Painted Wood Stair Landing Ideas

Trompe l'oeil

• A trompe l'oeil painting is an optical illusion to make it appear that a three-dimensional piece is present on a wall. The reality is that the wall is completely flat. For the landing of a stairway, add the same decorative accent you would get by putting furniture there without requiring the space for a table or dresser. Paint an end table, dresser or window covered with curtains on the wall of the stair landing. If you are not adept at painting, hire a professional painter or artist to create the illusion of a real piece of furniture on the landing. To enhance the effect, add real elements such as hanging real curtains across a painted window or hanging a mantle clock from the wall so that it looks like it is resting on a dresser painted on the landing wall.

Painted Runner and Rug

• Instead of using a real carpet runner up wooden stairs that can bunch and cause trips, paint a runner up the stairs. Use the same paint colors to paint a rug at the landing of the stairs. Painted floor rugs can be simple squares with painted tassels on the corners or ornate faux oriental rugs with intricate designs. Although the painted rug will not feel like a rug underfoot, it will be safer because it prevents slips that a throw rug could cause.

Stenciling

• Stencil a design on the floor of the landing to give the stairway a cozy look. Use stencils from a paint store to apply shapes around the edges of the landing space or across the middle of the floor. Stencil designs to match the rest of the home's decor. For instance, if you have a home with a country design, choose farm animal silhouettes or a check pattern on the floor. Homes with a nature theme can extend it to the landing by using flowers or plants as the stencil designs.

Medallion

• Paint a large medallion on the floor of the stair landing to reflect a rose window design on the floor. The effect is doubled if you have a round cut glass window on the wall above the landing. When the light shines through the window onto the floor, it will look like the light coming through the window has painted the image on the floor. For a custom twist on a medallion, paint it to mirror your family's crest.