I vote don’t paint it. The grain of the wood is very appealing and paint requires more upkeep and regular repainting to keep it looking good

Thank you very much for your comment. I am inclined to agree. I've also however begun to consider an off white chalk paint so the grain can still be seen. Decision decisions!

It might be a lot of white for a south facing space that already gets lots of light

I agree that it would look much better painted but I’m not sure about the green. You’d need to think about how it would look both in both upstairs and downstairs rooms. By painting it white or off white it would blend in and ‘disappear’ whereas painting in a bold colour would ensure it stood out.

Many thanks for the comments! Thats what I keep thinking about what would work in both rooms & struggling to find a colour that suits both. Considered all sorts including off whites such as Mindful by Coat or greys like Down Pipe by F&B. Another option is keeping banister and threads pine and spindles painted.

A simple white or grey in eggshell would work and won’t clash with the rest of the colours in your house. You mention chalk paint? It’s not tough enough for a staircase and it’s horrible to work with, the brush drags so much. Stick with eggshell.

I like the wooden look , stairs take a lot of battering and the paint chips easily, plus its a nightmare painting the spindles ; you could replace the spindles with something like metal to modern them up a bit .

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vslf6A61KJM

Each to their own design, some like the beauty of wood : if you decide to paint it make sure you get the right one.

Oak yes, pine not so much

Hi there..everyone is going to have an opinion on what might work best. For me i would have to agree with Sarah L on this project. Good luck 😊