For that style railing, I prefer stained wood. It is a period piece and I don't think white is right for it. Especially because there is a wood beam that has the same color.

I also prefer the wood stain. It adds a nice contrast to the rest of the white space.

The stained railings would work with a rustic decor, but you’re furnishings are not rustic. I would definitely paint them. The Picket Fence in semi gloss will help them marry better with your style.

What color is the trim work - i would match that color so you dont have too many whites - I believe white pops out so be prepared as the current stairs blends in ( I prefer the current )

You don’t have gray floors and gray walls like your comparison photo. I don’t think painting your rails white will look good, and it will call a lot of attention to the rails, to give a kind of prison or factory effect — where as now, the rails just kind of disappear to the eye.

Any chance you can hide your TV behind doors or cabinetry? Having plants or other homey arrangements there would soften the appearance of the rails.

Something else I think you might experiment with is to bring more fruity orange colors and themes into the room, along with some dark leaf greens and olive greens. I’m just talking about replacing the red pillows, adding citrus and leaves to the decorative items on the table — that sort of thing. Fruit orchard feeling will go better with the woods and brown. Save the big reds for when you replace the railings with metal or glass and paint the walls something other than clay.

I think if you had a unit more like this it might work well. You don’t need to have a fireplace unit under the TV if it would look odd to you.

Benfield Dr · More Info

If there is actual empty space under the stairs so you could recess the TV, even better.

Having a carpenter build you something like this might give you a more integrated, finished, designer- look with the railings, using wood stained the same as your railings

My Houzz: Once a Schoolhouse and Church, Now a Home and Art Gallery · More Info

You can see here how kitchen cabinetry makers have ways of creating folding doors to hide something.

Rustic Charm Kitchen · More Info

You don’t need to use expensive materials and you don’t need to go with old-world or rustic wood. You could get a decorated finish that added color to your room.

These are decorated credenzas, not media units with a hidden TV, but just showing you that you could add something decorative to that wall to hide the TV that would make people forget all about the railings

Cori Dantini Sun Burst Flowers Credenza, 38"x20" · More Info

Deny Designs Holli Zollinger Dash And Plus Credenza · More Info

Deny Designs Falling Orange Leaves Credenza, Walnut, Black Steel legs · More Info

Deny Designs Yellow Beauty Credenza, Birch, Black Steel Legs · More Info

Ital mover - actually we used to have the TV set inside a cabinet under the stairs, but the look was too heavy for us. I hadn't thought about a more decorative unit though. We ran the cable outlet under the wood floor to connect, but what with all the wireless options available, we could do something different.

Have to say, with the comments I'm receiving, I'm having 2nd thoughts about painting the stairs...

Paint the rail and beam the same color as your white trim. The railing is period "cheap" it's outside deck railing. Paint until you can update with railing that fits your home style

Personally, I seriously prefer the stairs remaining stained wood. Adds a nice contrast. Painting them white won't brighten anything.

I forgot to mention that we'd paint the small bolts in each of the vertical rails black, so they would stand out against the white paint. The fan and light fixtures are black.

And like I said, there's already a lot of brown in the room - brown wood floors, brown tile, brown furniture, brown dining room table/chairs.

Still thinking of painting the stairs Swiss Coffee like the trim/baseboards/shutters.