It may seem intimidating to install a stair runner yourself, but it’s so darn easy that we’ve done it twice! Thrice if you count demonstrating it on live TV (more on that later). Just follow the steps in our tutorial below, including our trick for making sure your rug is the perfect size for the project.
Adding a rug or runner to your stairs isn’t just a stylish decor choice that can add color, personality, or pattern. It’s also a safety feature! We find that adding a stair runner cuts down on slips, falls, and even makes it easier for our dog to traverse them. They also absorb sound, meaning your less likely to hear your kid clomping up and down the steps. So we highly recommend adding one if you’ve got young children, pets, or even just clumsy adults around.
DIY Stair Runner Before & Afters
The first time we installed a stair runner, it was to replace a dingy carpet runner that came with the house. You can see in the photos below that we not only livened up the stairs with a bold striped rug, we also modernized the steps by painting the risers, trim, & balusters white and staining the wood handrails dark.
For our second install, here in our current home, we used a beachy sisal runner instead. We also painted the treads a wary gray to brighten them up.
The “third” stair runner we added was for a DIY segment we taped for The Rachael Ray Show. We only shot about 3 staples on camera, but we prepped the small fake staircase backstage. It’s too bad we didn’t get to do a whole staircase. That runner is cute!
Overall, you have lots of ways you can customize this project to suit your style and your stairs. So let’s dive into the tutorial!
Tools, Materials, & Cost
Here are the supplies and tools you should have handy to install your own stair runner:
- Stair runner
- Rug pad
- Tape Measure
- String
- Painter’s Tape
- Electric staple gun & staples
- Sharpie
- Scissors
- Needlenose pliers
This doesn’t have to be an expensive project either. Our first runner installation cost less than $300! It mostly depends on the runner you choose and how much you need.
Steps To Install A Stair Runner
Our project in total took us about 20 hours, but that also included removing the old runner and painting the risers and railings. The actual stair runner install only took about 4 hours, although may depend on the length of your stairs. We’ll go into each step in more detail, but here’s an overview of the process:
- Remove your old runner (if needed)
- Measure
- Select a runner
- Paint or stain your stairs (optional)
- Mark your placement
- Cut the rug pad
- Prepare your staples
- Start at the top
- Connect two runners (if needed)
- Finish the bottom edge
Step 1: Remove your old runner
This step only applies if you have an existing rug, runner, or carpet on your stairs that needs to go. This process may take time – especially getting all of the old stapes up! We counted nearly 600 staples in our old carpet. We have a separate stair runner removal tutorial for this, including what tools you’ll want to help get that old carpeting off.
Step 2: Measure
Before buying your runner, you’ll need to measure how much you’ll need. As with any rug, the important measurements are length and width. Knowing this will also help you determine if you can purchase a stock size or need to order something custom.
Measuring runner length
We suggest using a string or flexible measuring tape to determine the length of one step. This means riser + tread, including around the front bullnose edge. Multiply this measurement by the number of steps you have, and then add 10-15% extra. Having too much material is easier to deal with than not having enough!
Measuring runner width
Most stair runners don’t go wall-to-wall. Instead, they leave about 2-3″ exposed on either side (see above). This number is personal preference, and it may be dictated by stock sizes. Measure the width of your narrowest stair, and subtract 4-6″ to get your runner width. Just be mindful that many staircases “flare” at the bottom, so make sure whatever width you choose will fit and look good from top to bottom.
Step 3: Select a runner
Virtually any carpet or rug can be turned into DIY stair runner. However, we suggest choosing something that will be durable and easy to clean, especially if your stairway gets lots of foot traffic. Indoor/outdoor rugs and natural fiber rugs like wool or cotton are great for these reasons. We also suggest something low pile, since they are easier to keep clean. We have used both stock and custom runners for our stairs.
Using a stock runner
For our striped runner, we used a rug from Annie Selke (formerly Dash & Albert) because they are known for their durability. They also have tons of patterns and colors, and most styles come in a variety of sizes. We used two 2.5′ x 8′ Birmingham runners, but they now also sell a 20-foot version and as a customizable size. After 7 years of use, we can vouch that it held up great (apart from some fading from sun) and felt quite soft underfoot!
Stock runners are typically cheaper, but they may require more ingenuity to fit precisely to your space. Don’t worry – we’ll show you how!
Using a custom runner
For our sisal runner, we ordered a custom outdoor rug from Sisal Rugs. This gave us great control over the exact look – we picked the color, border material, border color, size, etc – and only cost us slightly about $100 more than 2 Annie Selke rugs would’ve at the time.
We have been equally happy with both types of rugs we’ve used – stock vs custom, cotton vs sisal, bold vs neutral – so you should feel good about choosing whatever is best for you.
Step 4: Paint or Stain Your Stairs
If your stair makeover plans include any painting, staining, or other potentially messy updates: do them now! You don’t want to have to worry about dripping a new rug later!
Before we added our striped runner, we stained the handrail a darker color and painted the balusters, trim, and risers white. These were somewhat time-consuming tasks, so they are great to tackle while you’re waiting for your rug order to arrive.
Before adding our sisal runner, we decided to paint the stair treads a warm gray to cover up some discoloration in the stain. We used this Porch & Floor Enamel in Requisite Gray by Sherwin-Williams. It didn’t require a primer and has held up great!
This also is a great time to do any other repairs to the stairs – like if you have a loose or squeaky tread, or need to fix any nearby molding.
Step 5: Mark Your Placement
Once you’re ready to install your runner, start by marking its placement on every step. This will help make sure it stays straight and doesn’t drift to the side as you install it. We used a measuring tape and painter’s tape to mark the edges along each tread, which you can see below.
Alternatively, you can check your placement with a ruler or measuring tape as you go. We just found it faster to tape down guides at the start of the project.
Step 6: Cut The Rug Pad
You’ll want a rug pad under your runner to (1) provide more cushion and (2) keep the runner in place. If you don’t want extra cushion, you can use carpet tape instead. We have used both a felt rug pad and a rubber rug pad with equal success. Just make sure whichever you choose has a non-slip design. Both are sold in multiple sizes, including runner lengths, and don’t need to be very thick (we use 1/8″ depth).
We prefer to use the rug pad ONLY on the tread surface (not the vertical riser). This saves money and also prevents unnecessary bulk against the riser. But it does require some time upfront to cut the rug pad into strips. Luckily they usually cut easily with household scissors. We leave it long enough to wrap around the front nose of the stair.
We leave enough overhang so the rug pad can wrap around the bullnose of each step, as you can tell above.
Step 7: Prepare Your Staples
Here comes the weird step, but we promise it’s worth it! After some trial and error, we found an electric staple gun designed for upholstery projects to be the most effective way to secure a stair runner. A hand-powered staple gun was too light-duty. We needed something with more oomph!
The drawback to this approach is that your staples may be visible UNLESS you take the time to color them first. I know it sounds weird, but trust us. It works!
For our sisal runner, we used a gold Sharpie to roughly color a strip of staples before loading them into the stapler. For our black and white runner, we did the same thing with a black Sharpie.
Matching the exact color of your rug is not important because the main benefit of this approach is that it removes the SHINE of the staples. The staples were mostly visible when they catch the light, so the Sharpie ink dulls them enough that they camouflage into the pattern of the rug.
Coloring one big strip of staples before you put them in the stapler is much faster than doing it individually after they’re stuck into your rug. But you can test it on a few stapled staples first if you want to determine what color offers the best disguise.
Step 8: Start At The Top
Begin stapling your runner under the lip at the top of your staircase. Take your time to position your runner precisely – keeping the top edge flush, and your edges aligned with your tape markings. Use the electric staple gun to secure it at each edge and about 4-5 places in the middle. Your rug’s pattern may determine where best to place your staples so they are as hidden as possible. You can also go back and add more staples later if it is sagging anywhere. The important part now is to just get it attached.
With the runner stapled along the top, pull it tight against the riser and staple along the bottom into the RISER, not the TREAD. At no point during this process will you need to nail into the treads. This way you don’t have to worry about bare feet ever feeling cold metal.
Next, pull the runner tight along the tread and repeat this process, starting with another row of staples under the lip of the next tread.
Use your judgment as to where & how many staples are needed to hold your runner tight to the stairs. With our sisal runner (above) we had two “lips” under each tread, so we had to do two rows of staples along the top of each step. Also, don’t fret if you need to remove a misfired staple now and again. Just keep some needlenose pliers handy.
Continue this process, working down your stairs towards the bottom. Just remember to keep pulling your runner tight and make sure it’s not drifting to one side as you go. Oh, and don’t forget to put down your rug pad strips as you go.
Also, we find the electric staple gun works best when you apply pressure to the back of it as you fire. This helps the staples sink deeper into the swood.
Step 9: Connect Two Runners
If one runner won’t reach the bottom of your stairs, it’s easy to seamlessly connect two separate runners. The best way to do this is to hide the transition under the lip of a tread. Use scissors to cut off any extra material from your first runner so that it terminates under the lip.
Staple that cut end right under the bullnose edge of the tread, just as you have been doing.
Then attach the second runner under the lip, just like you did with the first runner at the top of your stairs. From there, you can continue down your stairs with the second runner. Here is a finished picture of our stairs. Can you find the spot where one runner ends and the other begins?
You can kinda see it there about 3 steps up. The transition is not 100% undetectable, but it’s so subtle you only really notice it if you’re looking for it.
Step 9: Finish The Bottom Edge
Once you get to the bottom, use scissors to cut off any excess material – leaving about an extra inch of material. Fold this extra bit back under the runner and staple it into the bottom of the rise. This fold gives a cleaner, even edge on the bottom (since some runners will fray slightly when cut).
And just like that, you’ve finished your stair runner installation!
You can read more specifics about installing our sisal stair runner, and see more before & after pictures of that space.
Stair Runner FAQs
Here are answers to other questions we frequently get about installing a stair runner.
How well do stair runners hold up?
Our stair runners have held up very well, even with busy kids & pets in the house. Like any rug or carpet, they require regular vacuuming and the occasional stain removal. But as long as you choose a durable material like an indoor/outdoor polypropylene rug or a natural fiber rug, you should have little trouble. We lived with our striper runner for over 7 years before moving, and we only experienced light fading at the bottom (where it got lots of sunlight) and some small, but barely noticeable, fraying on the nose of a step or two.
Do stair runners damage the stairs?
When you install a stair runner, you will put small staple holes in your stair risers. A stair runner also may cause your paint or stain finish to fade unevenly, due to the steps being partially covered. However, both of these can be remedied with wood putty and a fresh coat of paint or stain.
What are the advantages of a stair runner?
In addition to improving the look of your stairs, you’re also making your steps safer and quieter when you install a stair runner. Rugs absorb sound and cut down on the noise of loud footsteps. They also are less slick than wood steps, which makes slips and falls less common.
How do stair runners stay in place?
Stair runners stay in place thanks to a combination of staples and rug pads. The staples hold the rug tight to each riser, helping it form to the shape of the staircase. Rug pads under the tread keep it from moving underfoot. Alternatively, you can use stair carpet rods to hold the rug tight to the riser.
What are alternatives to a stair runner?
In our historic beach home, we didn’t want to install a permanent stair runner. We used two alternate solutions to help our dog not slip on the stairs. On our front steps, we used non-slip sisal treads held in place with carpet tape. On our back stairs, we used clear non-slip treads for a nearly invisible look.
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Christine S says
Holy Moly! Makes me want stairs!!! Love the black and white………..so classic
Mary Clutter says
Just beautiful! Nice work.
Ariane says
It looks awesome and so chic ! One question though : how will you keep the bottom of your runner clean when you will mop your lobby ? Did you seal it in some way ? Take care.
YoungHouseLove says
I think I’ll just do that part by hand with a wet cloth so I don’t get it on the rug and use a vacuum to grab anything against it (so I’m not getting the runner wet).
xo
s
Wendy says
What a satisfying end result!
Unrelated question: where did you find the huge basket under the entry console table? I’m looking for something similar for mine.
YoungHouseLove says
HomeGoods! It’s my pillow and basket haven (although I’m forbidden to get anymore by a certain husband of mine…)
xo
s
Samanta says
Wow! Looks great. I can’t believe how far the entry has come, it looks amazing :)
Jen says
It’s really a beautiful job, I love watching the transformation.
Brad says
I’ll be honest, when you guys first mentioned the darker railing I was nervous… but it looks phenomenal! The wall color is perfection, too, by the way. Great job.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Brad!
-John
jeannette says
it really is amazing how this fresh and zingy space elevates the whole house. looking at the b4 pic with the tired balusters and the skanky carpet and still unable to rid myself of the image of all that confining blue trim reminded me of what a downer it was. now it’s airy, textured, poppy and alluring people up the stairs.
and, coloring the staples with the sharpie, genius. great post, thank you.
Stacey says
Stunning!
Nancy says
I would love to know where you purchased the runner.it looks fabulous!!!
YoungHouseLove says
If you click the link in the bulleted budget breakdown (the one before the rug price) you’ll see that info. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Kelly says
It looks awesome! You guys have given me hope that I can get mine done (finally), though I’m still trying to find the perfect runner.
Kim W R says
This weekend, we did some painting (repainting a small rocking chair for my daughter’s room.– Bright Purple.)
I always want a little bit more color. I think I might have left the front balustrade/post wood toned to match the handrail, but I like how the back one blends into the wall.
Looks a lot less 80s!
And in strangeness, as my folks were hanging out with John’s folks this weekend, I had a dream that I ran into J, S & C in an elevator and Clara dropped her hat. I picked it up and ran after you, but you didn’t want it since it had been on the ground. Very strange.
YoungHouseLove says
So funny!
xo
s
Elisa says
It looks amazing! I love it! And, I have to say, great minds think alike. :) My stairs are so similar although you guys did it better. We had no idea what we were doing but wanted it done NOW so we didn’t plan ahead as well with the rug pad. Great job!
http://www.charmingdoodle.com/2012/03/winning-runner-revealed.html
YoungHouseLove says
That looks gorgeous Elisa! I LOVE it!!
xo
s
Carrie F says
It looks amazing! I was wanting to paint the risers on my staircase also, and was wondering what brand of primer you used? And how smelly is it? Im pregnant and would have the hubby do that part but may wait until after the baby is born if it’s too smelly. Thanks so much!!
YoungHouseLove says
We generally seek out low-VOC primer (we haven’t found any that’s no-VOC and truly block wood bleed – although some say they do but we have experienced bleed and then had to redo it). Our favorite is Smart Prime by Zinsser. Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Tdot says
This looks really cool but looking down and up is almost… too busy? Too stripey? What I am trying to get at is that the picture made me a bit dizzy and the stairs look almost indistinguishable? Is it that way in real life? I feel like I would misstep and fall if I wasn’t paying close attention…
YoungHouseLove says
In photos I think graphic black and white stripes will always read a lot crazier than they do in person. Thankfully they’re just as easy to navigate as they were before, and even Clara and Burger have had no issues on them (even sleepy Clara after a nap yesteday) so I think it’s just the photos making them more intense :)
xo
s
Gabbi @ Retro Ranch Reno says
Looks absolutely amazing! Such a freshened up staircase!!
Robyn says
What was this about? https://www.younghouselove.com/2013/09/page/7/ seems like you guys wasted your Saturday night. I’m so confused.
Robyn says
I mean Friday night.
YoungHouseLove says
The skinny posts had already been painted, but see the thicker newel posts on each end? They were brown wood (see the photo above that one) so we painted them white. There are two downstairs and two at the top of the stairs next to Clara’s room that you can see in this pic).
xo
s
Amanda S. says
Love love love it! It goes great with the Moravian star ceiling light, the floor, everything! I’m loving the black and whitelook!
Jerrika says
When I’ve used the PolyShades stain + polyurethane in the past, I had troubles getting an even coat. Any tips on how to apply this evenly?
YoungHouseLove says
Did you use a fine grade (000) of steel wool between coats? That seemed to help with ours. Also waiting for it to fully dry between coats, and trying just to apply a nice even layer seemed to do the trick. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Robin @ our semi organic life says
This looks so nice I’d be afraid to walk on it! I’d be climbing up the sides so I only touch the wood.
Also I am interested in no shoe households – this has never been my experience growing up or as an adult. I personally enjoy wearing shoes around the house – they keep my feet warm and often from smelling. lolz Maybe I’m weird!
Kari says
That’s so funny, Robin! I live in Canada, and I don’t know of anyone who wears shoes in their house. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to keep the floors clean if you’re wearing them indoors! I guess it’s all about what you’ve grown up with :)
Sasha says
Looks amazing :) I think I’m gonna suggest to my mum to paint her stair’s risers white – It looks gorgeous :)
Cait says
Looks great! I might have missed it, but did you ever consider staining the treads the same color as the railing? Just curious!
YoungHouseLove says
Since the entire upstairs of our house are hardwood floors that match the tone of the stairs (which run right into them at the top there) we didn’t want dark stairs that run into a mid-toned upstairs hallway, so we went with dark stripes in the runner, the doorknobs, and the railings (as well as the console table and the chandelier in the foyer) so they all tied together. To us it’s like putting a dark wood console table on top of a mid-toned wood floor – it seems to be compatible even though it doesn’t match.
xo
s
Samantha says
This is one of my favorite projects you guys have done! Turned out fantastic!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Samantha!
xo
s
Isabelle says
Hi, I’m a reader from the Philippines and thank you so much for the mention on your blog. A little help can go a long way.
My heart got a little “kilig” (Filipino word) with this gesture by one of my favorite blogs.
Sending my love from the Philippines!
P.S. I would have gone up and down on that staircase until I’d get tired, because it’s that amazing. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh Isabelle, we’re sending you so much love! We can’t even imagine what it must be like, but there are so many people over here who are keeping you guys in their thoughts right now.
xo
s
Necole@seriouslysassymama says
Such a great runner.
Nicole says
Yay! It looks great :) You have inspired me to finally finish ours…we ripped up the carpet and padding and the thousand staples in August 2012 LOL. This is just what I needed for encouragement to finish this looming project. I am having a hard time choosing a runner (also from dash and Albert) and hope to choose one ASAP. I am so happy that the installation was way better than the demo! Once again, you guys never cease to amaze me :)
Sarah says
LOVE this update!! Your hard work certainly paid off! Do you think that poly-stain you used would work well on a Oak bathroom vanity, or Oak kitchen cabinets?
YoungHouseLove says
We heard from someone who said it was great on furniture so I’d say yes! I definitely recommend the satin finish (semi-gloss generally shows more imperfections so satin might be easier to apply).
xo
s
Isabel says
What a difference, it looks GREAT! All that staple-removal was worth it ;-) My weekend was 100% fruitless but it was the hub’s b-day so I had to give him a break!
Christa says
Love the classic yet high contrast look and how it ties so many things together. Your house is really coming along and feels more like ‘you’ with every project. Keep up the good work! I love following along.
Pam says
Looks fabulous! YOur attention to detail is to be commended.
Ever wonder what the previous owners/residents would think about how wonderfully the house is changing?
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to hear from them! In our last two houses we have heard from the previous owners and it was so much fun, so here’s hoping!
xo
s
Aimee says
I think it would be interesting for y’all to contact the people who purchased your previous 2 houses and crash them to see what changes they’ve made to your changes!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re actually in contact with the new owner of our first house and hoping to crash early next year (giving them time to get settled). I can’t wait! Bringing Clara back there is going to be so special.
xo
s
rachael says
This looks really good! We spent the weekend taking care of a 3 year old and baby with the flu and during their many naps we took a dresser and turned it into a TV stand by removing the top drawers and adding a shelf there instead. And then we conquered our cord clutter!! We won. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! I’m so sorry Rachael! Hope the little one is feeling better!
xo
s
Shannon Rode says
KUDOS! It looks beautiful :)
Melanie says
The whole time I was reading this post I was thinking “hmm, I’m not sure I would have stained that,” or “hmm, not sure I would have painted that,” and then BAM! It looks great in the end. I guess that will teach me not to question you guys! Haha. It really does look awesome, and I’m so glad you did this post. I will definitely be pinning this for my own stair runner adventure in the future. You guys answered a lot of my questions. Thanks!
Tashia D says
That looks beautiful! I’m in love with that runner and the new dark stain!
Megan says
Well your handwork paid off because the stairs look great! I love the white risers and the classic look of the rug.
Liz O says
It looks incredible! I love the look of your entry. Looks so bright and fresh!
Good job!
Rebecca A. says
Looks awesome. I think all the painting you did really made the transformation as well.
This week my husband and I worked in our soon to be baby boy nursery! Getting those closets organized and clearing out the room of unneeded furniture. Not done yet, but I can picture how it will turn out now. 24 weeks and counting here.
Excited to see your inspiration for the bun’s nursery and how it comes together in a few months.
AvaClark says
Ok–Since I am at work I quickly read through the post–Looks GREAT!!! Now I need all the details on how you achieved such a wonderful look. I have ugly oak handrail and post that I have been wanting to paint for years just too scared. Did you sand each post and the risers? Maybe you mention in the post that you are going to provide the deets in another post I just can’t read it all until I get home.
You guys are great and I have learned so much from you!
YoungHouseLove says
We didn’t sand the posts or risers since they were sort of matte and not too glossy or shiny, but if yours are super click, I’d sand and then use liquid deglosser before going onto the priming step.
xo
s
Rachel says
Our stairs need a complete makeover and even though you guys make it look easy, it still looks like An overwhelming project to start so I think you should come visit, I’ll supply you with food, drinks, and lively conversation while you make my staircase look as good as yours. What do you think?
This weekend we went to our middlest’s soccer game, dinner with friends, and a little Christmas shopping. Oh, and I finally blogged our master bedroom makeover. http://www.andthen-shesnapped.com/2013/11/master-suite-before-and-after.html?m=1
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, sounds like a plan. And I love the master bedroom!
xo
s
Alicia says
Gorgeous!!! Almost inspires me to tackle some very ugly carpeted basement stairs ;)
Erin says
It looks fabulous! What brand of electric stapler did you use? $34 sounds like a great price. Were you happy with it? Any complaints? I want one for upholstering chairs.
YoungHouseLove says
It was actually $30 from Lowe’s (the nails were $4). We have no complaints (it was very easy) and we got the Bostitch 5/8-in electric staple gun.
xo
s
Cat Sink says
I LOVE this look. However, two things I noticed would keep me from ever attempting this look. How would you combat these two concerns: 1- keeping the white areas white after years of foot traffice. 2- at the bottom of the stairs where it meets the floor. Will that be covered with a half round? Wouldnt that seam as well become filthy after lint and dust shift around on the floor or even from the brushing of a broom against it during routine cleaning?
Wow! I just realized how much of a germ-a-phobe I am!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! As for the bottom, yes we can add quarter round there to keep it clean. We have many rooms with flooring that we clean and rugs right on them, so we just clean around the rugs and don’t seem to have too much of a problem. As for keeping the rug clean, someone just commented a little while ago that with two dogs her D&A runner is holding up beautifully, so that’s nice to hear! We’re a no-shoes household, so that should cut down on lots of potential dirt or staining (we’ve had other light colored cotton flatweave rugs like this in rooms like our living room and kitchen for years without any issues). My friend with two young kids has a white and brown one on her steps and is really happy with hers too, but we’ll keep you posted either way!
xo
s
Marianne in Mo. says
FABULOSO!!! You both deserve time off for that project!
Marlena says
Looks great! I finally started painting last night, after moving in August. I splurged for the Benjamin Aura paint, and was able to do a lot of cutting in and rolling on some walls. So far, so good, but after two hours I needed to call it a night. What a difference quality paint makes! It’s also my first foray into matte finish, so we’ll see how that goes…
Taya says
LOVE it! I think this looks great and is such a nice upgrade from what was there!
Katie says
I really like how this looks, but am curious if you considered staining the actual steps the darker color to match the railing and banister?
If so, why did you choose not to stain the step itself?
YoungHouseLove says
Since the entire upstairs of our house are hardwood floors that match the tone of the stairs (which run right into them at the top there) we didn’t want dark stairs that run into a mid-toned upstairs hallway, so we went with dark stripes in the runner, the doorknobs, and the railings (as well as the console table and the chandelier in the foyer) so they all tied together. To us it’s like putting a dark wood console table on top of a mid-toned wood floor – it seems to be compatible even though it doesn’t match.
xo
s
Tina says
OK, I can’t take it…you guys just get better and better. I am in love with this look, even more than your inspiration photos. I have been dying to paint my railings black, but wanted to wait until your post, and so glad I did…the stain seems like such a better option. Did you sand the risers or just prime & paint?
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Tina! So glad you like it! I’d sand them if they’re glossy or slick (and then wipe them down with a deglosser). Ours were sort of matte and chalky so we just went right to primer.
xo
s
Kirsten says
This looks amazing ! Thank you for showing exactly how much time is involved in these projects. You guys are trucking right along. Hope you rest a few minutes and enjoy all your hard work.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Kirsten!
xo
s
GreenInOC says
LOVE the contrast the ebony railings brings, gorgeous!
I always wonder if the seller’s of your homes ever check in and have pangs of jealousy or despair, wondering “why didn’t I think of that?!”?
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, we’d love to hear from them! We heard from the old owners of our first and second house and it was so much fun to see their old photos and hear how they used those rooms!
xo
s
Danielle says
Wow – looks amazing! Great job, you guys and like always – you’re an inspiration! Not to mention, the comments section is so helpful, too. I figured we wouldn’t be able to DIY our own stairs + runner because we have a landing in the middle – guess it’s time to start shopping for runners!
YoungHouseLove says
Good luck Danielle!
xo
s