Freshly painted stairs add a special pop to any area of your Fort Collins or Loveland home or yard. Stairs are an often-overlooked place to let your interior design style shine.
Refinishing stairs doesn’t have to be a daunting project. Whether you want to give your interior stairs a makeover or just fix the peeling paint on the back deck, there’s a perfect paint for the job.
Read on to learn what types of paint are best for freshening up your interior and exterior stairs.
The Best Paint for Outdoor Stairs
Outdoor stairs undergo a lot of wear and tear. Not only do they have to stand up to frequent foot traffic, but they’re exposed to all kinds of weather, too.
For that reason, you’ll need to use a highly durable paint. For wood stairs in particular, your best bet is 100% acrylic exterior paint. There are types of acrylic paint specifically for use on porches, floors, and exterior stairs.
You’ll want to avoid paints with a very glossy finish. Semi-gloss and high-gloss paints can be slippery, especially when wet.
For the safest results, stick to a satin or eggshell finish. These finishes are glossy enough to resist stains and are easily cleaned, but they’re not so glossy as to be a slipping hazard. For extra safety, you can add a non-slip additive to your paint for extra texture and slip resistance.
The Best Paint for Indoor Stairs
Although indoor stairs are more protected than outdoor stairs, they still need to withstand a lot of use. For that reason, 100% acrylic paint is also a good choice for indoor stairs.
As for the best finishes, satin and eggshell are good choices. Indoor stairs can also benefit from semi-gloss paint, as it is easy to clean and won’t be as much of a slipping hazard.
If you’re planning on painting your indoor stairs in different colors, you might consider different paint finishes, too. For example, you could paint the risers and spindles in a semi-gloss paint and use a lower luster paint for the railings and treads for increased safety.
Paint Design Ideas for Refinishing Stairs
Once you’ve got the right paint for the job, it’s time to unleash your creativity. There are many interesting ways to paint your stairs to turn them from merely functional to completely fabulous.
A classic stair painting technique is to paint the risers and spindles in a light color and the treads and railing in a complementary dark color. This approach looks crisp and creates a lot of visual interest.
Like the look of a classic stair runner but don’t love the risk of tripping? Paint a runner down the center of your staircase for an eye-catching effect.
Think outside the box in terms of color. You can also use creative methods like stencils and wallpaper.
Refinishing Stairs for a Fresh, New Look
A fresh coat of paint is a simple way to instantly transform the look of your stairs and brighten the entire area around them. If you’re considering refinishing stairs in your home, it’s important to have all the right paints and tools for the job. That way, you’re sure to make your vision a reality.
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