From white bannister rail to floating glass stairs with aluminum cable rail, variations on railing colour abound. Railing shade is determined by the manner of your house, your home’s colour scheme, and also the material used to construct your stairwells and balustrades. Railing consists of wood, wrought iron, aluminum, stainless steel, glass and copper, some of which come in different finishes. Interior rail painted in a complementary shade adds contrast. And to get a stairwell or balustrade using a timeworn appearance, whitewashed rail adds rustic flair.
Painted and Wood Tone
Tonal contrast is produced by pairing a white rail with a walnut handrail, especially when the walls are mild, and the trim matches the handrail. Dramatic comparison ensues when black is used to get chunky newel posts, railing and handrails. If the wood flooring is mild, combine white rail using a handrail in maple. Unpainted spindles in oak comparison with a handrail at a complementary shade that falls opposite on the colour wheel from oak’s orangish undertone. Hunter green handrails complement spindles at orangish maple, while pulling from green accent colors in adjoining rooms.
Wrought Iron and Painted Metal
Wrought-iron railing features curvilinear scroll function in colors from dark to russet. A interior balustrade in dark wrought iron echoes the dark tone of a wrought-iron chandelier. Wrought-iron railing in russet mixes with walls in tan Venetian plaster, as does copper railing, which sometimes features geometric designs. Or, to get a house with a cool palette, a wrought-iron bannister at pewter includes a dull, aged sheen. Painting wrought-iron railing using a thin wash of mint-green produces an oxidized appearance. When painted white, a wrought-iron balustrade with an intricate scroll design comes with an ethereal feel.
Cable or Glass
Horizontal cable railing in steel or stainless steel creates a streamlined appearance. Thin, horizontal cable railing pairs using chunkier handrails in sleek wood tones, like red espresso, orangish teal or blond maple. Dark handrails make a link with easy furniture at matching wood tones. A brand new look includes the icicle hues of glass stairs in mint green, aquamarine or coral. The narrow lines and silver tone of aluminum cable rail maximize the perspective of glass stairs, as does bannister railing in glass.
Whitewashed Railing
Whether the stairwell railing is rustic or traditional, whitewashing creates an airy, ethereal appearance. By applying a thin layer of white paint to darker rail, then wiping off most of the paint, the dark railing color shows through, supplying an old, vintage quality. Bead-board stair casing at a solid shade of white inserts textural contrast, as does a handrail in white. But departing the handrail in dark walnut provides tonal contrast; the shadowy handrail provides a visual link using a light fixture in pink.