Whether you are painting a stairwell in your home or on-site, this is one job that requires skill, patience, and great attention to detail.

Stairwell walls are known for being one of the trickiest decorating tasks, thanks to their high walls, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn how to do it.

From what equipment and supplies you need to how to prevent falls, keep reading to discover how to paint a high stairwell in three simple steps.

Step 1: Prevent falls

Unless you want to risk falling and seriously injuring yourself or your workers, you need to ensure that you have access to the right equipment and that you keep any work platforms you use safe.

Below are our top tips for preventing falls when painting a stairwell:

• Invest in a sturdy ladder with a maximum weight limit above your weight.
• Consider using a stairwell protection system.
• Limit the use of the scaffolding equipment to one person at a time.
• Make sure the surrounding area is clean, tidy, and free from spillages.
• If you place a drop cloth on the stairs below, do not place your ladder on top of it, as this can cause the ladder to slip.

Step 2: Make a scaffold

Although you can paint a high stairwell using just a ladder with adjustable tread, it is a lot easier and quicker if you construct a simple scaffolding or use a temporary stair.

It might seem like a heavy duty option but find out below how to make your own scaffolding:

• Put a step ladder at the top of the stairs.
• Prop an extension ladder against the wall at the bottom of the stairs. Make sure that its rungs are even with the rungs of the step ladder.
• Lay a board around two inches thick and 12 inches wide between the two ladders. This will be your scaffold to stand on while you paint the ceiling.  
• Secure the board with clamps to prevent slipping.

Step 3: Cut in and paint the walls

Once you have invested in the right equipment, secured the area, and assembled your scaffolding, it is now time to start cutting in and painting the walls. Before you begin, you may want to think about using stair protection products such as a stair protector, or you can simply cover the stairs, stair treads, and railings with multiple drop cloths.

• Start by cutting in around the ceilings, corners, and along the stairs using a paintbrush or a small paint roller. You can either use masking tape or a shur line edger for a clean edge.
• Once the cutting in has been completed, you can now paint the stairwell walls. Using an extension pole is a good idea to help keep the roller steady without having to adjust the height of your ladder or scaffolding.
• After you have painted the stairs and painted the ceilings and you have done the first coat of paint, you must make sure that they are completely dry before applying the second coat.
• Keep your paint roller moist between coats by wrapping it in plastic wrap instead of just leaving them to fester in your paint tray.

There you have it. You have painted a high stairwell with minimal effort and maximum results!