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Design Dilemma Basements DIY

help! basement stairs and entry

last year

I have been contemplating what to do with the stairs to the basement. **Kids up and down stairs with large hockey bags, would like to do on a budget if possible since I'm sure the wall will get touched, but hopefully bags not dragged on steps.**

My thoughts have been:

-paint the wood walls white.

-To re-stain with a good varathane the steps, do I leave the sides of steps stained or paint white? Paint the riser of each step white?

-put up a wainscoting instead of painting existing wood. however, the trim you see on the wall covers the transition from plaster to drywall. I guess that still might work with the trim that's there since it will create a lip.

-Leave the stairs going upstairs or should they match the stairs down?

-I've seen stair covers, but was hoping to do this on a budget

-apply a adhesive stair nosing to each step after stained to cover up any rough or well worn edges?

Appreciate any feedback, thank you! (last pic is an example of the stair nosing?)

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Comments (4)

jck910
last year
I plan to paint mine and have been looking at nonslip paints. These are 2 I'm considering.

This one comes in different colors.
apple_pie_order
last year
You can address the safety issues, too.

Sand the stairs and coat with clear polyurethane. Paint the risers off white or white, whatever matches other trim. You can use Formica or a tough vinyl wallpaper on the wainscoting. Formica will last for years. Vinyl wallpaper may have to be replaced every year or two.

Safety: Add a handrail and lighting. Most important, teach kids not to leave things on the stairs that anyone can trip over.
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P Banos
last year
That white paint will not remain white for long with kids up and down stairs with large hockey bags. I promise you they will scuff the risers. How about you paint them black and add carpet treads or a runner? Plus handrails both sides will help keep hands off the walls. Paint the walls and paneling all one color. I'd use a washable paint, not totally flat. Add lighting.
ptreckel
last year
I love the wood on the sides of your stairs. Leave it! Don’t over think this. Rather than one color, I would paint each riser a different color, or alternating colors. TEAM colors for those Hockey players of yours? Even add a decal to the center of each step. Same color on the treads. If they have been eroded,then maybe a refresh of the actual tread. New ones. I have sometimes found that my toe, or the bottom of my shoe, can catch on those added edge protectors. While your kids are active, don’t sweat the small stuff. Eventually they will be gone. You will miss them. And the sounds of their stomping up these steps, scraping their hockey equipment against the walls. Life isn’t perfect; the imperfections make life REAL. 😉

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