There’s been a number of times where I’ve gone to a job where I’m penned in to paint interior woodwork and a common issue I see is paint drips that have dried on banisters (especially if my client isn’t a painter and has painted them theirselves). Crown’s non-drip satin has the perfect combination of consistency and drying time so even for amateur painters, this isn’t really an issue you’ll face. Choosing the ideal design for your staircase may be challenging, but at B&Q, we try to make the process a bit simpler by providing you with a selection of stair parts give you options and help you choose the ones that best suit your style. Handrails are among the significant items you'll need to make. They are essential to making sure that everyone using the stairs is safe, especially younger children and adults with slightly reduced mobility. Spindles would probably be the next thing on your list if you didn't decide on what work best for you.

My favourite thing about Crown’s satin is that it’s actually more like an eggshell in finish (the white is beautiful) but has the durability of satin. So the sheen is quite low but the durability is decent, especially for banisters. Being cheap obviously helps! My favourite choice here would be a satinwood which combines durability with an attractive mid-sheen finish but ultimately the choice is yours. In some home with certain colour schemes, even a high gloss can look great. As an old head, I still prefer to use oil-based paints as I think they look nicer so if I was going to be painting a banister Jonno’s non-drip gloss would be my first choice. It’s hands down the best when it comes to price:performance ratio.Our professional decorators voted the ever reliable Johnstone’s Aqua Satin as the best paint for banisters overall with 32% of respondents saying this is the paint they’d use if given the choice.

Bespoke staircase specialist Bisca designs and makes award-winning staircases all over the UK, built entirely in the North Yorkshire workshop.Of course, being oil-based, you’ll need to deal with the typical pitfalls such as the odour so if you do go with this paint, make sure to air out your home before, during and after application. To achieve the aforementioned quality finish, you’re going to want to buy something that is easy to apply – whether you’re a professional or an amateur. There’s no point buying a paint that’s ultimately going to leave runs and brush marks on the final coat.

Firstly, it’s worth noting that gloss paint is typically extremely durable. And in this case with the Johnstone’s non-drip gloss, that’s certainly accurate. The hard-wearing formula has been created to withstand multiple washes and should stand the test of time on your banisters. I am not hating on that, but this banister and railing had a very early 2000s vibe to them. The modern farmhouse style was my inspiration and adding a modern finish to this wood railing and banister was my goal. Your paint job should last you for years so don’t be afraid to spend a little bit more now on a high quality paint that will be a dream to apply and will ultimately stand the test of time. Banister Paint Maintenance Fortunately, the Diamond Satinwood (despite being a trade paint) comes in a relatively small size (1 litre) so will easily cover your banister with a couple of coats and you’ll likely have plenty leftover for touch ups on other woodwork within your home. Being a satinwood finish, it’s also a bit nicer on the eye due to it being a mid-sheen and gives a nice balance between being good at hiding imperfections but not being too reflective.

We’ll beat any like-for-like quote on all stair parts*

As mentioned above, durability is key when it comes to banister paint as thee banister is one of the most touched objects in any home. You’ll need a paint that can withstand frequent traffic and there’s no doubt that Johnstone’s Aqua is able to. The open space under the stairs here is used to store a laundry basket and a white storage unit, which add to a relaxed and lived-in look. How much does it cost to replace a banister? We are very much in agreement with the 32% of professional decorators who chose this as the best paint for banisters. Whilst the top 3 paints in the vote were in favour of satin finishes, the number 4 spot goes to Johnstone’s non-drip gloss. And just because the gloss comes in 4th place, that doesn’t mean we should rule it out entirely and I’ll explain why.