Five Popular Interior Wood Stairs Treatments

With colder Central Ohio weather keeping most people indoors these days, we’ve seen a surge in residential interior work. One recurring question in residential projects is: what finish looks great and lasts for wood stairs? Here are five treatments that add beauty while withstanding all the trekking up & down wood stairs over the years:

Paint and Stain Combination – a timeless, aesthetically-pleasing style involving staining the step treads (horizontal section you step on) and painting the risers (vertical section between the treads). As of late, Trusted Coating’s most popular combination of this treatment has been bright white risers with natural stained, polyurethane treads – along with handrails stained in the same matching natural tone. This brightens up the stairwell beautifully and also allows homeowners to contrast, or blend in, surrounding walls and trim. Of course, using darker paints like charcoal grey, sage green, or navy blue can look great too, and add even more distinct character, with the right tread stain pairing. Lots of options with this treatment.

Stained Hardwood – this more traditional treatment is near & dear to all the woodgrain lovers out there. A tough polyurethane stain adds wear protection and can add mood to the stairwell according to your inclinations. Lighter tones create a clean modern, Scandinavian feel. Medium tones provide a classic, warm look and bring out the woodgrain artistry more prominently. Darker tones imbue a more dramatic, sophisticated aura and can even create an almost vintage presence.

Completely Painted – this entails fully painting the risers, treads, and even the trim in a single paint color. This is a budget-friendly way to create a more dramatic focal point. A chosen paint color can create a clean, minimalist look or add dark elegance. Another benefit to paint is that it can hide many ills in the steps – wood putty, strange knots, different wood types, etc. Of course, color choice needs to factor in the reality that stairs will be trampled on for years. Therefore, we also recommend selecting a high-traffic floor paint for durability.

Decorative Painting – necessary, practical stairs can also be a canvas to create a mood only limited by imagination (or fear of resale value taking a hit). Custom painting may involve something as simple as painting a contrasting band of color on the nosing, hand painting or stenciling beloved flowers on the risers, or even embracing a cacophony of colors and style elements to create a Moroccan or Art Nouveau immersion every time you trudge up those stairs for bedtime. This option is best for homeowners who really want to express their personality even with utilitarian home elements.

Slip Resistance – another treatment that leans more toward safety than aesthetics is adding some non-slip grit to the finish. This can be in the form of a clear anti-slip coating over the tread finish or an invisible grit added to the paint or stain finish. While the grit is relatively inconspicuous, you will feel some texture with bare feet. Nonetheless, “sandpaper / skateboard grip tape feel” on bare feet is much more comfortable than a slip.

For Before & After views of our recent stairwell projects, please check out the Trusted Coatings Interiors gallery on our website: Trusted Coatings Gallery. Thanks for reading!