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How To Paint A Stair Railing & Banister To Update That Oak

Learn how to easily paint your stair railing with a brush and roller. This is a simple way to update your staircase for a modern look.

before painting oak stair railing and after painting with white spindles and blue gray top stair railing.

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Painting your stair railing is an inexpensive way to give your entryway or hallway a brand new feel. Here are the steps we took to easily paint our oak stair railing and banister with a roller and brush.

The Before Oak Stair Rail

A theme in our blog and life is that one DIY project always leads to another home improvement project. This was the case for the ugly oak banister and handrail. You can see how to paint bathroom cabinets using similar materials.

Because we were getting around to doing a cheap DIY bathroom makeover upstairs, we also knew we had to update the railing right outside the door. Our oak banister and handrail were the LAST (I think) pieces of oak trim, molding, and cabinets left in our house.

oak stair railing and spindles.
The “before” oak stair railing

How do you prep stair railing and spindles before painting?

Due to the nature of railings, they get touched a ton. It is important that you properly prep the railing and banister before painting. The area needs to be cleaned and degreased well. We also like to use fine sandpaper to scuff up the surface before priming with an adhesion primer.

How to paint stair rails on carpet?

This is annoying but not a total pain anytime you are painting something over the carpet. You can see in this image below how I was able to push down the carpet and tape under the base of the stair railing.

When you are done you simply take the tape off and fluff your carpet. Just be careful you don’t drip on your carpet when painting.

how to paint oak railing on carpet with green painter's tape under railing.

What paint do you use on a stair banister or stair railing?

The most important thing is to choose a paint that is meant for moldings or cabinets and make sure to properly prime and prep your stair railing.

Here are a few options:

  • Behr Latex Enamel
  • Sherwin Williams Proclassic
  • Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
  • Benjamin Moore Pro Advance

At the time of our DIY painting project, we used Behr Latex Enamel and Sherwin Williams Proclassic line.

Our Current Paint Recommedation

However, we recently just discovered Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel paint. If I were painting my oak banister and railing today, I would be using the SW Emerald paint instead of the Proclassic or Behr latex enamel.

You can see our cheap kitchen makeover and how we used this newer Sherwin Williams Emerald line to paint oak cabinets and why now would use them for our oak railing.

Can of Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel.
This is what we now use for all our cabinet and molding painting projects.

Why did we use Behr and Proclassic paint on the railing?

Honestly, we had leftover paint from the bathroom vanity painting to help with the two-toned banister look I was going for. I have seen banisters with more of a black or darker gray top and bottom. I knew I wanted ours to be a little different. Therefore we chose to use this colored latex enamel paint for the banister.

In the future, I may repaint the colored parts with a darker color. That is the fun part about painting projects: you can always change the color.

SW Proclassic in Pure White was our favorite white paint for kitchen cabinets and moldings before we discovered SW Emerald paint. We have even painted our old oak mantel using these painting steps to help get rid of the honey oak and update our living room. 

Read more: Check out 11 other DIY projects that helped us get rid of that honey oak!

Painting Stair Spindle Tips

  • Use the brush to do all the grooves in the spindles
  • Carefully make sure that there are not any drips
  • Continue to check periodically to see if there are any drips to wipe away
  • Use a small foam roller to do the flat areas
  • Look at the spindles from multiple angles. There are so many nooks and crannies that you want to confirm you are completely covering everything
  • If you have a drip, use fine sandpaper to fix it before painting your final coat
  • Painting anything in your home doesn’t have to be intimidating, just go for it!
oak stair spindles being painted white.

What about those crazy Tik Tok videos where they paint with a sock?

We did not do this, nor do we think it would work super well. However, we have even seen on an HGTV post about using a sock on your hand to help you paint the spindles. I only see this as being super messy but thought we would share that idea if someone wants to try.

If you are considering this, you would want to put a protective glove on before you put the sock over your hand. There are even painting gloves meant for easily painting spindles.

Recommended Supplies

*Some professional painters will recommend oil-based primers such as this one, as they do a better job blocking out color. However, we have always had great success with Sherwin Williams Latex Primer or this Zinsser water-based one. I love that I don’t have to worry about the smell especially because I was doing this painting project outside my children’s rooms as they were napping. 

Do you need help deciding what color of paint to use?

We recently just tried Samplize and it totally beats having to buy individual paint samples. These 9″ x 14.75″ samples will get shipped directly to you and save the hassle of clean-up (we loved that).

See our review to also get answers to frequently asked Samplize questions.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Lightly Sand Surfaces

Lightly sand the oak banister and handrail with the 220. This is just to rough it up a little. You really do not need to spend a ton of time on this.

hand using sand block to lightly sand stair railing.

Step 2: Wipe Down With Deglosser

Use an old rag and wipe down the surface with a deglosser.

can of deglosser with small paint tray next to oak spindles.

Step 3: Prep Areas Not Being Painted

Start taping out to help protect your walls and flooring. You can see that I had to try to push my carpet down and get the painter’s tape under the edge of the banister’s base.

fingers pushing down green painter's tape on carpet under oak stair railing.

Optional Step: Repair Any Damaged Wood

If you have some gaps or uneven spots in your woodwork, you may even want to use white caulk or wood filler to give it a more finished looked after painting. 

Step 4: Use Primer

Use a brush and small roller to prime everything. This will take time. Let dry.

Oak banister and railing being primed with white primer on some areas.

The most important part when using any type of primer is that you fully cover the surface. It might not look that pretty, but you are trying to give your new paint a surface to stick to.

view of top of stair railing with primer on it.

Step 5: Paint 2 Layers Of White Paint On The Spindles

white primer on oak stair railing.

Begin painting primed stair spindles white following the same steps as the primer. I was able to actually use the small foam roller on more parts of the railings than I initially thought. 

Paint Another Layer Of White

You will need at least 2 coats of white enamel on the railings. I spent a few hours during the week completing this project. You do not want to get lazy and have a ton of drips or start spraying paint around on your carpet, etc. 

Step 6: Let The Spindles Dry Completely

white stair spindles.

Step 7: Tape Our Handrail

Once the white railings are done and dry, begin to tape (use this brand) out the areas so you can have a darker outside.

white painted stair spindles with green painter's tape.

HUGE PAINT PREP TIP ALERT!!!

I was pretty impressed with myself when I came up with this easy idea. Use Press and Seal around the railing that was closest to the side so that the colored enamel paint does not get on the railing.

It is such a simple and easy way to protect your white-painted spindles from accidentally hitting the finished part. Just make sure that you completely cover the railing.

stair railing being painted with press and seal around white spindle.

Step 8: Paint Color

Using a roller and brush begin to put your first coat of colored enamel paint.

paint brush adding color to handrail.

Step 9: Paint At Least Two Coats

You will also need at least 2 coats. I think I ended up doing 3 coats with this paint, especially because I knew the surface would be touched a lot. 

small foam roller adding blue gray paint to banister.

Step 10: Let Dry & Remove Tape Carefully

Let dry and remove the tape.

green painter's tape being pulled off bottom of stair railing.

Step 12: Do Touch-Ups

Some of my paint lines were not as clean as I would have liked. I used white caulk to try to help some of the lines (especially the bottom edge in that groove) and a smaller painter’s brush to do some touch-ups. I do not blame the painter’s tape, just that the railings have so many little grooves and uneven surfaces that it was hard to get everything perfect.

Step 13: Clean-up

Clean your brushes and area and enjoy your updated banister. Now would be the perfect time to clean your carpeted stairs for a whole fresh look.

Drumroll please…

The Before and After

Oak Banister before being painted

Finished Painted Oak Railing & Banister

I just love looking up the steps and seeing a fresh banister and look. While I would not say this was the easiest painting project, it definitely gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

And now I can honestly say, bye-bye to all the old oak items in our home. It is so crazy how just simply painting honey oak can really modernize your home without breaking the bank.

Oak Railing Redone

If you love this painted makeover, you have to see how our oak kitchen cabinets were redone!

Oak Handrail Makeover

Before DIY makeover

Oak Handrail before being painted

While I was painting the railing, I was also priming and painting the handrail that is on the other side of our steps.

Oak Handrail being painted blue-gray

We followed the same painting steps outline above and you can see how we were able to easily update our handrail as well.

Gray-blue railing near steps

Tutorial FAQs

How has our painted stair railing and banister held up?

It has been over two years since we painted this in our upstairs. The only spot that has wear on it is the cap on the newel post. It is the round part that the kids touch all the time.
We now know we should have used Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel and this would not have happened.
I do plan to repaint the wood sometime soon because of this and my color choices have changed a little.

What kind of paint do you use on stair railings?

My current go-to paint is Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel for cabinets, trim and handrails. Because the surface will touch frequently, using semi-gloss will allow you to easily clean while being durable. You will be amazed at the self-leveling abilities of this paint and the smooth finish you can achieve.

How do I easily apply the paint?

We found that using a brush and a small foam roller gave the smoothest finish. You can even use the small foam roller on the flat areas of the spindles.

How had the painted railing held up?

You can see how the one area that did end up with wear after 4 years on our banister and what it looks like now. Our paint color preferences have changed so you can see the black and white painted stair railing now.

Follow us on Pinterest, Youtube or Facebook for more DIY inspiration!

Other DIY Paint Projects to Try

With a little elbow grease and hard work, we were able to cheaply update our stairway, by painting the stair railing, banister, and handrail. 

If you like this tutorial, please give it 5 stars below 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩. Your support helps us continue to bring you more free and budget-friendly DIYs.

How To Paint a Stair Railing and Banister

Step-by-step tutorial on how to paint an oak stair railing and banister. This tutorial will teach you how to get a two-toned look with white spindles.
Print Tutorial
oak stair spindles being painted
Prep:1 hour
Active Time:5 hours
Total Time:6 hours

Equipment

Instructions

  • Use 220 sandpaper or block to lightly scuff the surface.
  • Wipe down with the deglosser with a lint-free rag.
  • Start taping out areas you do not want the paint to get. Lay down a drop cloth on those areas as well.
  • Optional: Use white paintable caulk to fill in any gaps in woodwork before priming.
  • Use a paintbrush first to start to apply a primer in small grooves. Work in sections doing a few spindles at a time.
  • Use a small foam roller to prime flatter areas of your stair railing and banister. Keep checking for drips. You only need to worry about covering the surface (it may not look too pretty, yet).
  • Let the primer dry. Some primers will be ready to go in an hour and others will need longer. Make sure primer has fully adhered to your surface. You can scrap your fingernail to see if it is ready.
  • Repeat steps with brush and roller with a white latex enamel paint. You will need 2 coats.
  • Allow the paint to dry (overnight would be great). Tape out the top and bottom railings. Consider using Press and Seal to protect that last stair spindle.
  • Use a paintbrush and roller to paint the top and bottom railing with colored latex paint. Paint at least 2 coats.
  • Take the tape off and touch up any areas.

Video

Notes

  • Take your time. This painting project is best if done over a few days to allow the different coats of paint to dry.
  • Use Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel or Benjamin Moore Pro Advanced in semi-gloss or gloss for a smooth finish.
  • Use a small foam roller on all flat areas.
  • Sand and paint in the direction of the wood grain.
  • Make sure to sand areas well that are touched often for best primer adhesion.
Author: Erin Nutter
Cost: under $100

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20 Comments

  1. Love the banister uplifting you did!!

    1. Thanks Claudia.We are very happy we were able to give our railing and banister a new look!

  2. Pauline Gander says:

    I love what you did to your bannister and railings. Can you tell me the difference between using a chalk paint and an acrylic? I would also like to paint my kitchen cupboards. Would you recommend chalk paint?

    1. Hi Pauline. I have only used chalk paint for furniture. I have several posts about how I painted trim in our basement, bathroom cabinets and now this railing using pretty much the same technique. We also have painted our kitchen cabinets using a good primer and latex enamel paint. Our kitchen cabinets are approaching 7 years and have only need retouching and that is with three young children.

      I think the biggest difference between chalk paint and latex enamel is that chalk paint has a “sort of primer” in it. When using latex enamel, you have to prime first and that is honestly the most important part. Because you are priming first with latex enamel, I honestly feel that the paint adheres better. You also may want to consider the finish you want (matte, satin, semi-gloss). I am not a chalk paint expert, but my guess is semi-gloss is hard to get and something you may want in order to be able to easily wipe your cabinets.

      The furniture pieces we have done using chalk paint have held up, but they don’t get nearly the same amount as action as cabinets. I hope this helps and good luck with your project.

  3. This looks nice! Do you still see the wood grain texture through the paint? Does the primer help get rid of that, or how can you get rid of the wood grain texture?

    1. Hi Jyl. Thanks for stopping by our DIY site. Yes, you will see some of the wood grain through the paint on your stair railing. It honestly doesn’t bother me though. You could completely sand down your railing to the texture you like or we know some DIY bloggers that have used a wood filler after priming to help smooth out the surface. However, that process will take a lot of time. You can still use our painting method, but I would look research how to get rid of grain. I would say it also depends on the type of wood and depth of grain. On our fireplace mantel, you honestly can’t see the wood grain using this similar painting method. Good luck with your stair railing project and let us know how yours goes.

  4. Wow! It’s crazy how just a little paint and elbow grease completely transformed your railing! I received a quote from a local refinisher, but after seeing your process it seems like a doable DIY project!

    1. Hi Sarah! Yes, this DIY painting project took a little time, but definitely helped brighten our space where our railing is. Good luck with your project.

  5. Well done. This is the most detailed and comprehensive how to guide I’ve seen on painting railings and banisters down to the supplies. Gets me excited to do my own! We aren’t necessarily going from oak to painted but nevertheless this is helpful. I will need to look for more information on filling in dents and dings. We have a few of those….

    1. Thanks for the kind words. We are happy that you feel comfortable in your painting process after checking out our how to paint your stair railing instructions. If your stair railing is already painted, we have a painted cabinet tutorial that might work for you. Luckily our stair railing was in pretty good shape and we didn’t need to fix any dents. Good luck with your stairway makevoer!

  6. Hi! Love your project!
    I’m a total “beginner”. In our home, the previous owners poorly painted the handrail already with some super cheap white paint. I’d like to paint it black. Do I need to remove the white paint completely? (If so, how?) Or can I lightly sand and add a primer and then paint over the white paint? If I do this can I still use the degreaser on the white paint?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Lyndsey. If the paint is chipping away and in bad condition, I would think it would be best to strip it away. You could completely sand the railing or also try a paint stripping product like Citristrip first before priming. Also, I always suggest that you go into a local paint store (like Sherwin Williams) and show them actual pictures of your project. They will have suggestions. Good luck with your railing project.

  7. Thank you Erin for the great inspiration and instructions! We love the new look of our newly painted railings.

    1. Hi Addie. I am glad that you love your new railing!!

  8. We had a professional painter give us a quote of over $3000 to paint our railings and bannisters. I did a little research on the project and came across your site. You made it seem very doable for the average person, so we tackled the project ourselves. We followed your steps. Bought the materials you suggested. The finished project looks fantastic. A professional couldn’t have done any better. Thanks, Erin, for a great site.

    1. Hey Paul! I am so happy that your oak railing turned out so well! Great job and thanks for letting us know. We love when a little paint can really transform a space.

  9. Lien Dang says:

    We have a beautiful china dinning set with hutch look like new but I don’t like the oak color, it’s not matching with the new house style I moved in what can I do

    1. Hey Lien. You have a lot of options. You could use a similar paint technique used to paint this railing or look into other decorative furniture paints that are out there like milk paint or chalk paint.
      Even though I love painting things, I would also consider stripping the hutch and restaining it to fit your tastes. You could also look into to gel stain to see if that would work. Good luck with your furniture makeover project!

  10. 5 stars
    Great tutorials! I have honey oak all over my new house and dislike it very much. What do you think of heritage paint?

    1. Hi Candace. Thanks for the kind words! I haven’t tried heritage paints yet. When I do, I am sure I will use them on a piece of furniture first to test them out. Good luck with your painting projects.