Ideas for Open Stairs? (paint, sand, staircase, pictures)

[Sunshinegirl7]

I have open stairs where you can see right behind them, I have my chinchilla and cat tower underneath. The stairs have a thick wood beams on side, like very textured wood that is painted, the stairs are the same wrapped in 30 year old carpet. Anyone have any ideas what to do? I saw my neighbors hers are the same, she just painted to match her walls. Pinterest doesn't have very many pictures, at least not with what I can do, I thought about taking off carpet and stripping the paint off the wood but it's such porous wood because of the texture, it's not smooth at all, like very rough wood.

[ocngypz]

I had stairs like that in a townhouse back in the '80s. Complete with burnt orange carpet.

The cats loved them as they were carpeted all around the steps.

They thought it was one big cat tree and would spin themselves around each step.

I got so tired of those stairs, I had a regular enclosed staircase built.

The cats weren't too happy.

But I loved the extra storage!

[southbel]

Here's a before and after of a similar open tread 1970s staircase. They ended up sanding theirs - a lot - and restaining. The rough timber type of wood can be sanded smoother to make staining, etc a possibility.

Before & After: Andrea & Cliff's Updated Floating Stairs

[K'ledgeBldr]

Originally Posted by Sunshinegirl7

Anyone have any ideas what to do?

With that question your wallet is wide open, and you're bound to get a full spectrum of ideas!
The true question is; "I have (X)dollars to do something with these Godawful stairs; what can I do with this amount of money?"

You could go as far to say what you want it to look like and see how much that would cost.

[southbel]

Originally Posted by Sunshinegirl7

I have open stairs where you can see right behind them, I have my chinchilla and cat tower underneath. The stairs have a thick wood beams on side, like very textured wood that is painted, the stairs are the same wrapped in 30 year old carpet. Anyone have any ideas what to do? I saw my neighbors hers are the same, she just painted to match her walls. Pinterest doesn't have very many pictures, at least not with what I can do, I thought about taking off carpet and stripping the paint off the wood but it's such porous wood because of the texture, it's not smooth at all, like very rough wood.

I read your thread over on the real estate section. I know you're a bit overwhelmed and nervous about your new home. Good news is that you're in the right place. We have many very competent DIYers here that can help and even professionals who can give advice on when it's time to call in the big guns. We also have some remarkably creative people who can come up with some outstanding ideas and help to figure out something within whatever budget you are working with for that project.

When you ask questions about what you can do to update/change a particular element of your home, it always helps to post pictures along with your question. This really helps people both to visualize and understand what you're facing.

[KathrynAragon]

OP, we need photos and a budget, please! Also, tell us more about your personal style.

[moon2]

Originally Posted by southbel

Here's a before and after of a similar open tread 1970s staircase.

No railing would make me incredibly nervous, but then I'm staring at my later years and actually use them at least 10% of the time That's a pretty long run ...