Paint color for handrails in mid-century modern home -- TEAL color????

last year

We are remodeling our mid-century modern townhouse so that it has a more open floor plan. Need help to decide on paint color for the stair handrails. We currently have a handrail on one side of the stairs, but we are adding a second "grab bar" handrail to the other side.

Please weigh in and let me know if you think about painting the handrail teal. So instead of the rust color you see in photo, it would be teal, a grayish deep teal. We chose teal because it's the accent color in kitchen and dining area.

Here are wall colors in our very open floor plan:

- All walls except for the accent wall: Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/1549/balboa-mist.

- Accent wall is teal https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/hc-137/mill-springs-blue

- Kitchen backsplash is multicolored with teal the predominant color: https://gvgstone.com/products/gt-kleinfield-collection-casa-cheri-2-x-10-subway-tile-5-05-ft-per-box

Here are the colors in the stairwell area:

- On the walls adjacent to the stairs: Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/1549/balboa-mist.

- The wooden stair treads will be stained to coordinate with the flooring on the first floor which is https://www.calibamboo.com/product-legends-golden-hour-oak-durable-vinyl-flooring-7902600201.html.

- The risers will be painted white.

- The stair's spindles are white and the base they sit in is white too

For the handrails, we are considering Sherwin Williams Teal Stencil https://www.sherwin-williams.com/architects-specifiers-designers/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW0018-teal-stencil . What do you think about this color for the handrails???

I could not find photos with teal handrails...and I wonder why... Is it just too way out there? Or what? Do you like the idea? Would you find it pleasing or off putting?

Looking forward to hearing from you. And many thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

lisedv

last year

I think that painting the railing in a teal colour would look too matchy matchy. I would suggest all black if you can remove the plastic on the handrail (it becomes smaller and not bulkiy looking if painted all black). Here's a picture of what my daughter's staircase looks like after painting the railing from white to black after removing the plastic handrail.

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Comments (19)

tfitz1006
last year
I think it is a little much, imo. I'd do black, I think.
leni_2 thanked tfitz1006
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JAN MOYER
last year
In a word?

NO :)
leni_2 thanked JAN MOYER
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Hmm. It's not often you see colorful interior stair railings, but it can be done. I like this one with metal cables instead of balusters:

Express Yourself DesignRail® railing colors · More Info

Note, however, that the accent wall is a darker ground which allows the handrail to really pop. I wouldn't do teal for both the railing and the accent wall.
leni_2 thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Absolutely not . It would look cheap and IMO not MCM at all. If you want a teal wall maybe but no way the rail.
leni_2 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
leni_2
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Thanks, very helpful! So the consensus is not to paint the handrails dark teal. And some of you have recommended black. In that case, the spindles and the moulding that the spindles sit in will be white ad the handrail as well as the grab bar on the other side of the stairs will be black.

Q: For black, what do you think of Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/color/color-family/neutral-paint-colors/sw6258-tricorn-black?

Q: Or we could do dark grey, what do you think Sherwin Williams Iron Ore https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/sw7069?

Q: Or we could do a dark brown, for example, Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/color/color-family/neutral-paint-colors/sw7048-urbane-bronze. I am wondering if this Urbane Bronze might work better than black for us because the stair treads will be stained to match the flooring which is a brownish taupe https://www.calibamboo.com/product-legends-golden-hour-oak-durable-vinyl-flooring-7902600201.html.%C2%A0

Looking forward to your thoughts!!! Thank you!!!
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I love MCM and a lot of what I love is the simple chouces IMO leave the handrail and for sure not white spindles they will look cheap just black and simple please
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BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
Wood finish as is for the handrail and black or charcoal for the balusters.
leni_2 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
Ugh, no teal on a handrail. If it's wood, then sand it and stain it to match the floors. Keep the balusters white.
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Rebecca Maurer
last year
I would do all black and make it look like iron railing . A sharp black .
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Did not catch the white already there so yes the railing to match the floors and I guess keep the white .
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amykath
last year
I see a lot of MCM homes with wood handrails and black balusters. I would do that if you can. If not all black. I would use the darkest black I could find.
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mxk3 z5b_MI
last year
SW Black Fox is a good blackish-brown.
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lisedv
last year
last modified: last year
I suggest black, it's what will make everthing else stand out.
leni_2 thanked lisedv
leni_2
Original Author
last year
Thanks for your comments, all! So now we've decided against the teal and I'm glad about that!!! Thank you!!!

And now we're choosing between the SW Tricolor Black and SW Urbane Bronze. And you can see both on the railing in this photo.

We feel that black on the handrail and on the grab bar across from the handrail, will feel too strong and jarring with the white spindles, SW Balboa Mist on the walls, and this color floor https://www.calibamboo.com/product-legends-golden-hour-oak-durable-vinyl-flooring-7902600201.html. So....we are leaning toward Urbane Bronze which is the color on the right in the photo.

BTW, this is the railing you see when you come into our house. Of course, this is all going to be cleaned up after this remodeling project is over!
cat_ky
last year
I would go with the black, and also black on the spindles. No White.
amykath
last year
Definitely all black!
PRO
lisedv
last year
Here is your railing against Balboa Mist. I definately think that all black is better... Of course it's your house, and you decide in the end, but it is my recommendation.
leni_2 thanked lisedv
Jennifer Hogan
last year
So many people are so afraid of using color! Why not paint the handrail teal and let the color flow from one room to the next?

I absolutely love the way this person used flip flopped her wall and trim color in 2 adjacent rooms, yet most people will say you have to use the same color on trim throughout the house.

You can do an Accent ceiling

Why not a handrail or stair risers?
leni_2 thanked Jennifer Hogan