Should I paint these bannisters? Pic incouded

[Bladders73]

Just that really. Am tempted to paint them white to help lighten up the hall and stairs but at the moment they are maintenance free and I suspect that children rubbing their grubby hands up and down them every day will render them dirty and needing painting every few months. I don't like gloss paint and tend to use satinwood on woodwork. Would this be up to the job?

Any recommendations? Or leave well alone?

[MrsTammySwanson]

I think it looks great.

[Bladders73]

Well I painted the fireplace in the Stonelux and I like it. Very easy to do and it gives a very authentic stone finish

[DrSausagedog]

Love the makeover pics on here! We have the same dilemma, I would like to paint white but not sure about hand rails...

[Bladders73]

It's taken us years to get around to it all. When we moved in here 16 years ago every dado rail (and they are in every room except the bathroom), every skirting board, door architraves, everything was varnished natural wood.
All very fashionable in the 90's but a headache to get rid of now.

I can recommend the Zinsser BIN as a primer. The coverage is excellent and stops you needing to sand the wood down first (if you are lazy like me a want quick results)

[Luciferbox]

I so need to do this. My plan this weekend was to gloss every dark brown wooden surface but it didn't happen. I will modernise this old house eventually.

[Bladders73]

Ooh I do like yours Uterus!

Ours were much lighter when we first moved in 16 years ago and I loved them. They've just got darker and darker over the years as they've aged.

[UterusUterusGhali]

RTFT, Uterus.

Looks amazing! The right decision!

[UterusUterusGhali]

I have pale wood and painted spindles.
Rented house but I quite like it.

(Excuse the wicker heart )

[verystressedmum]

It looks great. We had dark mahogany stained spindles and bannister and dh sanded them down to the wood and painted them white, it made a huge differences like you found.
We've just painted our horrible orange pine fire surround as its huge and it was proving difficult to find one that fit and would have had to have one made. Dh did 2 coats zinsser bin and 2 coats eggshell, it looks fab, much better than the pine and ties in nicely with the decor.

[PrimalLass]

I think I might try using a mini roller with the Zinsser on the spindles. That's what I usually do with it, because they are cheaper than brushes and just have to be chucked anyway as it is almost impossible to clean off.

[Clutterbugsmum]

Pavlov, DH normally tells me he has had a 'good Idea' about 6 months to a year after I've talked to him about it , then I just go along with it.

[Bladders73]

It wasn't difficult, just fiddly and I had to take my time to make sure I didn't miss any bits.
The Zinsser BIN is quite runny so you need to be careful with that, also it dries very quickly so you can't brush back and fore over the same area as you create brush marks in it.
To be fair if you were to inspect the woodwork up close you might see a few 'runs' but overall it looks good. From a distance. ;)

[turdfairynomore]

I got a car bodywork place to spray my pine fire surround matt black. It looks amazing-in my eyes anyway!! 10 years later and its still immaculately even though it's close to a huge, high output gas "wood burning" stove thingy.

[PavlovtheCat]

clutters that what happens with me and DH. We disagree, I know for sure what I think will look good, he disagrees, eventually gives in to shut me up and then concedes that it looks much better!

[PavlovtheCat]

OK. you have convinced me. We will be painting ours white. I have been dithering about this for a while, and, comparing similar style staircases here with mine, in both white and wood, I love the wood.

I also LOVE the stripy carpet, either as a runner style or as full carpet. It's exactly what I have in my mind when I think about how I would love the hallway to look.

Well done for taking the plunge. Was it difficult to paint?

[PrimalLass]

That looks great. We are in the middle of ours. We have sanded the stairs and stained the treads really dark. The spindles, treads and edges will be white, with a dark handrail.

[Clutterbugsmum]

Too be honest I think I will next year as after 14 years I hate them. The thing is I know once I have done it he will agree that they look much better.

[FinestGrundyTurkey]

Really good job, Bladders - looks amazing!

[Bladders73]

Do it! I'm so glad I did, it's transformed the hallway completely.

[Clutterbugsmum]

Your stairs look great.

Me and DH are still having the same argument. I want to paint ours white along with under stair cupboard doors. But DH doesn't.

[Bladders73]

I've had a look at the reviews, I've ordered the Stonelux in White limestone. Will post a pic when it's done!

[Bladders73]

So does it give it a stone like finish?

[SingSongSlummy]

Ace job! For the fireplace surround, you need Stonelux - amazing stone paint

[MrsTammySwanson]

Looks great. Nice and bright.

[Bladders73]

Well I took the plunge and did it!

2 coats of Zinsser BIN and 2 coats of acrylic satin and im really pleased with how they look. The hallway feels far brighter and up to date.

Now to tackle this horrible wooden fire surround!