Stairs are a contained area of the home where you can really give some attention and make a big impact. They have a lot of dimension, covering both vertical and horizontal surfaces. Whether a little paint or new treads, a stair makeover is just begging for fun:
• 1 Wallpapered treads transformed this stair. To really grasp how amazing this makeover is, see the "before" at Design in Dublin.
• 2 Painted risers and oars-for-rails helped transform this stair in an Alaskan cabin remodel.
• 3 A brightly-painted stair and runner in a newly-renovated 1784 Colonial home.
• 4 We often find ourselves compulsively counting the stairs anyway. Why not a makeover with numbered risers?
Images: Shawna of Design in Dublin, Thomas J. Story/Sunset, Keith Scott Morton/Country Living, Pottery Barn Kids
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The black and white wallpaper is especially nice, but realistically, how long would this holdup? Even with very light traffic, not long. I've seen the number thing done before but never really understood why you would do that, unless you're operating a daycare or kindergarden.
I like the idea of having the wall color and rise of the stairs be the same in the 2nd photo. If I ever get around to redoing my stairs, I'm going to keep that one in mind. I wonder for the wallpaper version if you could cover it in a polyurethane to make it hold up better (or if that would cause it to bubble)?
If only I had stairs in my apartment!
I actually love the way this looks. As lolagirl mentioned, I'm not sure how well it will weather but I think the polyerethane could really help. And wallpaper treads are fairly easily replaced and could change the looks so drastically. I love it!
Have you seen the yard stick stair risers from Inoui Design as featured on Design*Sponge??
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/07/before-after-amber-kylas-chairs-stairs.html
Genius!
The wallpaper is on the riser, not the step, so I can't see how it would get any traffic (unless you like to kick the riser as you climb the stairs). Great idea, though. We're reclaiming our old stairs from years of abuse, and the wallpapered riser idea looks great!
I ADORE the wallpapered risers. We have stairs in our small house and they have been red, French blue, and now white. It's surprising how much wear risers can get if you have a steep set of stairs. Our white was painted professionally less than 2 years ago and is starting to look worn. Wallpaper is something you could change every year or so and transform the look of the stairwell for small effort or time.
If you had white risers, you'd know how often they get kicked. It's a very visible high-traffic zone.
Ah. We have really, really old stairs so the lip overhangs a LOT. The riser has never shown a mark (previous colour: light blue).
I am in love with these ideas. Especially using pretty wallpaper do decorate the stairs! Ah! I just adore it.
For more pretty things visit: http://inspiringpretty.blogspot.com/
I might be insane but the only one I loved is the number stairs. I think it is so charming.
I love the wallpapered risers!! Those are an amazing idea for sprusing up boring stairs. And the oars for railings is brilliant...I always like finding new ideas/uses for old objects and this is perfect.
Years ago someone I knew upholstered the risers of her small staircase with quilt blocks -- her decorating style was country, and it looked fabulous, even in her rental. (I am not sure if she tacked, stapel-gunned, or taped them on, but they were lovely!)
Yeah, the whole point of having the risers is so one can use them. Stairs with open risers aren't ADA compliant since some people have trouble knowing where their parts are and are likely to have a foot go under a stair and/or don't have great balance and drag their toes up the risers while maintaining contact.