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AIBU

Stair Handrail.I hate it!

(79 Posts)
Beebaabo Mon 09-Feb-26 14:27:19

AIBU
DH and I have different tastes in decor.He likes more sparse(think Norwegian,Icelandic etc) I like more traditional .
I thought we had come to an agreement ie meet each other halfway 9n this.
However he has started decorating hall,stairs and landing.
We have come to agreement over wallpaper,but now he has bought a put up a hand rail that I can only say looks like a black drain pipe.Just a black metal.
He knows I absolutely hate this type of thing.I did say when he asked.
I just can't stand it ,it looks so cheap and nasty.I will try to post a photo.Wallpaper not started yet.
AIBU to ask him to change it

Allira Mon 09-Feb-26 23:33:54

I'm researching them myself!

If I buy that one, will my stairs look that good? 😁

TheSunRisesInTheEast Mon 09-Feb-26 23:54:54

No reason why it won't! I think it's the bare stairs with the carpet up the middle that makes it look so striking. Do you fancy ripping your stair carpet up?! 😝

mae13 Tue 10-Feb-26 05:06:52

"but now he has bought a put up a hand rail"..............what's that then?

Tuliptree Tue 10-Feb-26 08:52:01

That stairway illustrating the rail looks lovely doesn’t it? I wish it were mine ( photo of which I’ve now attached) It was a very tricky job for the carpenter - I needed a rail on the left but you can see an odd curve in the wall, then it had to go round the dog leg. The original rail on the right had to be extended so I could go safely round the corner. It works really well from a safety point of view and I think it works quite well aesthetically. I chose the larger pigs ear rail as it’s deep enough for me to grip it well. The smaller one you sometimes see is not really functional more decorative.

25Avalon Tue 10-Feb-26 09:26:27

Two of you live in your house and one should not force the other to accept something especially when they know the other absolutely hates it. Why did he go out and buy a handrail without asking you? I know men can just see the functionality sometimes but this is part of your decor. So no I don’t think you are being unreasonable. RIP it out and replace it.

NotSpaghetti Tue 10-Feb-26 09:38:30

TheSunRisesInTheEast it just shows how different we all are.
I saw the same photo and immediately thought "what a pity the three woods are different shades."
This sort of thing would keep on bothering me if I lived there to be honest.

Given that I "put up with" a lot I don't like too much in my own house I shouldn't really be so picky, but if I was buying new.... then it would have to be as close to perfect as natural wood can be.
😬

Beebaabo Tue 10-Feb-26 09:44:23

Thanks everyone for your comments. I will broach the subject with him.
Tuliptree your rail looks lovely

NotSpaghetti Tue 10-Feb-26 09:48:04

I understand it's an advert (or I would not have commented).

Allira Tue 10-Feb-26 10:23:10

NotSpaghetti

TheSunRisesInTheEast it just shows how different we all are.
I saw the same photo and immediately thought "what a pity the three woods are different shades."
This sort of thing would keep on bothering me if I lived there to be honest.

Given that I "put up with" a lot I don't like too much in my own house I shouldn't really be so picky, but if I was buying new.... then it would have to be as close to perfect as natural wood can be.
😬

"what a pity the three woods are different shades."

🤔 made me think.

I was hoping to find one the same wood and shade as the banister but it might not be possible so perhaps painting it same as the wall might be better.

Allira Tue 10-Feb-26 10:24:03

I suppose it could be stained to as near as possible.
If I knew what wood the banister is!

NotSpaghetti Tue 10-Feb-26 11:42:02

Ha ha Allira - another 1st world problem!

I often have to roll my eyes at myself about "picky" details.
I can't tell you how many paint samples or fabric swatches it takes before I finally make a choice... and when we were putting in a new kitchen the number of "potential" cupboard handles we looked at!

TheSunRisesInTheEast Tue 10-Feb-26 13:26:13

It all looked like pine to me!!

Actually whenever I've had handrails up the stairs, I've had them painted in white gloss, so much easier to wash dirty hand marks off 😉.

Tuliptree, your carpenter did a good job there, must have been fiddly for him 😟.

Anything to make life easier and safer. I've just had a handrail fitted over my bath/shower, it's a big help 👍.

rowyn Tue 10-Feb-26 13:49:57

I must be ignorant. Don't most stairs have hand rails, simply for safety? Mine is painted white. I use it both up and down and am very glad to have its support!

Tuliptree Tue 10-Feb-26 13:51:23

rowyn

I must be ignorant. Don't most stairs have hand rails, simply for safety? Mine is painted white. I use it both up and down and am very glad to have its support!

Yes they do but some of us need a rail on both sides for safety.

Welshy Tue 10-Feb-26 13:52:02

www.diy.com/departments/pine-handrail-pigs-ear-3-6m-wall-mounted-handrail-uk-manufactured-traditional-products-ltd/5061064271442_BQ.prd

Yes, here it is ....

Norah Tue 10-Feb-26 14:23:09

We've oak broomstick handrails, match stairs well.

Easy to fit, looks good.

Allira Tue 10-Feb-26 14:38:55

Norah

We've oak broomstick handrails, match stairs well.

Easy to fit, looks good.

Do you know what make, Norah?

DH thinks our banister is oak or possibly a light mahogany.

Kats2 Tue 10-Feb-26 14:42:06

My daughter put one of those up in her last flat..

Kats2 Tue 10-Feb-26 14:50:46

I should have pointed out this post was a reply to SORES comment..about having a rope handrail..
my daughter had the thick red rope instead of a handrail in her old flat as she hated the original wood handrail..

MadameP Tue 10-Feb-26 15:04:40

I have a pigs ear handrail too. It’s oiled oak. My stairs go up from the lounge so it’s important to me that they look nice and fit in with the lounge decor.

I could do with a rail on the other side of the stairs too for safety so may put that in my plans for later this year.

Norah Tue 10-Feb-26 15:10:25

Allira

Norah

We've oak broomstick handrails, match stairs well.

Easy to fit, looks good.

Do you know what make, Norah?

DH thinks our banister is oak or possibly a light mahogany.

The Mansard addition was many years ago, no idea to the make of the handrails. My husband easily installed, plain oak, flat back.

AuntieE Tue 10-Feb-26 16:01:27

If you don't like a plain rail, black, grey or any other colour, paint it!

I mean, how often are you going to actually look at it?

I can see the point of being annoyed if the sitting-room wallpaper is something you dislike, or if your husbands like mine wanted every blinking door and door frame in the house painted WHITE, but I have never been prepared to waste my time being annoyed about a banister!

After all, I don't sit on the stairs admiring or loathing it.

4allweknow Tue 10-Feb-26 16:02:06

Should be wood, beautifully finished wood, not painted.

missdeke Tue 10-Feb-26 16:08:44

Boz

Oh God. Some men and decor. Most of them haven't a clue. They find decorative cushions bewildering for a start.

I must confirm that I find decorative cushions a pointless exercise too. They might look pretty but they just take up space and get in the way. OK for a show home but not for everyday living. That said I do think the OP is not being unreasonable to expect her DH to take her choices into consideration for decoration that they both have to live with. If a compromise with wallpaper works then surely a compromise on a handrail is a possibility

WelshPoppy Tue 10-Feb-26 16:23:22

Without a photo it's hard to say.