Interior Painting · Jan 2025
Staircase with oak treads and white spindles
Staircase with oak treads and white spindles. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Jan 2025. This interior painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Multicolor Stair Risers Painted White with Oak Treads and Gold Walls Painted Light Gray
This staircase rises from a family room with a curved bottom step and a scroll end on the oak handrail. In the before photo, the walls are a deep gold and every riser is painted a different color, including pink, sage, lavender, and pale yellow. The white spindles and oak treads are already in place, and drop cloths run up the steps while work starts at the top landing. In the after photo, all of the risers are a clean white that matches the spindles and the skirt board. The oak treads and handrail keep their honey wood tone, so the stair now has a simple two tone look. The gold walls are repainted in a soft light gray that brightens the stairwell and the room next to it. The textured ceiling stays white, and the light floors and patterned rug feel more connected to the new wall color. The photos were taken in Jan 2025.
How We Painted These Stair Risers and Stairwell Walls
- We laid drop cloths on the floor and runners on the stair treads, then taped the edges of the oak treads and handrail so the wood stayed clean.
- Furniture near the stairs was moved or covered, and switch plates and outlet covers were removed from the walls before any paint was opened.
- We cleaned the risers, filled dings and nail holes, and lightly sanded the old colored paint so the new white coat would lay down smooth.
- The pink, green, and purple risers got a stain blocking primer first, since bright colors can show through white trim paint without one.
- Two coats of white trim enamel went on the risers and skirt boards, brushed carefully along the tread nosing to keep a sharp, straight line.
- The gold walls were cut in at the ceiling and trim, then rolled with two coats of light gray to fully cover the darker color underneath.
Paint Colors Similar to These White Risers and Gray Walls
These are similar colors to consider for white stair risers and light gray walls. They are not the exact colors used on this staircase.
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015
A soft light gray close to these stairwell walls, bright enough to open up the space while still pairing well with honey oak treads.
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52
A cool, airy gray that suits textured ceilings and white trim, a good option if your stairwell gets a lot of natural daylight.
Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW 7005
A soft white for risers, spindles, and skirt boards that looks clean beside oak without feeling stark or overly blue.
Questions About Painting Stair Risers and Stairwells
Can stair risers be painted without refinishing the treads?
Yes. Painters tape off the treads and cut a careful line along the nosing. The treads stay as they are while the risers, skirt boards, and spindles get new paint. This is a common way to update a staircase without the dust and cost of sanding the wood treads.
What paint holds up best on stair risers?
Risers take scuffs from shoes, so a durable trim enamel in satin or semi gloss is a good choice. These sheens clean up with a damp cloth. Letting the paint cure for a few days to a few weeks before heavy traffic helps it harden and resist marks.
How many coats does it take to cover a dark wall with light gray?
Going from a deep gold or other dark color to a light gray usually takes a primer or two full coats of quality paint, sometimes more. A tinted primer can cut down on coats. Rolling in even sections helps avoid patchy spots where the old color shows through.
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