• The stairway is an often-overlooked area of a home, but it is important for several reasons. For many of us, our stairway is located in the entryway, so it's one of the first things people see when they enter our home. We also use the stairway repeatedly every day, so why not make it look attractive?
  
  

Bold Looks for the Wall

• If your stairway has one wall that faces out into living areas and a railing on the other side, use the single wall to make a statement. Go for a bold, bright hue like tomato red or lime green for the wall and then neutral tones for the stairs and railing. Many homeowners choose the staircase walls to display large pieces of artwork, so choose a paint color that complements the art.
  
  

Neutral Tones

• If you want your stairway to blend in more and appear as part of the room rather than a separate area, choose a pale or neutral tone that matches the rest of the room to create an open, cohesive space. An especially elegant look for wooden staircases is white walls, balusters and risers, with darkly stained treads and handrails.
  
  

Artistic Walls

• For an eye-catching effect, transform your stairway wall into an artistic mural. Use a single color diluted to various concentrations to create shades, and apply paint in layers using stencils and brushes. If this sounds too ambitious, look for wallpaper that has a similar effect. Here, keep steps and railings neutral. Designers on Houzz.com recommend creating rectangular panels with molding on the walls and then stenciling a pattern or adding wallpaper inside the panels, while keeping the rest of the wall a solid color.
  
  

Painting the Stairs

• Some homeowners choose to add paint to the stairs themselves. Stenciling a design on the risers can look whimsical and artsy. Designers at Marthastewart.com suggest using a rubber stamp or stencil to apply latex paint and then painting the walls the same shade as the design to create cohesion. For a quirky look, stencil numbers on the risers, starting with 1 at the bottom step and counting up to the top. To transform your stairs into a conversation piece, stencil a special quote or saying onto the treads of the steps that you can read as you go up. "Real Simple" magazine suggests painting the risers a deep, vibrant hue, such as royal blue, to add interest. A dark tone with a glossy finish will camouflage scuff marks.
  
  

Runners

• Another idea from Marthastewart.com features a painted "runner" on the stairs in bright colors that link the upstairs and downstairs. Use painter's tape to create clean lines as well as a primer and oil-based enamel to withstand traffic. Keep walls and railings white or neutral so the stairs stand out. Or cover stairs with a bright runner or carpet, and then paint a matching horizontal stripe along the wall just above the steps.