I have oak banister and railings and recently tore the carpet off our stairs and painted everything. I debated between black and brown and went with brown in the end. It's SW Woodsy Brown in high gloss. I'm really happy with it. It reads a dark chocolate brown. Hope this helps you visualize. I don't know what Bittersweet Chocolate looks like IRL but I'd use a gloss.
This was before the painters tape was removed.
{{!gwi}}

Hi Thermsen.

You must be a lot more easily embarrassed than I am. I don't love that color on your lower wall, but then, I don't hate it, either. It's just a color. Here's my advice: life's too short to be shamed by a paint choice.

Which means that whether you go for the dark stain or the black paint on your hand rail, it will probably be OK. You say that the sun won't hit it much, but that when it does, it looks brown. I say if the brown were all that awful in the first place, why did you use it on your floors & cabinets? Or are you going to redo them too. It can't be all that bad.

Here's the thing: you say that, with molding stained, your house was looking very traditional--almost as though that's a bad thing--but that the painted balusters give things a cleaner look, and yet, actually, the combination of white balusters & dark railing is about as traditional as you can get. If you're not sure, consult an episode of "Ozzie & Harriet". Besides, traditional & clean are not mutually exclusive. Then again, the wrapped carpet on your steps is neither "traditional" nor particularly "clean", anyway. It just is. But you can't worry about everything: you've got garland to hang.

So put away the inappropriate shame over previous choices, knowing that whichever color you decide to use on your rail, it will probably be OK. After all, it's the dark-toned railing's crisp contrast against the white that matters, not the specific color you choose. Just keep repeating, It's only paint... it's only paint..."

I did mine in black, but also painted the inside of the front door in black. I like the way they look together. So I'd go with the BC. Sounds pretty! If you don't like it you could always paint a coat of black over it.

pssst, it's me, the crazy one. (you know, high gloss dark ceiling in the foyer, gray walls, and hot pink closet interiors) I would love to paint my railing too, or even stain it. However, this is the one project I'm too nervous about. It's just not easily "fixable" if I screw it up.

Here's my thought, do not do anything until after the holdiays. Just get the garland up. If you paint it with a high gloss enamel paint, you need to do several time consuming prep steps, and then probably at least 2 coats of paint, with time in between each one. Plus, you really shouldn't be attaching anything to it for probably 2 weeks to make sure it is really really really cured and you don't damage your paint job. Our painter told us to put nothing on the windowsills until at least 10 days or a mark might be left.

So, I say, just cover it with the garland, and then make it your January project.

I would actually do what Bee said. My paint (SW porch and floor) literally took 2-1/2 months before it wasn't tacky. I did follow directions and prep right. I don't think it would be good to attach garland for a good while after you paint.

"I don't think it would be good to attach garland for a good while after you paint."

I was thinking the same thing as I read the OP....

Thanks for the advice and yes, great point about the garland on the uncured paint. I left my painted bookshelves for a week before I put anything on them and they are doing fine. I really don't want to wait 2 weeks (one week to finish and at least 1 to cure) before putting up garland though.

Magnaverde - The brown paint is on the lower cabinets and the door, the floors are a darker espresso stain on red oak. I do like it but sometimes wonder if I should have gone black and could see myself repainting black in a few years. I think I may do the chocolate but have the paint store add more black. And you're right, IT'S JUST PAINT! And that's why I don't want to stain it. I guess the dark and white stairs are very traditional, I don't think that's really the wording I should have used. The house had LOADS of orangey oak it it and now the wood is white which makes it look cleaner in my eyes. Not to mention, it's much easier to physically clean! And don't get me started on the carpet on the stairs! I'd love to get rid of it but then again they don't show the dirt that wood stairs would with 3 little boys!

SheeSharee - It looks beautiful! Thank you for the visual, it really helps.