I never realized how much of a change stairs can have until I started looking at these makeovers. If yours feels more like a tripping hazard than a design feature, or they’re just too bland for the rest of the house, there are plenty of DIY tricks to fix that. I’ve pulled together a few smart stair projects, along with tips people shared from their own remodels, so you can steal these for your next makeover.
The before-and-after of u/Greedy_Activity8513’s basement stairs is wild, it went from dungeon vibes to the happiest little runway.
The star of the makeover is that Dash & Albert striped runner, bright and playful but also practical since it’s just stapled in and can be swapped out down the line. What I love most is how something as simple as a runner transformed not just the look, but the mood of the entire basement entrance.
u/fincheresque turned the basement stairs into Star Wars stairs, and I can’t get over how cool it looks. The whole thing was done with Cricut vinyl in maize yellow and turquoise blue, measured out, cut piece by piece, and stuck up with painter’s tape, seriously a test of patience.
Even the logo had to be split and lined up by hand. What makes it even better is how it mixes in with the Blade Runner and NIN posters, giving the whole space this cinematic vibe that feels so personal.
What makes u/BinBender’s staircase so fun is the combo of rainbow-painted treads with crisp LED lighting, I couldn’t help but smile.
The biggest tip here is to paint every other stair, it gives them time to dry in between coats.
The powdery blue paint in u/jaggy333’s remodel softens the space without making it feel cold, and paired with the warm wood treads. It looks fresh and timeless. The little under-stair cubby makes smart use of what could’ve been wasted space, while details like the Eames Hang-It-All and a simple Ikea pendant add just the right dose of design personality.
Converting carpeted stairs to hardwood always looks sharp, but I’m amazed how tricky it can be. The black-stained treads against white risers make a bold statement, and I liked the smart move of staining every other step so the stairs stayed usable while drying. But you need to be aware of the riser heights, and mind you, wood is louder and more slippery than carpet. See the details of the work here.
dads_safe_account’s basement deserves their own spotlight. The clean metal railing paired with oak treads gives the entrance a modern edge that balances nicely against the rustic joists overhead. I like how the railing itself feels like a design choice, not just a safety feature.
I’ll give credit where it’s due: the installation looks neat, and you can tell a lot of hours went into lining things up. But vinyl and tile on stairs can get slick over time and grout doesn’t always hold, so durability and safety are big question marks. It’s a strong effort, but not the most forgiving material combo. Credit goes to prettypatterns9
Looking at u/TidalWaveOfPuppies’ staircase, the thing that jumps out is those railings shooting straight from tread to ceiling, it’s not something you see every day. At first I thought it was purely decorative, then I realized they’re pulling double duty: the railings make the stairs look striking, while also separating the space and even helping with structure and sound.
u/madlibs really showed how easy it can be to give stairs some personality without going full-on remodel. She just grabbed some removable wallpaper, cut it to size, and stuck it on the risers, done. Because it’s peel-and-stick, it’s renter-safe and easy to change if she ever gets tired of the look.
This one is also peel-and-stick paper, but she also painted the railing pink, which makes the whole thing pop even more. Instead of going for a pricey stair runner, u/ikebears kept it budget-friendly with wallpaper on the risers, and the floral pattern feels so playful, totally matching the vibes.
The before shot of bazeloth’s house really did look more like a ladder than a staircase. One wrong step and you’d be in trouble. Replacing them with a proper set of stairs was non-negotiable, and the new design feels so much safer and brighter.
This before-and-after from r/HomeDecorating really split opinions. The old staircase had that classic 90s look, oak everywhere. For some, it felt warmer and more nostalgic. The remodel swapped it out for black-and-white contrast with Benjamin Moore’s Metropolitan Gray on the walls. Some people found it a bit cold, but honestly, it’s a fair update if that orangey oak isn’t your thing.
Small DIY changes can make a big difference. They painted just the risers on their laminate stairs, using a primer made for plastic and leftover baseboard paint, and the result completely changed the look. I think that’s much safer now that each step is clearly defined. Credits to Eloquent_Macaroni
rarely_neutral’s rainbow staircase is the kind of project that makes me want to rip up carpet immediately. They pulled off the old carpeting, painted the wood in bright rainbow shades, then topped the treads with carpet tiles, smart, since it adds grip and durability while keeping the color.
u/rusted10 sanded down the drywall splatter, repainted the stairs gray, added peel-and-stick risers, and finished with custom carpet treads that sit a little narrower than the wood for a border look. I actually like the dog more than the stairs.
I get way too excited over soft lighting, thrifted finds, and rearranging furniture at 2am. I’m here for the cozy chaos, the little corners that feel just right, and making a home that feels like you. Not fancy. Just real.