
Our washer and dryer are in the basement. You have to go down a dark staircase to get there, and we've been looking for ideas to make our trips down there more fun. When we saw how inviting these stairs looked, we knew we had a weekend project worth doing. If you have an old painted staircase that's due for an updating, here's some inspiration for you...


Domino did a DIY article a few years ago detailing how to paint a stair runner. They painted a statement-making bright red runner, but we're partial to these subtler versions.

photos via light location and skona hem
Comments (11)
love it
Good architectural details make all the difference in those shots. Pretty.
Here's a picture of the orange painted runner in Orla Kiely's house to add to the collection:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1051/1267433454_9d3c4ad980_o.jpg
i really love those with the "runner" being the bare wood - lovely :-)
guess I'm in the minority so far as I don't particularly like this look. Would prefer to see the painted floor contrasted against fully stripped down stairs
i agree with sassy. keep it raw!
third that - raw.
Oh..so beautiful!!!! all of them..but that heaven's gate blue!!! Be sure to add some sand to that paint to make the stairs, to the basement safe..!
I think it's interesting that all of them have a stark white background in contrast. What about painting the walls and stairs a bold color and the runner white? or another color?
I love them. As for white in the middle it would get dirty REALLY fast!
I have a painted runner, and it is great to clean. Damp cloth does the trick.
http://salvaged-bliss.blogspot.com/2010/09/stairway-to-dustyrose-heaven.html