Paint effects specialist Greer Clayton has a fine eye for detail, and painted these numbered stairs using Resene testpots of various colours (available from your local Resene ColorShop). The neutral base of the steps is Resene Barely There.

Greer also does beautiful things with stencils. These front steps are first painted with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Athens Grey, and patterned with Resene Quarter Delta. The front door itself is finished in Resene Silver Aluminium from the Resene Metallic and Special Effects range. 

If you don’t feel confident stenciling your stair risers, how about adding wallpaper, like this Eijffinger wallpaper from the Suzani collection, available at Resene.

The stairs themselves don’t have to be the stars. Architect Michael Pepper of Pepper Architects added impact to his stairwell with a handrail painted in Resene Flame Red and a panel to the left in Resene Yellow Submarine. 

Clever homeowner Pippa Jinks ripped up the old grey carpet on her stairs, grabbed some Resene testpots, and converted the steps into a rainbow.