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?

[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.

[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.

[UterusUterusGhali]

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

(Excuse the wicker heart )

[UterusUterusGhali]

RTFT, Uterus.

Looks amazing! The right decision!

[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.

[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]

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)

[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]

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

[MrsTammySwanson]

I think it looks great.