How to Cover Old Stairs

Install a carpet stair runner over your old steps to give it a traditional classic look. If you like the slightly worn look but you would like to cover up gouges or a few bad wear spots, put down tackless strips where the risers meet the treads and cover it with a carpet pad before putting on a carpet runner. Carpet gives the stairs more traction and more cushioning as you go up and down.

Cover your old stairs with paint for a bright new look. Stairs can be easily painted using floor paint and a brush, though a coating of primer applied before the paint helps the paint job last. Paint the stairs completely white to throw back what light the stairwell gets or paint the risers a different color from the treads for an eclectic look.

Glue vinyl stair treads to the stairs if you want to cover a bad finish while making the stairs safer. The vinyl stair treads should be applied to stairs that are clean and dry. They make slick old stairs safer to use and are especially useful in places where you often carry things up and down the steps and need more traction.

Cover the risers of the stairs with patterned contact paper. Patterned contact paper gives old stairs a high-contrast pop and because they are tough and stain-resistant, they can take the foot traffic on the stairs. Contact paper also comes with its own adhesive backing, making installation quick and easy.