Painting stairs is extremely tedious and time-consuming; doing it yourself might drive you crazy. But if you can manage to take your time and do it right, you’ll be stunned by the end result.
The painting process may vary depending on your stylistic preferences (if you want to paint stripes or anything other than solid colors) but there are definitely some key techniques and strategies to make the process much smoother and the paint job cleaner and longer lasting.
Here are some tips for a perfect paint job:
Runner or No Runner
If you want more than one solid color for the treads of your stairs, you can paint a runner down the middle as well. Doing so will require more tools and time but it does make for a more interesting look. Before you paint your runners, you will first prime and paint the stairs a base color. Once that dries, you will tape off the space where your runner will be.
Painting the Balusters
This is arguably the most nerve-wracking part of the whole job. Balusters are close together and the longer your staircase is, the more you will have to paint. First use a small piece of sandpaper to sand each one, clean them, prime them, and paint them with a small brush.
Stylistic Tips
You will want the stairs to match the handrail and the rest of the house. People commonly paint the treads of the stairs the same color as the handrail. The risers (unless you painted a runner) will usually match the balusters and both of those should match the trim in the house.
If you stick to these painting tips and keep your momentum, you should end up with an incredible staircase that’s as durable as it is beautiful.