Everywhere around you can’t help but see fabulous images of newly decorated rooms, restored furniture and freshly painted walls.
As beautiful as they are, I can’t help wonder – How do these gorgeous interiors actually hold up over time?
Don’t get me wrong, I love a great before & after or a creative makeover, but some of my favourite posts in Blogland are the ones about how these gorgeous spaces and projects are holding up and what these amazing interiors look like a month/ a year/ an excessive party later.
After all, if you are thinking about painting your floors white, installing expensive bookcases or purchasing a budget kitchen, don’t we all really want to know about how things are working out and holding up in everyday life?
A little over a year ago we shared the results of our epic DIY Edwardian staircase restoration with you.
We were really happy with how the stairs turned out, but after having our project featured on Apartment Therapy, we gained quite a bit of criticism, mainly saying that the staircase wouldn’t look good for long, as it would get a lot of scuffing, get very worn and need constant repainting, etc.
So, if all of you sceptics out there are considering stripping, staining and painting your wooden staircase, but are worried about how it will hold up, here’s how we are getting on with ours.
Dust
Yes – of course, we have dust on the treads, but it’s really nothing major. Anyone who has hard floors in their home will know that you occasionally end up with dust bunnies in the corners of the rooms, but they really couldn’t be easier to clean away.
All we occasionally do is wipe the stairs down with a Swiffer. In less than 2 minutes they’re clean again.
Scuffs, Scratches & Chips
None so far! In general don’t wear shoes in the house, so that the stair treads aren’t exposed to a lot of dirt and rough surfaces.
Having said that, when we had the wall between the kitchen and dining room removed we had a lot of builders going up and down the stairs for a few days, with their big and fairly dirty shoes on.
They still held up fine. Absolutely no scuffs or chips on the treads and just minimal dirt on the risers which can easily be cleaned away.
Dirty Risers
No problem at all except for when the builders were in and left a few dirty marks with their boots. Luckily it was easy enough to wipe away and for the more stubborn marks, we just used a magic eraser.
White Paintwork
Still white, still no chips. All we’ve done so far is give it an occasional wipe with a damp cloth.
All in all, we couldn’t be happier with the result and with how the staircase still looks a year later. We definitely have no regrets about choosing the stained and painted finish.
If you followed our staircase restoration process, you’ll know that we were planning on installing a runner up the stairs. Our plans haven’t changed, it’s just taking a bit longer than expected, as we can’t have one installed until we’ve had the staircase to the loft installed.
Do you have varnished and painted stairs? If so, are you happy with them? Do you also wonder what projects look like after some real-life use?
Leslie says
The wood on our staircase isn’t amazing but I don’t want to just cover with carpet again. Love what you did. What type of white paint and sealer did you use?
Christine says
Thank you, Leslie! The wood on most original staircases isn’t in a great condition and, more often than not, it would have been painted. Having said that, a bit of sanding, staining and painting makes a huge difference! We used Dulux Pure Brilliant White Eggshell paint for anything that’s white (we later switched to Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell in All White which we preferred) and the treads are stained with Fiddes Non-Grain Raising Stain in Mahogony and varnished with the same varnish we used on our floors which is Granwax Granfinish in Satin.
Hope that helps!
Cx
Lynda says
Can u please tell me what colour the treads are painted with ?
Christine says
They’re painted in Dulux Pure Brilliant White in Eggshell. It worked fine but we eventually switched to Farrow & Ball All White Modern Eggshell paint which we preferred. Hope that helps, Lynda.
Cx
L says
Love this – you’re right, I definitely want to know how things hold up over time! We’re painting our stairs in the next few weeks so it was great to see that yours are holding up so well 😊
Christine says
Thanks for the feedback! We stained and varnished the treads which is something we always recommend as it makes them a lot more resistant to chips. Overall, we’re really pleased with how the stairs are holding up.
Cx
JohnC Algar says
I am fascinated by your article about your staircase, primarily because I assume you stained and varnished some parts, but painted all the rest because when the original staircase was stripped, it wasn’t possible to remove all of the original paint?
What I’d really like to know is what you did to all of the wood BEFORE you painted or stained any of it, should either you, or a future purchaser of your house wish to strip the stairs agai, to take all back to the original woodwork?
Put slightly differently, we have a pine (unpainted, but varnished) staircase that we’ve considered painting, but are concerned that should we not like the finish, the removal of paint might leave a residue in the wood’s grain that would be impossible to remove?! So do you have any tips (ie have you ever done anything like that, so know the best way to tackle our concerns?)
As to your staircase not having had any chips in the paintwork, dirt/dust on the treads/spindles etc, and not having to repaint frequently, I’d be most interested to know how many people (normally) live in the house, as well as whether you have any pets, teenage children, many visitors, whether everyone removes their shoes before going up/down the stairs, plus what type of vacuum cleaner you have, as having owned a house for some 20 years with an all white staircase, we’ve found that whilst feet aren’t the worst enemy for paint chips, vaccuum cleaners’ are, whilst the most “wear” is to the newel balls, where most people hold onto whilst going around “corners”. Also, most “dust” is produced from the carpet itself on the stairs, usually being transferred to between the staircase’s spindles (wiping the spindles when cleaning them seems to create a sort of electo-static charge to the paint, which then attracts the next lot of dust!)
The only comment I would add to the above, is that in the UK, most paint has moved away from being oil-based, to being water-based, and this has made a great difference to the need to have to repaint so often (it was the oil in the old-style paint that caused the yellow to appear)
That’s not to say that water-based paints diet have their own idiosyncrasies, but they have greatly improved, and I’m sure, wil continue to so do.
An interesting topic on an interesting blog. Thank you.
Christine says
Staining and painting was purely a design choice. We removed almost all of the paint before hand (although not 100% as the plan had always been to paint it as it would have been originally). There are lots of links in the post that take you to the other posts where we shared the process of stripping the paint, staining the treads, etc. or you can just search for staircase restoration and you should find them, too. Removing the paint is an epic amount of work and, I’d only recommend painting a staircase if you’re sure that’s the look you’re going for. Oil-based paint can be stripped with a heat gun but water-based paint can’t. Apart from the fact that oil-based paint is still slightly more durable (this staircase is in the UK) the fact that it could be removed is another reason that we opted for it. We use a Kärcher vacuum cleaner throughout the house (and for all building work) which we still love.
Hope that helps.
Cx
Victoria Pilkington says
Hi. Which paint did you use ? Our painted stairs constantly need repainting.
Christine says
Our treads are stained and varnished, they aren’t painted. Painted treads will almost always chip and mark which is why we always recommend using a high-quality stain followed by multiple coats of varnish. The risers and bannisters are painted in an oil-based paint which is generally more durable than waterbased (although a good quality waterbased paint will work just as well). We weren’t overly happy with the white paint that we used as it started to turn yellow after a while. Apparently, they’ve now changed the formula and it doesn’t do that anymore but we’ve not tested it since. The white paint that we used is Dulux Pure Brilliant White in Eggshell.
Cx
Laura says
Perfect. This was just what I needed! Thanks for giving the “How it wears” version!
Christine says
You’re welcome, Laura! Glad to hear you found it helpful!
Cx
marysa says
Thanks for doing an update! I am redoing my staircase, and I also received a lot of feedback from people saying that it will just chip up after time. I also hear about dirt collecting, including when I redid our railings in white. I don’t find it to be a huge deal! These are surfaces that should be cleaned anyway, so I would prefer to be able to see it instead of the dirt hiding in something like carpeting. Your staircase looks wonderful and it is great to hear that it is holding up after all that hard work.
Christine says
Isn’t it weird how people say that dust will collect because of the colour of something? Totally agree with you, Marysa – just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to be occasionally cleaned!
Our staircase held up beautifully even longer, although I should say that we did eventually install a runner. It had always been the plan and I think it really finished it off (apart from the fact that it was also less slippy then, too).
I’m sure your staircase will look amazing when it’s finished!
Cx
Trish Power says
Hi I want to paint my treads on the stairs grey I have it Stain and varnish can you advise me what paint to used please
Christine says
We always recommend staining rather than painting treads and then adding multiple coats of varnish on top to seal it as it’ll obviously be a surface that will have to take a lot of wear and tear. Ultimately, the type of (wood) paint you use is up to you, but if you do decide to paint the treads, I’d definitely recommend adding a few coats of clear varnish on top to seal the surface and protect the paint finish.
Hope that helps!
Cx
Teresa Gee says
Omg thanks so much for post I’m currently ordering stairs for our 1988 house wanted mahogany steps and rail and was wondering about wear and tear. Do u prefer the runner for walking up and down thanks Teresa Ireland
Christine says
You’re so welcome, Teresa! We love the runner as it makes it really nice to walk on, less slippy and a lot quieter, too!
Cx
richard galdieri says
Did you stain the treads and paint the riser? I want to paint the treads as well. (all White semigloss). Thinking of trying it on existing pine stair tread and risers or maybe retro to red oak or white oak wood. Very confused! :( please help!!
Thanks
Christine says
We always recommend against painting the treads, Richard. Ours are stained and varnished. If the varnish should chip, the stain underneath will still be intact whereas if you paint the treads any scuffs and chips will be immediately visible and could leave your staircase looking a bit messy over time.
Hope that helps!
Cx
Faisal says
It looks fabulous, we also wanted to paint our new staircase but the decorator strongly advises against it. What kind of wood used in your staircase, pine, oak? Also, do mind sharing the brand names and shades of the color used.
Christine says
Thank you, Faisal! Our staircase is made out of pine. In Edwardian houses, the staircase would have always been painted so we were keen to restore it to what it would have looked like. Having said that, only the spindles are painted – the treads are stained and varnished. I would definitely advise against painting the treads as the paint will probably chip and leave the staircase looking rather messy. If you stain and varnish them (like we did) there’s less chance of marks being visible.
We used a Fiddes Non-Grain Raising Stain in Mahogany to stain both the treads and handrail (I think we applied two coats). The handrail was then waxed & polished and the treads are varnished with Granwax Aquathane Floor Varnish in Satin – which is the same varnish that we used on all floors in the house.
Hope that helps!
Cx
jenna barr says
Ok I’ll have to get some varnish after I touch it up. Thanks for the tip!
Christine says
You’re welcome!
Cx
jenna barr says
I just bought a house a month ago that has dark blue painted steps and while vacuuming today I noticed a bunch of scratches in the paint. Thankfully the seller left paint so I’ll have to touch up and we will need to adopt a no shoe policy.
Christine says
Our steps were stained and then varnished which is always what I would recommend, Jenna. If the clear varnish chips the coloured stain underneath won’t get damaged. Obviously, your stairs are already painted so a no shoe policy will definitely help!
Cx
Mark says
We painted floors and stairs white using a Ronseal diamond hard floor paint in our last house. It needed a lot of maintenance for chips and scratches and dirt. Yours looks great though. I am hoping in this new house to do something like this.
Good to know how things hold up over time, especially if you have kids and pets as we do.
Christine says
Thanks, Mark! It’s always annoying when projects don’t turn out like you’d expect. We absolutely loved our staircase and it held up really well. I would definitely recommend using a stain and clear varnish in high traffic areas! If the varnish chips or scratches any imperfections won’t be visible as stain below will still be there!
Cx
Angie says
I love your floors. Can you tell me what kind of wood they are?
Christine says
Thank you, Angie! They’re just the sanded pine floorboards that were in the house. The staircase treads are also pine that we stained with a Rich Mahogany stain.
Hope that helps but do let me know if you have any other questions!
Cx
Vanessa says
Speaking of Apartment Therapy, yes, it can be unnecessarily critical although I notice that we are a little more polite if we think the submitter is from another country! Sometimes, I comment just to see if I can turn the conversation back toward kindness but that only works on occasion. I do often benefit from the remarks because I just don’t notice the same things other people seem to see right off, and then I can go back and study the pics again but I would hate to be a young person and submit a project that got ripped. Ouch.
Christine says
Isn’t it weird how people think it’s okay to say what they want on the internet without any regard for peoples feelings? Having said that, it wasn’t too bad and we have been featured on Apartment Therapy again and everyone was absolutely lovely! (You can see the post here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/before-and-after-renovating-a-guest-room-in-a-historic-home-248004
To be fair, the project wasn’t 100% finished (the rest of the hallway was still a mess) and I can totally understand that a lot of people would prefer a carpet on the stairs.
Cx
Karen says
Hi! Thanks for being so honest about your experience with your stairs! I searched countless blogs before refinishing our stairs and they all made it seem like no big deal! It was a huge deal! I ended up using the wrong varnish and our dog’s paws have scratched it up quite a bit. I will have to sand the varnish and re-apply. Can you recommend the varnish you used? Thanks!
Christine says
Thank you, Karen! It’s amazing how easy things sometimes appear in Blogworld, reality is too often very different. We loved our staircase and it held up really well. We eventually did add a runner up the stairs (you can see it here). We think it really finishes the stairs off but I’m sure that it helped keep them looking good, too.
The varnished we used for the stairs is the same we used for all of our floors, too. It’s called Granwax Aquathane in satin (the product names seem to have changed and as far as I can tell it’s now called Granfinish). We applied four coats to make sure that the stairs were really protected.
Hope that helps!
Cx
Eli says
Hi Christine,
I am a super fan of everything that you are doing. My husband and I bought an edwardian house and we love spending our time doing things in our house. Our next project are the stairs. I love the brown colour you used. I read in the comments above you used Rich Mahogany. I have been B&Q and Homebase and I can not find stain in Rich Mahogany for interior. I have just found vanish in Rich Mahogany. Can you recommend me where you bought the stain that you used? thank you :-). Eli
Christine says
Thank you for the compliment, Eli!
The stain we used is non-grain raising stain/dye by Fiddes. It’s really high quality (which is probably why it’s not available at DIY stores) and was really easy to apply. We ordered it online. I can’t remember where we bought it, but I had a quick google and it doesn’t seem difficult to get hold of.
Hope that helps!
Cx
Ann @ Our Handmade Home says
Gosh is it a year?!?
Your stairs look amazing!! Well done!
We never did get ours finished as I discovered I was pregnant then one thing led to another (as it does) and now I have a baby and a to-do list as long as a very long thing… ;-)
I think they look beautiful.
Ann
@ Our Handmade Homr
Rachael says
We have painted stairs too – took a bit of a shortcut in that we didn’t sand and stain the treads, but painted them dark brown. We think it’s great, I love it when I open the front door from outside, they just look smart and clean. They get dusty but so would a carpet, they get a microfibre cloth over them or even a baby wipe and they’re clean – beats lugging the Hoover up them! I was more worried about slipping on the treads – we are a no-shoes house too – but we added some anti-slip granules (bought from a yachting website of all places) to the brown paint and no accidents yet.
Great to see a post like this, love your blog for inspiration for my near identical house!
[email protected] says
They still look amazing! I remember it was such a work of devotion! I bet it makes you smile every time you come into the house.
Christine says
Aww, thanks Magali! Yep, it was definitely one of the most time-consuming projects we’ve tackled so far, but still so worth it!
[email protected] says
I’m a little worried that you haven’t been posting as usual. I hope everything is alright at the little house on the corner.
Christine says
All is good, it’s just been a bit manic around here lately! Thanks so much for your concern!
Cx
[email protected] says
It is wonderful that you are still happy with how your staircase turned out. People on Apartment Therapy can be extremely critical. That is one reason that I hesitate to submit anything. You have great style.
Julia says
you have a beautiful home, well done to you both xx
Jan says
Thank you so much Julia! Glad you like it.
J
Valarie says
I’m in the process of refinishing my staircase. I’ve got the undercoat on risers and first bit of varnish on steps. Our stairs are shorter than yours look and I’m getting wear/scuffs on the risers. I’m hoping once the final gloss is on it won’t happen as much. May start a “no shoes up stairs” rule or may have to get a runner.
Christine says
Our treads have 4 coats of varnish on them, but I think the no shoes policy is probably what keeps them looking good.
Cx