Although regularly considered an afterthought when decorating one’s home, the staircase is often the first thing people see when they walk into an entryway and should not be forgotten within the overall décor. Home decorating trends are now paying attention to this once forgotten space, with features on HGTV and This Old House encouraging people to take another look at the design opportunity the home staircase holds. Local artist Sara Pulver noticed the stair riser trend surfacing on Pinterest but discovered there were not many outlets available to purchase the unique decorative decals. She decided to combine her artistic talent with the vinyl decals trend and now offers a variety of designs in her Etsy shop, Crowbabys (Etsy. com/shop/Crowbabys).
Her decal shop, Crowbabys, is a partnership between Pulver and friend Dave Curtice, who has a vinyl shop at Village Gate. A variety of vinyl stair risers are available, and the shop also features decals for windows, mirrors, doors, and tiles.
“We have simple patterns, ornate patterns, and quite a bit in between,” she explains. “Color is important…the trend right now is focused mainly on subtler colors: warm gray, beige, etc. But some people want color and come up with different combinations to really make their risers pop.”
Choosing the right pattern and color might seem like a daunting task, but Pulver eases any design apprehension by offering help with the decision. “I’m always happy to do a digital mock-up to help a customer visualize” she says.
Once a color and pattern have been selected, the next step is to apply the decals to the risers. Below is the step-by- step process of how to apply your own stair riser decals:
1. Completely clean and dry your risers. The cleaner the riser is, the stronger the decal will adhere to the space.
2. Align the decal and tape it in place using masking tape along the top edge of the transfer tape. Make sure the top and sides are aligned perfectly.
3. Place a piece of masking tape vertically down the center of the decal, from top to bottom. This will act as a hinge so both the left and right side of the decal can swing away from the wall.
4. Remove masking tape from one side of the decal and pull the decal away from the riser. Peel the backing tape off the half of the decal you are working with and cut the paper off near the center hinge.
5. Starting from the center edge of the decal near the masking tape, wipe over the transfer tape with a burnisher tool or credit card outward from the center. Firmly go over the entire decal surface until it is completely adhered to the surface.
6. Once the first half of the decal has been applied, remove the masking tape and center hinge tape from the decal. Pull this half of the decal back from the surface and peel the backing paper from the decal.
7. Starting from where the first half of the decal has already been applied, wipe over the transfer tape with the burnisher outward toward the edge. Firmly go over the entire decal surface until it is completely adhered to the surface.
8. Slowly and carefully peel the transfer tape from one end of the decal. Peel the tape at a sharp angle so you can press on the decal as you peel the tape. If any part of the decal starts to come up with the tape, run over that part of the decal with the burnisher and try to peel the tape again.
Take the first step, rise to the challenge, and transform your neglected staircase into a customized space that reflects your personalized style. As Pulver encourages, “Stair risers are almost always forgotten in home décor and they are rich in possibilities.”
For more information about Sara Pulver, her artwork, and stair riser decals, visit www.facebook.com/crowbabys or email [email protected].
A low-maintenance gal with high-maintenance hair, Laura DiCaprio is a writer, media director, and amateur clarinetist living in Fairport.
