Need help choosing colors - entryway floor and stairs

15 years ago

We've been working on a renovation for quite a while now and I am completely stuck on what to do with the floor in the entryway and the stairs. The only "definite" in the space is that the walls will be painted in SW Ivoire (you can see a bit of the color on the side wall at the top of the stairs in the bottom photo). We are also planning on painting the floor in the entryway and the risers for the stairs. I am leaning towards a dark brown chocolate color for the floor (similar to the darkest color you can see on the floor now). My first thought on the risers would be to do them white (we will have white window trim and I like the look of the white risers I've seen in photos), but I am worried about it having too much contrast with a dark floor and I am a little worried about them getting scuffed up too quickly. I would definitely consider something else if it were part of a different overall color scheme. My biggest problem is what to do with the stair treads and railing (which have all been replaced with new pine). Here are some photos...

Should I stain the pine treads or paint them?

If I stain the pine, do I try to make it a dark color so it won't contrast with the floor too much?

Is it even possible to stain pine a dark color?

Do I abandon the dark chocolate color for the floor and try to find a paint that will be similar to whatever color I have on the treads?

Do I just paint the treads the same color as the floor?

What should I do with the railing? (Paint, stain, or a combination?)

Do I paint the risers white or some other color?

Do I consider painting the risers the same color as the floor, but stain/paint the treads a different color?

I'm so confused!!!

There is one small complication that you may have noticed in the photo... there is a small landing where the stairs turn the corner that will need to be painted. It is actually a "trap door" for a small storage space. I am figuring I will need to paint it the same color as the floor, but it will need to be considered in the overall look.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

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Comments (6)

threedgrad
15 years ago
I would make stair risers and treads dark like wood floor. I would paint railings white to match trim. Keep it simple.
palimpsest
15 years ago
I would make the treads match the floor. I like the idea of white risers, I think it looks crisp. You may be right about the scuffing, it depends on whether you are the type that walks more toward the front of the step or whether you bang into the risers.

I would consider painting the balusters to match the trim (white) and the hand rail dark to match the floor.
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jyyanks
15 years ago
I would stain the treads dark brown. It is possible - you can get a walnut stain - I used a stain from Sherwin Williams on a couple of bookcases and they came out really nice.

I would do the stairs/risers a dark walnut stain and make the railings white. Good Luck
leahcate
15 years ago
Dark treads the same shade as your floors,with white risers...gorgeous! This look can be either 'veddy' elegant or cozy cottage. Try to match the landing and treads with stain and if it's a no go you can always paint over. Do what look you love and don't worry! How about a newel post finial atop that plain post...just a simple ball, maybe?
littleriverbb
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the speedy responses!

OK, so maybe tomorrow I will try staining some scrap pine to see what I can get for a dark color, then pick my floor paint afterward.

With regard to the railing, if I stain the handrail to match the treads and paint the balusters white, do I also stain the newell post and the bottom part of the railing, or would either of those be better in the white?

I guess I've been looking at the unfinished job so long, I just can't picture what the finished space will look like.

Thanks again!
leahcate
15 years ago
I just looked again at the trap door space, and gave it some more thought. Here's my take:
Stain treads a dark shade
Match floor color to stain
Paint risers white
Paint trap door AND bottom stair same as floor
Beware! You may need a small colorful rug
under the last stair/on floor(hard to see stair at night)
For the rails,etc. The most common/best,imo, look is
white paint on the rails and stain on post and newel.
Oh! New thought re. last stair: Stain it in a light honey
and stencil a design in floor color.It will stand out( for safety) and neat effect! Hmmm, you could instead, treat that trap door with that special effect. It's going to be charming, whatever you do.

Need help choosing colors - entryway floor and stairs

Comments (6)

threedgrad

palimpsest

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Need help choosing colors - entryway floor and stairs

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threedgrad

palimpsest

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