DIY staircase makeovers are not that difficult to pull off.
Staircases are usually overlooked when it comes to home renovations and makeovers. As long as they are serving their function and the floorboards aren’t coming loose, we tend to ignore the staircase. However, we remain oblivious to the fact it could either improve or completely diminish the aesthetic of the entire house.
Whereas an elegant staircase with polished bannister and railings can boost the overall desirability of your abode, a dull and worn out staircase can pretty much ruin your entire décor, no matter how much time and effort you’ve put into it.
It’s important to point out that remodelling a staircase can be quite heavy on the pocket. It can also take up a lot of your time and be more than a little inconvenient for the residents of the house.
However, if your stairs are in a good condition, which means there is no termite infestation, major damage or any loose stair treads, you can follow some simple steps to change their appearance and enhance the beauty of your house.
Affordable Staircase Makeover Ideas
Here are a few budget-firendly tips to give your staircase a complete DIY makeover. An upgraded staircase will not only give a fresh feeling to your house but also make it look chic and modern.
Upgrade with stencil
Nothing can get simpler and thriftier than using a stencil and a can of paint. Even if you don’t believe you have an artistic flair, this DIY staircase makeover idea is pretty easy to follow. If your stair risers are discoloured or dull, brighten them up with a fresh coat of paint. You can then give it a new, trendy look with some stencil art. All you have to do is select a pattern that would subtly uplift your staircase without making people dizzy while climbing.
Choose a paint that would go perfectly with the colour palette of your house. If you are going for a larger pattern, you may want to skip a step. However, if the pattern you have selected appears delicate or imperceptible, you can use stencil art on every single stair.
Pro tip: Peel away the stencil when the paint is still wet for a more finished look.
Invest in wallpaper
Don’t have the budget or will to wallpaper your walls? Well, you can always wallpaper your stairs.
Apply a fresh coat of paint to your stair treads and cover the risers with wallpaper. Just make sure you measure them correctly so the wallpaper conceals the entire area without looking like it’s been glued on by an amateur.
If you can find different wallpaper scraps for a low price, that’s even better. For an eclectic look, you can mix and match different patterns in like colours. You can even cover each riser with a different piece of wallpaper. Needless to say, nothing can make a house look more luxurious than this cheap staircase makeover idea.
Paint a stair runner
Give your staircase a new life by painting a stair runner in a darker shade. While a black runner with golden borders would look wonderful on an off-white staircase, you can choose any colour that fits with your overall home décor. Before you start off, make sure to mark the lines you are going to paint on with a pencil or a piece of chalk.
You can even select lighter hues to make your staircase look bigger, just don’t forget to seal the paint-on runner with a top coat of varnish to increase its durability.
Buy an actual stair runner
The alternative to painting a stair runner is, of course, to cover your stairs with an actual runner. However, don’t go for a boring design just because it matches the colour of the bannister. Try and put in some of your personality in your runner choices and go for something stylish and elegant that would both be easier on the eyes and feet. If you can find a patterned runner with bright hues that don’t clash with your colour theme, purchase it.
However, one mistake most homeowners make while covering their stairs with a runner is not measuring it beforehand. Always make sure the fabric is a little narrower than the width of your stairs but longer than the length of your staircase. Apart from carpets, jute runners are also a good and practical option.
Create a mosaic effect with tiles
Another popular DIY staircase makeover idea is to create a mosaic effect with tiles.
Now, tiles are not exactly cheap. However, if you buy different leftover patterns in bulk, they are bound to cost you much less. You can put your creativity to good use and use mismatched tiles to create alluring designs for your risers. Tile adhesives can be a bit tricky, but as long as you keep the edges clean and the sides aligned, it will hopefully turn out perfectly.
You can also make attention-grabbing designs by putting together pieces of broken ceramic tiles.
Decorative Decals
If tiles are a bit out of your budget, order some wall stickers or decals online. The best thing about decals is that you can customize them with your choice of design, picture or colour. They are also extremely easy to apply and peel off, making them a suitable option for rental properties.
Since there is a wide variety of stickers and decals available in the market, you can even go for the tile effect without straining your pockets or choose a floral design to compliment your décor.
This DIY staircase makeover hack is also pretty cheap. You can easily get a pack of 12 peel-and-stick decals for as low as PKR 1,000.
Colour the handrails
No matter how much hard work and money you put into your stairs, your outdated handrails can pretty much overshadow all of your efforts. Show your railings some love with this DIY bannister makeover idea and give it a fresh coat of paint or polish its surface.
If it’s in need of a repair, splurge a little on getting it fixed before its condition deteriorates any further. If there are any spindles on your staircase, you can either replace or remove them for a new, fresher look. Updating your staircase railings is perhaps the fastest and least complicated way to revamp your stairs.
Rainbow stairs
This look is ideal for farmhouses, beach houses and vacation homes, but if colours make you happy, you can create a DIY rainbow staircase. All you have to do is paint each step a solid colour for a bright and beautiful staircase that will surely stand out as the main attraction of your home. You don’t necessarily have to choose bold colours, as pastel shades with white moulding are also a good option to add some extravagance to your staircase.
The Ombre Effect
If you like the idea of having a rainbow staircase but are afraid it wouldn’t go along with the aesthetic of your house, you can perhaps give your staircase an ombre effect going up.
Instead of buying different paint cans from the same colour family, you can just purchase one large can. Just lighten the shade as you go by adding some white paint to it. However, you need to mix it vigorously every single time you add in a different shade because if not mixed properly, there is a huge possibility you’ll end up with light and dark streaks in your paint once it dries up. In addition, make sure you mix enough paint every time to cover the step and do an additional coat.
This affordabel staircase makeover hack is more appropriate for shorter staircases.
Decorate the wall
Even if your staircase looks magnificent, the wall next to it can ruin the picture with its drabness. Once you are done giving your stairs a makeover, pay some attention to the walkway wall by adding some moulding or giving it a fresh coat of paint.
You can also make a staircase gallery wall with decal wall art or wooden frames displaying family portraits, art, motivational quotes and memorable moments. You can buy frames for cheap in bulk or make them yourself to save some cash. Meanwhile, the photos and art can be printed out at home if you have a printer. However, remember not to fill up the entire space and make it appear overwhelming.
There you go. It’ll certainly take some time and effort to remodel your staircase. But these DIY staircase makeover ideas will hopefully make things a little easier for you.
If you are a fan of DIY projects, here are a few affordable weekend home improvement ideas that would help upgrade the look of your entire house.
