Stairwell Makeover Before and After | DIY Painted Stairs

From dark and dreary to bright and beautiful — this stairwell makeover has been a long time coming. For years, our staircase sat untouched with worn pink carpet that made the whole area feel dated and dull. But deep down, I always knew I’d eventually tackle it. I just needed the courage to peel that carpet back and face whatever surprises our 1900s home had hiding underneath.

Because of the home’s age, our layout has a few quirks — including two hallways that don’t quite make sense anymore. The stairwell sits right off a narrow hallway connected to the dining room, so every guest who walked through saw the same dingy, carpeted stairs staring right back at them. I wanted this area to feel intentional and charming, not forgotten.

Still, anyone who lives in an older home knows the fear: once you start pulling things up, you never know what you’ll find. Old houses can be a true Pandora’s box, and that hesitation kept me from starting for way too long. But one day, I finally decided it was time to pull back the carpet and give this little forgotten corner the refresh it deserved.

Read along to see the before-and-after, what I found beneath the carpet, and exactly how I transformed this awkward little stairwell into a bright, welcoming part of our home.

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Tackling the Fear

I am in no way a carpenter — not even close. My entire “plan” for this makeover involved paint… paint… and a little more paint. Anything structural or remotely complicated was definitely going to require someone far more qualified than me. My goal was simply to freshen up what was already there, not start rebuilding a 1900s staircase from scratch.

You can really see what I mean in this photo — the walls were dingy and stained from years of having no banister, and the whole stairwell felt dark, forgotten, and honestly a little creepy. My husband was completely against this project in the beginning. He was convinced the moment I pulled up that carpet we’d uncover a structural nightmare and end up rebuilding the staircase plank by plank. His motto was basically: “better left unseen.”

Since these stairs lead to a single upstairs bedroom we don’t actively use, it slowly turned into a catch-all space for holiday decor, random storage, and anything I didn’t feel like dealing with in the moment. Every once in a while a guest would point toward the stairwell and ask, “Where does that even go?” And every time, it reminded me that this sad little corner deserved better than being the mystery hallway no one wanted to climb.

I knew that if I could brighten this space and pull that old carpet up, it would finally feel connected to the rest of our home—and not like a forgotten passageway from 1900.

Instant Regret

Since my husband was so against this little renovation idea I’d been plotting, I did what any loving, supportive, totally reasonable wife would do: I waited until he left for work and started the demo myself.

And let me tell you — I was nervous. My mind was racing with every worst-case scenario.
What if the treads were only being held together by the carpet?
Will I find rot?
What if the entire staircase collapsed the moment I started pulling?

The only thing I knew for sure was that I could not talk my way out of this when he came home and saw the carpet rolled up on the porch.

So I took a deep breath, grabbed a pair of pliers, and made the first tear.

To my surprise — I got lucky… sort of. The stair treads were solid wood! A huge relief. But they were also a complete disaster. Years of wear, endless rows of carpet staples, random holes, and the kind of scarring that only 125 years of footsteps can leave behind. Once the carpet was gone, everything looked a hundred times worse. I had one of those “Oh no… what have I done?” moments.

I genuinely questioned whether I could make this look better. But if there’s one universal truth with DIY: it almost always looks worse before it looks better. I had to remind myself of that while staring at these battered old treads and trying not to panic.

Prep and more Prep!

I must have pulled thousands of carpet staples out of these treads. I’m not exaggerating — it felt endless. The treads were coated in an old layer of brown paint, the staples blended in and were nearly impossible to see. Every time I thought I had finally gotten them all, I’d run into another hiding in a corner or buried under old paint.

Eventually, I decided to outsmart the staircase. I brushed on the first coat of white paint, knowing it would act like a spotlight. And it worked. The minute the white went on, every missed staple practically announced itself.

Looking back, this step saved me so much time. The white paint revealed staples I never would’ve spotted by hand,! At least 20 more that sanding and running my palms over the treads couldn’t detect. If you ever tackle a project like this, let the paint do the detective work for you.

I wanted to make sure every last staple was removed before moving on. Especially since I planned to paint the ceiling and walls before finishing off the stairs. The last thing I needed was to snag my hand on a hidden staple. No thank you.

Even with just one layer of paint, the whole space immediately felt lighter. It also was more refreshed, which gave me the motivation I needed to keep going.

I also realized I was going to need to caulk all the seams to give everything that clean, finished look. That was something I hadn’t originally planned for. It’s always the “small” details you don’t think about that end up making the biggest difference.

Starting to See Progress

After I painted the walls and ceiling I really noticed a strong difference. I wanted to get the walls and ceiling out of the way first. I didn’t want any paint splatters on my finished stairs.

This photo is after two full coats of paint. The bottom three treads look especially rough. They took the most abuse while I was going up and down during the project. But the top stairs were actually starting to look really good at this point! It was one of those moments where you can finally see the potential, even if the bottom half still looks a little questionable.

Finishing Touches

By the end of it, I did 4 total coats of paint. On top of that, I added two coats of Minwax Polycrylic for protection. I went with the water-based version. I wasn’t too keen on using oil-based products in such a tight & non-ventilated space. Also, I wanted this paint job to be ultra durable with a high-shine finish. We need something that could handle daily use and still look clean and polished.

My husband is a welder and works with metal every day. He ended up fabricating the handrail for this space. I was honestly impressed. The original banister is long gone and nothing pre-made really fit the quirky dimensions of our 1900 home. Creating a custom piece was the best option. He measured, cut, and shaped the entire rail himself. It became the perfect finishing detail to pull the whole stairwell together.

We chose a matte black finish. It adds a touch of modern contrast while still keeping the timeless, classic look I love throughout the house. It’s simple, sturdy, and exactly what this space needed.

Gallery Wall Vision

I’d been collecting frames, prints, and pictures for ages, just waiting for the day I could fill this space. Luckily, I had a nice little stash of gold and wood-toned frames to kick things off. I couldn’t wait to start hanging them and arranging everything in a way that felt just right to me.

My vision was a gallery wall that climbed up the stairs, inspired by the charm of old country farmhouses. I used a mix of family photos & generic prints. I absolutely love the look!

My vision was a gallery wall that climbed up the stairs, inspired by the charm of old country farmhouses. I used a mix of family photos & generic prints.

My mother-in-law gifted us several photos of the homeowner from the 1930’s! I made sure to incorporate those in as well. They are so unique! Our home from almost 100 years ago with a family who once walked the same floors! It’s special to see their faces on these walls again. It makes the space feel layered with history, like the past and present are finally meeting halfway up the stairs. Just look at this sweet baby girl posing right by our front porch.

Final Thoughts

Transforming this little stairwell ended up being so much more than a quick DIY project. It became one of those moments where you truly see how a small corner of your home can change the entire feeling of a space. When I first stood at the bottom of these stairs, staring at that worn pink carpet, dark walls, and the overwhelming number of unknowns that come with a home built in 1900, I had no idea where this project would lead. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I had the confidence to pull it off. But projects like this always remind me that sometimes the most intimidating spaces are the ones with the most potential.

It started as a simple idea. Brighten the stairwell and make it feel intentional rather than forgotten — turned into a full transformation that brought so much life and charm to our home. Removing the carpet, scraping up the seemingly endless staples, sanding, painting, caulking were steps that pushed me out of my comfort zone. But there’s something incredibly rewarding about watching a space slowly come together through patience, trial and error, and sheer determination. Older homes have a way of challenging you, for sure. They also surprise you, and then reward you in the best possible way once the dust settles.

The gallery wall ended up becoming the heart of this makeover. Mixing vintage frames, mirrors, artwork, and family photos allowed me to bring personality into every inch of this narrow stairwell. It’s truly special being able to decorate with pieces that tell a story. Some thrifted, some gifted, some collected over time. Now, instead of walking past a space that once felt dark and forgotten, I walk past a wall filled with character, warmth, and nostalgia. Even the shadows cast by the frames throughout the day add charm I never expected. It’s a reminder that sometimes the simplest displays end up being the most meaningful.

Of course, the custom handrail my husband built was the final detail that pulled everything together. It added the perfect contrast to the freshly painted white stairs and grounded the entire makeover. Knowing that he crafted it himself makes the space feel even more personal. A true labor of love from both sides. It’s moments like that that make projects more than just decor changes; they become memories tied to the home you’re building together.

If you’re standing in front of a space in your home that feels overwhelming or “not worth the trouble,” let this be your encouragement to go for it. You don’t have to be a carpenter, expert painter, or skilled renovator. Start small, embrace the imperfections, and give yourself permission to learn along the way. You might be surprised by what you’re capable of — and even more surprised by the beauty hiding beneath a little bit of old carpet.

Here are a few related posts you might enjoy:

• My Budget-Friendly Entryway Refresh
• Salvaged Fixture Makeover
• Dated to Darling Cabinet

If you want to see how I decorate this stairwell for autumn, you can check out my Fall Stairwell Decor post! It’s filled with cozy, vintage touches.