Farm-Style Stairwell

• Barn red paint makes short work of the stairwell renovation in an old farmhouse. When the wood is serviceable but not worth refinishing, cover it in paint that looks as if it is part of the original structure. Barn red is a neutral color in country style so the stair doesn't have to match anything to blend in. Protect the paint with a coat of clear polyurethane, or let the stairs get a little bit worn and then seal them so they look authentic like a wonderful remnant from the past. One caution, red stairs could be dark in a stairwell that doesn't get any light or one that is painted or papered in a dark color.
  
  

Minimalist Multipurpose Stairs

• Create a platform bedroom in an open loft, and use the steps up to it for storage. Stair treads that are hinged fold up for storing blankets or anything that needs a home out of sight. Each step should have a compartment about the same depth so you don't create a bottomless storage nightmare of forgotten things. Use the rest of the space under the steps and under the platform for side storage drawers that pull out for access. A platform and stairway that is painted white or covered in white veneer is a clean, minimal look. Treads in pale natural wood outline the steps so they are easy to see.
  
  

Skateboard Steps

• Themed steps enliven a recreation room in the basement or the access to a sleeping loft. Skateboard stair treads are the right size for secure footing and look awesome suspended on galvanized pipe supports or a metal frame. To reach a sleeping loft, you don't need a stair rail but, if skateboard steps are used for an attic playroom or basement stair, there should be a side rail for safety. Use real skateboard maple decks for the treads. Clear coat them with protective finish to keep the good idea from getting grungy.
  
  

Rainbow Staircase

• Turn a bland staircase into a colorful climb with paint. Choose a palette with a theme -- complementary colors, a graduated rainbow or a single color in varied intensities. Paint just the risers, not the treads. The stairs become the focal point of an entry hall or an inviting expedition to the second floor. The colorful risers mean there is no need to carpet less-than-perfect stairs to get a look that's as high-style as the rest of your décor.