Spread your sense of whimsy throughout your home. Add a sense of lightness of being to your stairs, with these whimsical ideas.
Whimsical ideas for Painting Stairs
Before using one of these whimsical ideas for paintings stairs, prime the stairs and then paint them one solid color. If you use a light color, choose a dark color for the decorative elements, and vice versa. The key is to create a contrast.
For best results, measure the entire length of the stair way from the wall to the rails.Find the center of the steps, using the rails, not the floating edge as one side of your measurement. If you measure all the way to the edge of the stair, the ladder will look off-center, and be too near the rail.
Use painter’s tape to line the outer edges of the ladder frame. Leave a two inch space and add another piece of tape, down the length of the stairs, to make one side of the ladder frame. Repeat on the other side.
You can use tape to make the horizontal ladder rungs, or you can rely on the existing stair architecture. Paint the edges of the step as rungs. as well as the corners where the risers (vertical surfaces) meet the treads (the steps).
Paint a wrought iron grid along the inner corner of the stairway. Add green vines and ivy leaves, climbing up the stairs. Continue the ivy along the wall, for an added whimsical effect.
Importance of Words
There are more groups of words which may be used to create a simple and whimsical design while painting stairs. Use or make your own stencils with these groups of words.
Family Motto
if your family has a motto, paint the words going up the steps. Use letter stencils and paint the motto on the risers going up the stairs. Use block print or an easy-to-read script.
The Language of Night
Incorporate dreamy words and phrases including dreams, happy, slumber, sweet dreams, good night, moon and stars.
Family Names
First Names – Paint the names of family members, including pets on the stairs, using one name per riser,
Last Name – Paint a definition of your family’s last name, if it has meaning to your family.
Family Names – Use more generic names to describe family members, including mother, father, brother, sister, daughter and son. For a more international flair, use words from languages other than English.
For example, for Spanish use madre, padre, hermano, hermana, hijo and hija.
