Mauro paints stair treads; the team highlights some tools; Heath installs wall sconces. Mauro Henrique shows a homeowner the right technique and materials to paint his unfinished wood stair treads ...

Instead, my treads were like a porous, MDF kind of wood. Also, there was a gap on either end of the stair pieces because of how they left room for the house to settle – my gaps were huge!

You can easily paint the risers a bold contrasting color that will transform even the most basic stairs into a design element. You can also grab a gallon of floor paint and transform the treads.

Take your home to the next level with these imaginative stair runner ideas. From funky prints to unique shapes, these designer examples are bold inspiration.