Modernizing an 80s Staircase: DIY White Oak Makeover

We couldn't afford our dream house, so I'm making this house dreamy one space at a time.

We couldn't afford our dream house, so I'm making this house dreamy one space at a time. We bought our house for the potential. It was basically original to the 80s and needed major updating. This staircase is one of the first things you see when you walk in. And although it's not the grand curving staircase of my dream, I knew I could make it a hundred times better. And although the short spindles were kind of cute, they were also a dust trap and not really my style. I prefer clean lines and open spaces, so sadly, the spindles had to go along with the post. But don't worry, it wasn't load bearing. I previously ripped out my worn 80s honey oak kitchen and built a new white oak kitchen which is directly across from these stairs. So I decided to cap the wall with white oak to tie everything together. But I think the biggest part of this transformation was the steps. I wanted them to match my flooring, so I decided to build my own treads. It was definitely a learning curve and some miscuts were made, but in the end, I couldn't be happier with them. This is where we started and this is where we're at now. Follow along as I make the most of our 80s home with DIY renovations that you could tackle too.