Can I Stain Stair Risers?

Staining

• The preparation of an area that you wish to stain as just as important as the staining process itself. Sand the stair riser to remove the previous coating of stain or paint. If the stairs are bare, sand the riser until it reaches the smoothness you desire. Vacuum up the wood dust and dab a rag into a can of stain in the color of your choice. Rub the stain into the riser and apply additional coats to darken the finish, as required.

Considerations

• While the process of staining the risers requires the same steps as staining virtually any other piece of wood, it's important to remember that you're staining a vertical surface. As such, avoid applying too much stain to the stair riser at any one time, as it can run down and pool in the joint between the tread and the riser. Use a small amount of stain on your rag and work it into the wood before adding more stain to the rag.

Appearance

• It's common to see stairs stained the same color throughout. In other words, the tread and the riser are both stained the same color. Achieving this appearance is easy because you do not have to tape off the joint between the stair and riser. It's also quick because you can stain both elements at the same time. The color you choose should correspond with the style of your home. Different shades of brown provide a rustic look, while dark brown and black give a modern feel.

Other

• Some homes use a combination of stain and paint to finish the staircases. It's common to see stained stair treads and painted risers. This style provides contrast, and the use of paint allows you to easily tie in the color of your walls with the staircase itself. Other options include covering the treads of the stairs with carpet and staining the risers, or staining the treads and putting wallpaper on the risers.