Farmhouse Style Staircase Makeover
You know why I love this blog so much?? Because I get to share things that I’m excited about and things that I love with you guys. I’m so grateful to have this little corner of the internet especially on days like today because I am over the moon excited to share our farmhouse style staircase makeover!! Eeeeeeek! You might remember about five months ago I was trying to decide if we should paint our staircase. I talked through some options in this post and you all were awesome to share your input and feedback with me (another reason I love this place!). Well I couldn’t decide what to do, so I basically just let that project sit for a while. Do you ever do that? Plus we got busy with other things, so I put the stair painting project on the back burner. But I finally made up my mind and they have officially been painted!! I am soooooo excited to show you how it looks, but let’s first start with a before photo.
I loved this staircase for a long time, but I was really ready to freshen it up and give this area a whole new look. Ok, here’s how it looks now:
Eeeeek!! What a difference, right? I cannot get over how this entire area was transformed by this project. You guys, I absolutely LOVE it. Every single time I walk up the stairs I can’t help but smile because I just adore how this looks.
We hired painters to help us with this project and I’m SO glad we did. It was a lot of work between all the taping off around the spindles, sanding, priming, and of course painting. Plus this is one of those projects that you want to get right, so I knew they could do a far better job at it than we could. They used the Kilz Max Primer and the Magnolia Home paint in True White.
Thank you to KILZ for providing paint for this project!
I actually went a little more conservative with this project than I had originally planned, but I’m so glad I did. Remember I was thinking about painting the entire staircase white? Yeah, I don’t think that would have been the right choice, so I’m really, really happy that I decided to only do the risers and spindles. I love the natural wood combined with the pops of white, and I think it all pulls together for a very timeless farmhouse/cottage look, which you know I loooove.
Well thanks SO much for stopping in and checking out our staircase makeover. I’d love to hear what you think! And here are a couple of similar posts you might enjoy:
How to Paint a Brick Fireplace
The Comments
Micheala
It is crazy how a little paint can make a huge difference. The whole space looks so good!
Sarah
> MichealaRight? Paint is amazing. Thanks for stopping by Michaela!
May
I love this!!! What a great way to add uniqueness to your house.
Sarah
> MayI agree May, this little change adds so much character!
Betty in Arlington
Paint does make a huge difference. Before the staircase was nice, but it weighed down the space. Now, it’s light and more spacious. When I sold my townhouse for a single-family rambler (stairs hard on the knees), the realtor repainted the stairs; why didn’t I think of that to enjoy the uplifting feeling?
Sarah
> Betty in ArlingtonIt definitely did weigh down the space! But I never realized how much until now. Sounds like you had a smart realtor!
Heidi
Beautiful ❤️
Sarah
> Heidithanks Heidi!
Liz
What an awesome improvement! The paint lightened up the space and your staircase is now a beautiful focal point.
Sarah
> LizThanks Liz, I love how it turned out!
Candy Brodie
Sarah I love the staircase! I have been wanting to do ours as it is looking terrible. The previous owners had the whole oak staircase stained and it is worn. I have been debating to paint or stain…you have made my choice so easy! Thanks, just love it. I will be doing the work so I have to ask one question. Do you tape off the spindles first and stain the rest, or do you paint the spindles and risers first? I hope you don’t mind me asking.
I live in Canada and I can’t get the stain and paint here that you used so I will try to compare with Benjamin Moore. Thanks so much
Have a great day
Candy
Vicki
> Candy BrodieI don’t think she stained anything, just painted the spindles and risers. They were all oak before.
Sarah
> Vickiyep, that’s right!
Sarah
> Candy BrodieHi Candy! I think you’d start with the stain first then do the paint if you wanted to do both. But I’m not sure the order matters all that much!
Marty Oravetz
Gorgeous. It was perfect to only paint the spindles and risers. Your staircase looks amazing.
Sarah
> Marty OravetzThanks so much Marty!
Dianne G
Looks amazing! Thats a tedious job! Glad u hired someone.
Sarah
> Dianne GOh SO tedious! I was very happy that I wasn’t the one doing it 🙂
Donna Bergthold
Looks amazing! What a difference a little paint can do !
Sarah
> Donna BergtholdThanks so much Donna! I love how it turned out.
Amanda
Stunning! I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with mine. Same honey oak and blah. I’m going for it! Thanks again for another fab idea!!!
Sarah
> AmandaGo for it Amanda, you will love it!
Tammy Ganci
Nothing else to say except “LOVE IT”
Enjoy a Blessed Monday,
Love your blog friend
Tammy
Sarah
> Tammy GanciThanks so much sweet Tammy! xo
Michelle
It looks SO GOOD!!!! Love this space!
Sarah
> MichelleThank you Michelle!
Becky
Well you’ve done it again! I love that look, the white with the wood. All painted I think you would have lost something. Thanks Sarah . Always know how much joy and fun you bring to us! xoxox
Sarah
> BeckyThank you so much Becky! I always appreciate when you drop by. xoxo
Chris
Simply fabulous!!!
Shannon Mulcahy
That turned out wonderful! It’s amazing what a little paint can do. It’s a whole new perspective. I LOVE that little cubby under the stairs!
Sarah
> Shannon MulcahyIsn’t that cute?! It’s a tiny little cubbby but it adds character.
Angela Servello
Fabulous!!! Perfect way to go. Still warm and fuzzy but also clean and crisp. Love it. 👏👏, have a beautiful day, Angela
Sarah
> Angela ServelloThat’s exactly it Angela! I love how it turned out.
Dena Breitmeyer
YAY!!! I was anxiously waiting to see the reveal!!! I love it so so much! It makes it so much brighter and “farmhouse/cottage”! SO beautiful! It’s going to be so much fun for you to decorate it, especially for the holidays!
Sarah
> Dena BreitmeyerRight!? It’s such a classic, timeless look now. I just love how it turned out!! Thanks for dropping by Dena. xo
Jeannie McBride
YESSSS!!! Love it. My mom did something similar when I was a kid. The staircase & woodwork were all really dark. She painted the woodwork, risers & spindles white and the railing, treads, & newel post stained light. It made SUCH a difference in that old house.
The former owner of this house took out the wood railing & installed iron a while ago. Not the pretty, new stuff. It needs repainted badly but I dread the thought of painting those itty-bitty spindles.
Sarah
> Jeannie McBrideOh that’s awesome Jeannie, it sounds like your mom did a great job on her stairs. It’s so much work, but totally worth it!!
kimberly
it looks fantastic! the choice to not paint the banisters really worked out beautifully.
Sarah
> kimberlyThanks Kimberly! I love it so much. xo
Brenda Johnson
It’s perfect, that is exactly what I would have done. I love how paint can make such a big difference and make you feel so good.
Sarah
> Brenda JohnsonGreat minds think alike Brenda!! xoxo
Tammie Price
It is perfect! Just so beautiful, Sarah!
Sarah
> Tammie Pricethank you Tammie!! xo
Janet Mckay
Love it! How did you like the magnolia paint compared to the other caulk paint? I’ve been wanting to try it! You are so talented! I’m sure we will see you on HGTV some day! Hugs 🤠
Sarah
> Janet MckayOh Janet, you are way too sweet! Sending hugs right back to you. And to answer your question–this wasn’t chalk paint, it was actually the Magnolia Home Paint. But as for their chalk paint, I do love it. It’s just a bit pricey! If you want something more affordable I’d go with the Rust-Oleum chalky paint.
Dina
BEAUTIFUL!!!!💃🏠
Sharon
Beautiful!! I LOVE it!!
Sarah
> SharonThank you Sharon! xo
Lisa Abdo
This looks perfect and what a difference!
Sarah
> Lisa AbdoSuch a big difference, right?! Thanks for stoping by Lisa. xo
Kathy
Love it!!
Helen
It looks fabulous Sarah, really joins the whole look up…love it!x
Jeannie
Love it!! I so enjoy your blog and your amazing talent. I do have a question. I have an oak dining set from early 1900’s that is in good condition. I do love oak furniture but love the way that your furniture in the dining area is painted white. I do have oak pieces in the living area, which is one large room to DR and Kitchen. Do you think that I should paint the dining set distressed white? What will happen when that is not an “in” style? I appreciate your input, I love your style! You always make me smile!
Sarah
> JeannieHi Jeannie! I think you should totally paint it. And I wouldn’t say that white paint is “in style”, it’s really a classic look. More of a trendy look, in my honest opinion, would be something like furniture you’ve painted pink or blue. But white furniture is classic and you will probably never regret it. Plus it allows you to freshen up your furniture without spending a ton of money. I say go for it!
Teresa O'Connor
Looks awesome and so fresh too .. Great job!!
Sarah
> Teresa O’Connorthanks so much Teresa! xo
Chels Rief
It looks so good! It really breaks up the blonde wood coloring and adds a brightness to the space. And I think hiring someone was the right idea. It seems like it would be so much work!
Amy
Beautiful! The love grows best sign above the stairs, did you make it I love it!
Sarah
> AmyThanks Amy! That is from a super cute shop on Etsy: https://rstyle.me/n/c7keeeb6hgf
Debbie
I’m getting ready to replace the carpet in my home with wood flooring. I love your wood flooring and stair treads. What type of flooring do you have, and what color is it in?
Amanda
I really love the way this turned out!! I am getting ready to tackle my own stair project, and this is great motivation to get it done!
Sarah
> AmandaOh good luck Amanda, we did that recently!