a great way to add a design to an everyday area of your home to dress up your stairs, complement your aesthetic, and build character.

    Continue to 16 of 21 below
  • 16 of 21

    Contrast Runner

    white painted stairs with black carpeted runner

    Cindy McKay Interiors

    Contrast all-white steps and risers with a colorful or patterned runner. This painted staircase by Cindy McKay Interiors features an abstract runner that pops against the stairs.

    Continue to 17 of 21 below
  • 17 of 21

    One Shade

    black painted staircase with striped wall

    View Pictures/Getty Images

    Paint your whole staircase like the photo above for a complete tread and riser idea. The dark shade covering the whole staircase contrasts with the white walls to keep the area visually balanced and look luxurious from the black.

    Continue to 18 of 21 below
  • 18 of 21

    Metallic Risers

    pink and gold metallic stairs

    @my_colourfulsquares / Instagram

    Everything is prettier in pink and gold. We love how Kerry Lemon kept her staircase chic and shimmery with the brightly painted pink steps and gold metallic risers. This color combo brightened her staircase and added a touch of glam to the space.

    Continue to 19 of 21 below
  • 19 of 21

    Stained Middle

    white painted stairs with wood stain down the middle

    @homemade_hannah / Instagram

    Love the wood grain of your steps and don't want to completely cover it? Steal this idea from Homemade Hannah. Creating a faux runner with a glimpse of the original wood underneath adds contrast and texture to your steps, plus complements your color choices.

    Continue to 20 of 21 below
  • 20 of 21

    Book Lover

    staircase with painted book covers as risers

    @dont_buy_it_make_it/Instagram

    Paint your risers to mimic covers of your favorite classic novels or modern reads to add personality to your home. Don't Buy It Make It decorated this staircase to resemble a stack of books to warm a book lovers' heart.

    Continue to 21 of 21 below
  • 21 of 21

    Modern Marble

    marble floating stairs

    Suchada Tansirimas / Getty Images

    Modernize your stairs by painting them marble. Not only does this make a stunning modern stair design, but it's also fairly easy to replicate.

FAQ
  • Are painted stairs a good idea?

    Yes, painting your stairs is an excellent way to refresh your staircase and add a new design to your home. One caveat to keep in mind is that painted stairs tend to get slippery since they are smoother than their natural surface or carpet. Compared to carpet or hardwood surfaces, painted stairs are going to require a little maintenance from time to time.

  • What kind of paint do you use on stairs?

    If you're thinking of painting your stairs, you're going to want to use a semi-gloss finish. This finish is considered more durable than others to still produce a sheen after daily wear and tear.

  • Is it better to paint or stain stairs?

    Whether you paint or stain your stains depends entirely on your personality, aesthetic, and desirable end result. Staining your stairs is a great way to build the rustic ambiance or showoff this texture. However, painting your stairs is a great way to add color to your room and add decorative flair.