Stairway Colours Ideas | Valspar Paint

If you ask us, staircases are pretty fascinating interior features and provide an area in your home where you can bring out a lot of personality.

Whether your home is modern and minimalist or Bohemian and eclectic, there are many interior ideas and effects that you can incorporate to bring your staircase to life.

What colour is best for a staircase wall?

There are many different colour options available for your staircase wall, depending on your overall interior theme and mood.

You could opt for an earthy neutral, such as oatmeal or beige, to blend in with your rustic scheme, or opt for navy blue or bottle green to give a more sultry and seductive vibe.

Alternatively, there are many other ways to bring colour to your staircase while keeping the walls white, including painting the stair treads, balustrades, or wall panelling.

Colours for stairs and landings

Here are some staircase paint colour ideas to inspire you…

Tread carefully

If you are keen on keeping your staircase and hallway walls light to maximise space and reflection, then painting your stair treads instead can provide a lighthearted alternative. Or, go bold with a stripe down the middle of the step and tread for extra flare.

Credit: @littlebristolterrace

Cheery yellows

Yellow is a colour that is symbolic of springtime, sunshine and happiness. Therefore, why wouldn’t you want this shade in your stairway?

Opt for a bright shade, such as yellow to inject some fun and happiness as you climb the stairs to bed each night.

Credit: @lindsey_isla

Daydream Believer

X26R61B

Classic black chic

A black staircase is sultry and dramatic, and one that will make a statement, especially when the walls are kept pale and neutral.

This monochromatic stairway setting is made extra chic thanks to its smaller interior details such as the stylish black radiator and wall art.

Credit: @1930s_semi_charmed_life

Evening Coat

X98R215A

Retro pastel shades

The two-tone colour drenching stakes are high in this pastel-pop stairway with its pale blue walls and peach ceilings and balustrades.

The tone of the carpet blends with the paint colour perfectly and the cluster lighting creates strong visual interest overhead as you climb up or down.

Credit: @girl.franks

Salty Blue

R167F

Gorgeous greiges

Greige - a hearty combination of grey and beige - is an increasingly popular colour choice for a stairway wall.

It is a neutral colour that can create a warm and inviting feel while also providing a modern and sophisticated look. Greige can also complement a variety of other colours and decor styles, making it a truly versatile choice.

Credit: @1930s_semi_charmed_life

Evening Coat

X98R215A

Earthy organics

Green stairways are friendly and welcoming and give a healthy and organic feel to the downstairs space. Pair a darker shade of green wall paint with crisp white ceilings and balustrades for a beautiful contrast that still feels light and airy.

Credit: @ourwoodfield3storey

Frosted Sage

X135R279B

Stair brights

Can’t decide on one colour for your stair treads? The good news is that you don’t have to.

Pick up some tester pots of paint in your favourite brights and create a kaleidoscope of colour leading up to your home’s upper levels.

Credit: @designbykinship

Timeless terracottas

Shades of soft red and terracotta give a lovely warm feel to your hallways and staircase.

Whereas a whole wall of red might seem a little overbearing, adopting a 50/50 colour scheme with a paler shade on top will keep your space grounded and balanced.

Credit: @thewrighthouserenovation

Serengeti Fire

X24R35E

Dark and moody

A dark landing can add drama and intrigue to your home and is especially suited to a wider staircase or those with a half-turn or U-turn feature.

Consider colour drenching the walls, trims and balustrades in shades of black, dark brown, or deep green but ensure that you have some warm lighting or a light ceiling so that visibility is clear as you climb.

Credit: @homeofquinn

Norway Spruce

X139R273A

Modern charcoal

A charcoal and white colour scheme is a perfect contemporary combo for a stairway area. The clean lines of the monochromatic paint blend beautifully with a natural wood staircase, and personality is brought to life with plenty of green houseplants and fun artwork.

Credit: @home_for4

Vintage Frame

R288A

Gradients of pink

Stair treads can also be painted in a gradient of shades of the same colour, creating a subtle and unique ombre effect as they incline.

This ombre staircase is very pretty in pink, starting with an almost white shade at the bottom and culminating in a lovely rich rose shade at the top near the landing.

Credit: @amelia_home_edit

Seaside Nautilus

R66C

Two-tone combinations

Two-tone painting can be used to create a variety of effects on your landing. From adding depth and texture using two different shades of the same colour to creating a playful or whimsical feel with completely two different shades, the technique is a versatile and creative approach to painting that can add interest and personality to your stairs.

Two-tone painting can also be a cost-effective way to update or refresh your stairway without completely repainting it if you choose to only paint one half of it at a time.

Credit: @thewalmsleyhomestead

Green Willow

R264D

Monochrome stairs

With an effect resembling the keys of a grand piano keyboard, this monochrome staircase is timeless and elegant. The wall is decorated in a warmer oatmeal shade to avoid the space feeling cold and clinical, while the patterned floor tiles at the bottom of the stairs give a nod to a more eclectic ambience below.

Credit: @tools.tears.and.tantrums

Charcoal Sketch

R207A

Classic white staircases

A classic white staircase is well-suited for a small and narrow staircase where light and brightness need to be enhanced.

Timeless and versatile, a white colour scheme can match any style or decor theme, is easy to maintain, and will never go out of style.

Unicorn dreams

Make all your unicorn dreams come true with a pastel pop staircase fit for a fairytale palace.

Keep the walls a fresh white shade to make the treads stand out, and keep wall art to a minimum so that all eyes are on the stairs.

Credit: @epocalypse

Sheer Elegance

R233F

Colour pops under stairs

When you want to keep your staircase fairly colour free and neutral, you can still inject pops of colour using pieces of painted furniture placed close by.

This monochrome staircase is brought alive by the vibrant green painted console table beneath the stairs which offers a playful place to stand lamps, candles and photo frames.

Credit: @thepinkterrace

Kensington Gardens

L19dW38b

Painter’s tape

For a truly unique look, consider using painter's tape to paint a pattern on your staircase. This is a creative alternative to wallpaper and means that you can customise the colour shades used in your design.

Opt for pattern effects such as a stripe, polka dots, chevrons or geometric shapes in either contrasting tones or tonal shades of the same colour.

Credit: @rubyreds_semi

Discover staircase paint colours with Valspar

Found a colour that you would love to paint your staircase walls or balustrades? Simply upload a picture of the colour or item using our handy Photo Uploader Tool, and we can Colour Match it to create your dream shade.