Interior Design – Painting an Outdated Wooden Staircase
Many homes in America that were constructed in mid 20th Century have the typical staircase that anyone can see as soon as you enter the front door. Often times that staircase is not wide enough and looking up the stairs; the landing leading to the second floor can appear very dark. A great, frugal option to renew an old staircase is with paint. Painting wooden stairway parts is easy as long as you get ready properly and don’t cut corners when it comes to the quality of paint and brushes you work with.
Fashionable paint finishes for a staircase include glossy in bright white or a creamy winter white to really brighten up the set of stairs. For a trendy, modern look, use deeper colors and select a paint product with an upscale matte finish. Rich cappuccino brown is very fashionable right now.
Here are several key points for painting a staircase successfully:
It is imperative that you get rid of all worn out paint or stain so you have the bare wood to work on.
After all the final remnants of paint and stain are gone, sand the wood treads and risers and spindles and hand rails using a fine grit sandpaper to get a smooth, ready to paint surface.
Make sure you choose the finest quality floor paint you can fit into your project budget. If you are uncertain, consult with a paint pro at Home Depot, Lowe’s or your local paint store and seek out advice. You need a long lasting, durable product that is a snap to keep clean, will give you the color shade you want and will last for many years.
Always apply a high quality primer coat to all stair parts including the wood steps, the risers, the balusters, wood newel posts and railings. If you see that the wood really drinks up the primer severely, let the first coat dry fully and then apply a second coat of primer. Let dry for a full twenty four hours.
Use superior quality painting brushes and rollers to ensure a flawless finish and carefully apply the first coat of paint. Whenever possible, allow 24 hours between paint coats. If you have sanded and stripped correctly and chose a high quality floor and staircase paint, you should only need to apply two (2) coats. Depending on your project, you may need to add a 3rd coat, which is often true for deep base colors such as lipstick red and navy blue.
Never allow people or pets to walk on the stairs until it has totally dried. For fun, add the last coat of paint on Friday afternoon and then go away for a well deserved mini break and return home to a brand new set of stairs.
The best thing about paint is that is affordable, you don’t have to hire an expensive professional and it is never permanent. If you really don’t like the finished look, you can easily do it again!
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Tags: architecture, home improvement, interior design, stairs, stairway