Wooden open tread stairs

[Imlostwithoutahope]

They were mahogany colour and to brighten the area I thought painting them would be a good idea. So 6 coats of timeless eggshell later the paint has rubbed off and they look dirty. Clearly wasn't such a good idea.
So I either need to repaint them with something more hard wearing or go for the wrap around carpet. But all I can envisage is the way they do it in naff furniture shops. Has anyone done this tastefully or shall I just repaint.

Could you not do it like a runner and only carpet the middle section of the board?

The way that I'm imagining it, it could look quite special. Maybe in a vertical stripe?

You could keep the sides painted white, would require a bit of upkeep I'd imagine but as it's not commonly walked on you'd get a great deal more wear out of it?

Cucumber I like the look with the carpet in the middle of the stairs but the ones I've seen are on boarded up stairs with riser and tred. Would it work with open tread do you think?

We had what you are describing in a house when I was little. It was great, we used to hang off the under stairs bit by our knees and get carpet burns in weird places!

I've only seen it on boarded up stairs but there's no reason logically why you couldn't do a wrap around on each stair... neaten it up at the edges with some carpet binding or pins...

It would be more labour intensive and so end up costing you more but if you'd be happier with it you're more likely to keep it longer.

binding and pins examples at bottom of this page

another forum discussing it as well

My aunt got carpet wrapped around hers. It looks awful imo. Why dont you like the original wood? I would sand right back and stain with a walnut shade. It would take the redishness of the mahogany.
I have dark wood open tread stairs and I love them, but they suit the decor and style of house

My parents had open tread stairs - as a temporary measure they got them boxed in (fed up of everything underneath getting covered in dust etc with 4 DCs up and down) and carpeted
Carpeted doesn't matter what riser looks like...underneath they covered in plasterboard.
That was 25 years ago and they still haven't gone back -in fact they have now boxed in more to make an under stairs cupboard ...but in theory they could always open them up again if they want to sell...

Mrscucumber thanks for the link to the other thread, there's lots of interesting ideas on there.
Queen- the room is small with no windows and borrows light from an adjoining room so I felt they were darkening it further.

I had thought of covering the back and carpeting them but wasn't sure of the cost of doing it, because we find all the dust falls through on to whatever's underneath plus they're noisy.

My dad would have done it himself...and along time ago now..it really wouldn't have cost a lot...would imagine £50 or so for materials at today's prices ..(not inc carpet!)
Depends on stairs I guess - their stairs were all the same height and had a bar across to stop feet going through...so something to attach a piece of board to...although he put supports in at the back too...not pretty but when carpeted and a sheet of plasterboard attached underneath to cover the backs looks aren't important...
Not v. difficult (I think I could do it) but a bit time consuming sawing the riser boards - I don't know how handy you or your OH are?

Maybe get a quote form a joiner? (time would be main cost I think)

We've just finished doing this. Very thorough sanding followed by two coats of zinsser BIN primer (total poison, available from trade shops) followed by two coats of top coat is wearing well two months in. took bloody ages though

We have wrapped carpet on each step. It doesn't look great. It's ok though but a bastard to hoover. The DT's couldnt manage the stairs without slipping and I had visions of them falling through the open plan bannister from the top.