My DIY Stairway Renovation

I cannot wait to share this DIY stairway renovation with you. When we moved into our home years ago I knew that I would eventually renovate the stairs. While the carpet was in great condition, it was far from my style. Here are the details on how I renovated this stairway and made the entrance to my home more modern and bright!

Supplies:

STAIRWAY BEFORE:

Here is what the stairway looked like when we moved in.

As you can see, it was quite dark and dreary and simply wasn’t my style. I lived with it like this for a couple years but dreamed of making a change! One day I decided I needed to check to see what was under the carpet to see what I was dealing with before I ventured into renovating. I got lucky! The steps were all finished oak and looked beautiful.

Board and Batten:

The first step in the renovation was to add the board and batten to the wall. I followed the angle of the baseboard and used 1×3 boards to create the board and batten look. I attached them to the wall with glue and my finish nailer, then sanded the joints smooth to prepare for paint.

Paint Spindles:

Next I painted the spindles white. I used two coats of paint and a small brush. The trick with painting the spindles is to apply thin coats and be sure to watch for drips. Oh, and listen to a good podcast because this does get a little tedious.

Remove Carpet:

Next I removed the carpet. The previous owners had changed the carpet a few times so there were approximately a million staples that needed to be removed from the steps. This was not easy and took many hours but I finally finished.

Paint Risers:

Next, I painted everything white! Not really, but it felt like it. Really, I just painted the risers and board and batten on the wall. I taped off both the stair below and the tread so the paint only hit the risers. I applied four coats of white paint to these risers so that they wouldn’t get worn easily.

Once your paint has dried, carefully remove the tape. I used a craft knife to cut through the paint and make sure it wouldn’t peel off after applying so many coats of paint.

Staining Treads and Railing:

Now it was time to refinish the steps and railing. I did a light sanding to remove the finish that was on them. Next, I applied a coat of gel stain. One trick I love to use is to put a disposable vinyl glove on then cover that with an old sock. The sock is a great way to apply stain. You can also use a stain pad from the local hardware store.

This is the only stairway to our top floor so I had to stain alternating steps to allow us to still use the stairs. It takes twice to time but worked out just fine.

Polyurethane for Floors:

Once the stain cured I applied two coats of polyurethane that is made for floors.

Completed Stair Renovation:

All finished! I cannot express how happy I am with these stairs. I wish I had done this sooner. In full disclosure, this project took me many months to complete. Don’t expect it to be a fast change unless you have the time to devote straight to it uninterrupted. My life as a mom of four doesn’t allow for that so it took me awhile. Needless to say I am so happy with it.

As you can see the entryway is much brighter and more cheerful. I am absolutely in love with it now and no longer feeling down about having guests over to my home because it feels like ME now.

I hope you like this project! Feel free to comment with questions and please share on social media! Here are some pins you can share on Pinterest!

Thanks for reading. Get out there and make something!