Paint Techniques for a Tall Stairway Wall

Colors and Textures

• Tall, narrow stairways can tend to feel cramped even if they are wide enough for people to pass through easily. Light, neutral colors and smooth surfaces help the space appear more open and draw attention to the height of the walls. If your tall stairway wall is below a skylight or hanging light fixture, the light color also enhances the stairway's brightness and improves stairway safety. Likewise, dark colors and rough, sponged textures on the wall can make a stairway seem more enclosed, de-emphasizing the height of walls and contracting the space visually.

Using Multiple Colors

• Rather than selecting a single color to impact how people see your tall stairway wall, consider adding multiple colors. Two-toned walls can feature molding that divides the wall with a diagonal line several feet above the ground and parallel to the angle of the stairs. A top color that matches the ceiling and a lower color that accents the wood or carpet color of the stairs themselves will divide a tall wall and allow you to introduce more decorative variety into the limited space.

Alcoves and Niches

• Tall stairway walls are common sites for alcoves, ledges and niches, which provide space for displaying decorative objects or installing storage cabinets. Painting the inset sections of the wall a separate color draws attention to them and helps draw the eye downward, toward the center of the stairway wall. This makes the space seem less imposing and also focuses viewers' attentions on your decorative objects as they pass by.

Tools and Equipment

• Painting a tall stairway wall is significantly easier if you have the right tools and equipment. If your stairway is wide enough to accommodate a stepladder and leveler, which keep the ladder level over multiple stairs, you can perform much of the work with a paint roller that has a telescoping handle and a narrow brush for detailed work. A more narrow stairway may require a basic scaffold, which a professional should install to ensure stability and safety. Brush and roller textures depend on your desired finish and whether your stairway walls feature brick, plaster or drywall surfaces.