Ready to transform your boring staircase into a dreamy DIY staircase? These DIY stair remodeling ideas will update and modernize your staircase on a budget.
Also, read our beginner’s guide to installing trim and how DIY plywood flooring can save you thousands.
Stairs are a very effective way to reach upper or lower levels, but they are often trivial.
If you’ve been dreaming of a new look for your stairs and railings, today we’re sharing some of our favorite stair makeover DIY ideas. See all stair projects here.
See more unique ideas for updating your stairs.
Beautiful DIY stair makeover
A staircase renovation is a great way to make a big impact on your home decor. Whether you want to add character to your stair riser, remove carpet and replace it with hardwood stair treads, or brighten up your basement staircase, we have ideas and tutorials to help you get it done on a DIY budget!
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Stair Makeover Under $100
See how Cleverly Inspired transformed a staircase from carpet to beautiful wood treads for less than $100. Tracy guides you through detailed step-by-step stair remodeling, including how to remove carpet and paint stair treads, risers, and runners.
DIY Stair Remodel from Carpet to Ebony Stained Wood
SAS Interiors turned her carpeted staircase into wood! Jenna carefully removed the carpet from the staircase, keeping the carpet transition at the top of the staircase. After sanding, she painted the stair treads with stain and poly and painted the risers and runners. And be sure to check out her creative solutions to the gaps left when the carpet is removed!
Fun Stair Ideas: Install a Stair Slide
An indoor playground is as easy as adding a stair slide!
$60 Stairs remodeled with new wooden treads
DIY enthusiasts are lucky enough to find solid wood stair treads under the carpet. Some people find particleboard or non-recoverable wood instead. But replacing treads in a DIY stair remodel doesn’t have to be expensive. Stacy changed from carpet to new wood treads at her $60 split on her level stairs.
DIY stair makeover with painted stair runners
For a cheap update, just add some paint! You can get that high-end look of your runner without actually laying carpet. After removing the carpet and underlying linoleum, Anna painted the stair runners (and fake stair skirts) in the basement stair makeover!
colorful fabric stair risers
Sage started with a beautiful wooden staircase and wanted to add color, texture and style to the staircase.
brand new stair railing remodel
If the railings in your home are old and unsafe, replace them. See what the new railings look like at The Hillside Home.
Curved Stair Railing Modification
A curved staircase is a beautiful statement in a home. Morgan and Jamie gave this outdated curved staircase a makeover worthy of his DIY staircase renovation.
oak to dark wood stair railing
Gel stains are a great option for changing the wood tone of stair railings. Stain and remove the oak stair railings like Jen did.
DIY Stair Makeover FAQ
What is the cheapest way to renovate a staircase?
Painted stairs are the cheapest and easiest way to transform your stairs on a budget with limited tools and skills. By putting energy into the prep work, the homeowner or novice he DIY enthusiast can apply paint or gel stain to give the staircase a great look.
Preparation is important in any painting project. don’t skip it. Otherwise you will see imperfections under the new paint.
For more information on each of these steps, please also read the separate tutorials above.
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remove the carpet (or laminate flooring or linoleum), carefully remove all tack strips, nails, staples, etc.
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If you have particleboard/OSB Instead of solid wood surfaces, you can use a pry bar to remove those treads and replace them with solid wood treads. Alternatively, you can paint the tread of the particle board. Particleboard isn’t as durable as hardwood, but paint is a great solution for an inexpensive stair makeover or a temporary DIY while you’re saving up for a major renovation.
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Sanding a wooden stair structure — Riser, tread, skirt — Remove rough spots and glue with 60-grit sandpaper. If you need to sand particleboard, be careful as it breaks or chips easily.
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Fix imperfections and gaps. Use wood filler to fill the nail holes and caulk the seams. This is also a good time to practice caulking like a pro! Eliminate those seams and small gaps.
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Prime is next Any area to paint. Even if you’re using a paint that has a built-in primer, applying a regular primer will save you the expense of a more expensive paint and will give you a better, more durable finish.
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Next is gel stain. If you are using gel stain to update your treads or banister, we recommend gel stain before painting. Learn how to gel stain wood and painted stair railings here.
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Now you are ready to paint. You can use satin or semi-gloss paint on the risers and skirts, durable porch/floor paint For stair treads. Be sure to read the instructions on the can for instructions on how to prepare the paint and how long it takes to cure.
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Add protection. Some DIY enthusiasts add a coat of polyurethane Over paint for added durability.a stair runner It also reduces wear on painted stairs and makes stair pedestrians quieter.
As with all of our DIY projects and tutorials, be sure to read the entire tutorial before starting your project. Build at your own risk, be smart, be safe. We are not responsible for any injury or damage caused while following the tutorials on our site. Our posts should not be considered professional advice. Consult a professional if necessary, read all safety and instruction manuals, and take all safety precautions. ANY PROJECTS PERFORMED BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS SITE ARE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
How to make an old staircase look modern?
Stairs are a major feature of a home, so modernizing them is a big step in updating the style of your home. Here are some DIY ideas to update your old stairs and make them look modern.
How can I make my stairs look beautiful?
In addition to the above ideas for painting and updating the stair itself and the railings, you can also update the rest of the stair area to make the stair look better.
- Add siding or creative trim panels to the staircase walls of interest. This is especially suitable for tall staircase walls that are difficult to decorate.
- Install stair treads, skirts, or lighting along the stairs for ambiance. For a renter-friendly stair update, use battery-powered lanterns or candles on the stairs.
- Hang your artwork along the stairs. This wall may be clunky, but it’s a good space for a gallery wall! Use our trick here to quickly hang your gallery walls.
Find more DIY staircase ideas here.
more creative staircase ideas
Under Stair Storage & Play Space
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