DIY Stair Railing Ideas & Makeovers

If your home has a stairwell, you might be surprised to know that an outdated stair railing is one of the first things potential buyers notice when looking at a home. Even if you aren’t thinking of putting your home on the market, it’s kind of disconcerting to think something you see (and probably ignore!) every day can make or break your interior. These DIY stair railing ideas and makeovers are proof that DIY’ers can make changes that can create a big difference in how people view your space! (Oh, and your home’s value!)

 

 

DIY Stair Railing Ideas

 

Got an old oak style wood banister? ‘Make It Love It‘ is ready to teach us how to paint/stain an old stair railing. The before and after here makes my point… what a big difference! Lot’s of step by step photos and instructions for this DIY stair railing idea.

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Your Home Only Better‘ took it one step further and pulled up the outdated carpet, then painted the stair railing and steps as well. This looks amazing, like a ‘Parade of Homes’ interior. Find their painting stairs tips!

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Want something a little more modern? Let ‘Ana White‘ walk you through her tutorial and plans for a stainless steel cable DIY stair railing! You see these in higher end modern homes, and they are a worthy project if you are trying to bring your home into this decade!

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Trish at ‘TDA Decorating‘ shared her DIY stair railing idea on ‘Remodelaholic‘… This is a great money saving option because she used the existing post and handrail, replacing just the spindles. Check out this before and after!

DIY Stair Railing Projects and Makeovers 23

DIY Stair Railing Projects and Makeovers 22

 

From ‘Elephant Buffet‘, this bookcase stair railing is not only an ingenious idea, but also really practical too! Find out how they did it, and be sure to check out their post on how they made the bookshelves themselves near the bottom of the post.

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Learn more from ‘Ana White‘, DIY a staircase railing!

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Now we have a few that are less tutorial, more inspiration… you’ve got this now, right? 🙂 From ‘Chic Design Investments‘, this stair railing idea made with old doors looks amazing! I LOVE THIS!

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This wood/glass staircase railing by the ‘HGTV Blog‘ isn’t a full tutorial, but there are a lot of pics they took along the way… An experienced DIY’er could likely figure out this project start to finish from that alone!

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This stair railing idea from ‘Fairly Modern Home‘ is a great inspiration… they used ordinary rebar as their railing, and saved big bucks!

DIY Stair Railing Projects and Makeovers

 

Finally, ‘Bob Vila‘ brings us this nautical rope DIY stair railing idea… creative!

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We hope you learned how easy it is to update your home with these DIY stair railing ideas! We think you will also want to check out our posts on Interior Door Makeover Projects and DIY AreaRugs! And don’t forget to join the OhMeOhMy Facebook group and our Pinterest page so you see right away when we post new ideas and advice!

Image Credits: Make It Love It, Your Home Only Better, Ana White, Remodelaholic, Elephant Buffet, Ana White, Chic Design Investments, HGTV, Fairly Modern, Bob Vila
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Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates & Steve Bates (co-owners) – Woodard Bates Media LLC consisting of three blogs: TheBudgetDecorator.com, OhMeOhMyBlog.com and TheGardenGlove.com.

Kathy Bates’ previous writing credits include:

Former home decorating expert for Lifetime TV, Galtime and Country Woman Magazine.

Her book spent time at #1 on Amazon’s Home & Garden Topseller List in 2002.

Published or featured in numerous national publications, including:

Country Sampler’s Decorating Ideas magazine, Woman’s Day magazine, HGTV, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Marketwatch, Decorating Solutions magazine, Decorating Ideas magazine, The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Kansas City News, The Oklahoman, Akron Beacon Journal, Pensacola News Journal and The Telegraph.

10 Comments

  1. August 16, 2018 / 12:06 am

    This is amazing handrails, it really looks great and awesome. you have a good taste. I surely love this design of yours, thank you for sharing this one.

  2. M Bombria
    January 1, 2017 / 4:21 pm

    Sorry,Trish at ‘TDA Decorating‘ shared her stair banister renovation on ‘Remodelaholic’but you did not use the same newel post and Bob Vila can you tell me any building inspector who would approve your rope spindles. Looks great but all I can see are everything and everyone who could literally get hung up in them

    • Kathy Woodard
      Author
      January 9, 2017 / 5:58 pm

      We disagree, she built the new post right around the old one, just like she says in her post. And are you really questioning ‘Bob Vila’s knowledge of building code? Perhaps you aren’t aware he is the original DIY expert? Just because it isn’t for you, doesn’t mean it isn’t for someone… Thx for your input, have great day!

  3. Mike James
    July 11, 2016 / 10:10 am

    Cool, but very dangerous if you have children. Railings should not be climbable – that is why the spindles are usually vertical.

  4. Eugene F
    July 3, 2016 / 9:29 am

    Could I submit some railing ideas for this post?

    • Kathy Woodard
      Author
      September 8, 2016 / 1:04 pm

      You can send any ideas to woodardbatesmedia at gmail dot com.

  5. Christina
    May 26, 2016 / 10:07 am

    I love the before/after pic! I think you’ve inspired the changes we will make, both with painting the blond oak stair railings and with the trim! I love the simple trim you switched to! I had one additional question: what grey paint did you use? Specifically in the before/after pic where the writing is typed in the top left of the photo and there is a yellow accent plant in the background?

    Thank you for posting these tips and inspirations!
    Christina

    • Kathy Woodard
      Author
      June 23, 2016 / 8:55 am

      Im sorry, its not our project, so we don’t have the buying info… Sorry we couldn’t be more help!

    • Susan
      January 1, 2017 / 5:04 pm

      In reply to the question about the wall paint color (Christina asked on May 26, 2016, The project page on http://www.makeit-loveit.com:

      Wall paint color: Miners Dust by Dunn Edwards and color matched at Home Depot with Behr paint.

  6. March 1, 2016 / 11:13 am

    I love how the stairs widen at the bottom on that first stairway. It gives it a fun look of it being like a grand staircase. If my home could fit it I would totally use that sort of design myself, but I may have to wait until the next house.

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