Step Up Your Staircase Design

Give a plain white staircase a whole new personality by creating a faux runner. Paint the outer edges, add stripes and stamp Xs and Os on the risers for a new, whimsical look.

For a shabby chic take on the painted stair runner, use white, brick red and creamy yellow paint. Mismatched, salvaged house numbers give this farmhouse stairwell an extra design pop, as seen on HGTV's Sarah's House.

These bright, cheerful vertical stripes coordinate with the pink and blue hues featured in this eclectic living room, while also leading the eye upstairs. Design by Cortney and Robert Novogratz.

Add style to your staircase by decking out the risers with wallpaper, acrylic sheeting and decorative hardware. Combine sample-sized rolls in coordinating colors and patterns to make this project even more budget-friendly.