From dark and dreary to bright and beautiful! Our staircase had been an eyesore for years, but I always had a feeling that one day I’d take on the challenge. I was determined to pull up that worn pink carpet and finally discover what was hidden beneath.
I got lucky—the stair treads turned out to be solid wood! But they definitely came with their share of problems. Years of wear, countless carpet staples, holes, and 125 years of foot traffic had taken a serious toll.
My husband definitely didn’t share the vision I had. His idea? Rip everything out and replace the stair treads—no need to mess with what we already had (you know, the free option). He was less than thrilled to find I’d kicked off the project solo while he was at work. By the time he walked in, the carpet and padding were history. I guess he forgot when I mentioned this as a 'one-day, maybe... possibly... eventually' kind of thing. Surprise!
Like I said, the stairs were solid wood—and despite their flaws, I knew I could work with them. It took me several weeks just to get all those stubborn carpet staples out. Since I work from home, I squeezed in a few minutes here and there before and after work to chip away at them. Once the staples were finally a thing of the past, I patched up the most noticeable blemishes, gave everything a thorough sanding and wipe-down, and then it was finally time for the fun part—paint!
I chose Sherwin Williams Ultra White in a semi-gloss interior finish. Honestly, I thought two good coats would do the trick—but surprise! It ended up taking four full coats to get the look I wanted. On top of that, I added two coats of Minwax Polycrylic for protection. I went with the water-based version since I wasn’t too keen on using oil-based products in such a tight & non-ventilated space.
And then came the really fun part—decorating! I’d been collecting frames, prints, and pictures for ages, just waiting for the day I could fill this space. Luckily, I had a nice little stash of gold and wood-toned frames to kick things off. I couldn’t wait to start hanging them and arranging everything in a way that felt just right to me
I envisioned a gallery wall that climbed up the stairs, inspired by the charm of old country farmhouses. I used a mix of family photos & generic prints.
My husband designed and installed the sleek new black handrail himself—he’s seriously talented!
I’m beyond happy with how this project turned out—even if it took way longer than I’d planned. What I thought would be a quick refresh ended up taking 2–3 months. I definitely underestimated how time-consuming it would be to tackle this while juggling a full-time job.
I’m still adding photos and prints that bring character to the space—there are a few empty spots, so it’s very much a work in progress. My only regret? Not starting this project sooner.
Disclaimer
The content shared on this blog is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All DIY projects, decorating tips, tutorials, and suggestions are based on my personal experience and are provided in good faith. However, I am not a licensed professional, and the results of any project may vary depending on skill level, tools, materials, and individual conditions.
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