Six Easy and Cheap Ways to Update Your Stairs
Many of us have stairs in our home that could use a bit of a makeover, either due to wear and tear over time, or because they are basic build grade and didn’t have much style to begin with. However, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money upgrading a space designed to simply take you from one floor to another, there are ways to revitalize your existing staircase without spending a lot of money.
If you’re suddenly thinking your boring staircase needs a makeover, here are some ways to achieve it without emptying your bank account.
Dye
Painting is always the easiest and cheapest update you can make, and this applies to your stairs too. You can easily paint your risers a bright, contrasting color that will transform even the simplest staircase into a design feature. You can also take a gallon of floor paint and give the steps a makeover. Combining both will allow you to create a classic black and white look or get creative by choosing a palette that complements the rest of your home design.
And don’t forget the railings, balustrades and posts: giving them a shiny new coat of paint is an instant transformation that won’t break the bank.
Wallpaper or tiles
Your risers offer incredible design possibilities—they’re essentially tiny canvases that you can decorate in different ways. Applying wallpaper to the risers can give your staircase a pop of color and pattern that makes it pop, and you can probably cover your entire staircase with just one roll of paper, or buy a few pieces of contact paper made specifically for this purpose . If you have leftover tile from another project or a streak of some cheap tile, you can also tile the risers the same way you would tile a backsplash, instantly giving them a finished and stylish look.
You’re not limited to boners either. The wall can be covered with wallpaper, either completely covered, or a “plinth” effect can be created, emphasizing the rise of the steps along the wall. Simply adding color and design to the space will enhance your staircase.
Undercut
Stair brackets are trim pieces that attach to the outside of your staircase, adding dimension and design to the part of your staircase that people will look at when they’re not actively walking on it. They’re fairly easy to install (you can use construction adhesive if you’re not comfortable handling a nail gun or driving decorative nails) and instantly improve the appearance of your stairs.
You can also add trim to the staircase wall without splashing it out. If you’re a decent carpenter, you can create and install skirting along the wall, adding dimension and depth to your staircase design. Alternatively (and much easier), you can take a wall decal and create a design on the wall that will accent the staircase.
Lighting
Lighting can be a dramatic element in any space, but on a staircase it becomes even more dramatic, especially at night. Adding a few simple wall decals next to the steps not only improves safety, but also adds an artistic element, and rechargeable LED strips under the step overhang transform a boring staircase into a focal point.
The key points to consider when choosing light sources are the brightness and warmth of the light: they should be bright enough to improve visibility, but not so bright that they are distracting. The heat level should be tailored as closely as possible to the palette of other design features of your home. It may take some experimenting before you find the perfect combination.
runners
If your stairs are just fine but could use a little push for style (and perhaps safety), adding a center runner is an easy project that will add a pop of color and design while increasing traction. Installing the tracks is a fairly simple DIY job that shouldn’t take more than a few hours, but you can make the task easier by using glued-on carpet treads instead – not quite as dramatic, but they still add dimension and safety to your stairs.
If you choose a full track, you can quite easily add ladder rods to add even more interest to the design. Ladder bars are a classic method that also help keep the balance bike in place so it doesn’t slip or pull over time, which can be both a safety issue and damn unsightly.
Protector caps
You can bring your base treads to life without tearing, sanding or staining them by using tread overlays . This is a thin veneer that fits over existing treads, instantly hiding imperfections and changing the entire appearance of your staircase. This is a fairly easy DIY project , although you will have to cut the caps to fit your staircase.