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Ugly staircase and foyer needs serious paint job

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

We have just purchased a home in need of TLC and lots of
paint! The ugliest part of the house is the stairway and foyer. We will be
replacing the flooring, paint, adding lights so consider it a blank slate. I am
really struggling to find a paint color that works in this area. We will be
adding additional lighting but I need something that also looks well without
lights on. It’s an area of the house that unless I’m expecting company probably
will not be all lit up. The house we are currently living in has accent lights
up the stairs that we always cut those on at night. We plan to install these at
this house and on an everyday basis they will probably be the only lights we
turn on at night unless we have company. I envision a light color here but I’m
struggling. I painted a wall with some white I already had on hand and one wall
turned cream and the other turned gray. I am not a fan of gray paint. I had
hoped to do the staircase black and white but so far white is not looking so
great. I will try some more samples but I’m starting to get frustrated as my
paint sample stack grows. I’m to the point I am considering a paint consultant
as there is issues in other parts of house as well. Any words of advice will be
greatly appreciated. I have more photos of this beauty if needed.

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Comments (2)

sylviatexas1
7 years ago
That dark color may be the reason one wall turned cream & the other one turned gray, & it might bleed through if you just paint over it, so apply a good coat of Kilz first.

Then you really do have a clean slate, & you can more easily envision a new color.

The black banister with the white dowels looks really good, sort of a Colonial effect.

You could put up black & white striped wallpaper & accessorize with mahogany or dark walnut furniture, & it would be gorgeous, but if the walls are textured, it's hard to get them smooth.

so...what were we talking about?

oh yeah, paint lol.

Your carpet & tile are warm tones, & warm goes with warm, so greens, golds, peachy/apricot colors, bronzes, & brass are all good.

maybe a light apricot, with bronze metallic accents (picture frames, clocks, vases & bowls on your hall table), etc.

or maybe a gold/green color with brushed antique gold or antique brass somethings.

Black banister may or may not work with the softer colors; it might add an exclamation point, it might look like it doesn't belong there.

You can cross that bridge when you get to it.

Beneath the stairs, the white wood next to the burgundy paint is too much contrast & calls attention to the area.

Who wants to focus on the area under the stair treads?

I'd paint that whole area the same as the walls or maybe an unobtrusive warm white.

It's a nice foyer-have fun!
D Sandridge thanked sylviatexas1
D Sandridge
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks, great ideas!
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