Dado rails, are they out of date? thinking of putting one up the stairs

Does the dado rail serve as a handrail as well? If not, is it at the same/higher/lower level? Just wondering.... I don't have a dado rail as my stairs are quite narrow so I think it would look odd. Originally they were to stop furniture knocking against the walls I believe.
My sister has them in her listed house and isn't allowed to remove them, so she paints above and papers below, it suits the house.

Tegan

I've got a dado rail in my hall/landing. I live in a square box of a house and just wanted to add a bit of interest to it. I wouldn't put one in any other room [other than possibly putting tongue and groove in the bathroom one day] because of the problem of furniture not resting flush with the walls. It's nice to be able to paint the two halves in different colours and changing the effect of the room. Also, with landing/stairs being difficult to paint, as long as the top is a neutral colour you can change the bottom half easily without having to use dangerous ladders etc.The only thing to watch out for is the wall not being completely flat; the guy who did mine put flexible filler top and bottom of the rail but it looks a bit messy in places. And he did put a tiny bit of it up the wrong way round [it's only two inches between doors] but it's fun to see who spots it...I didn't!

then I suppose it would make a mess of the walls if I had/wanted to take them off... in the future...

I cant say I am a lover of them as it will make more work and more cost....just an easy option ! I will prob go for emulsion and think of perhaps some panels/photos on the wall coming down the stairs.....I shall wait and see others ideas thanks all

Honest opinion, if I moved into a house with paper below the dado it's the first bit of redecorating I'd do.

Doesn't matter if you like them biker I have them in the hallway, stairs and landing. I am not into fashion as such I just go with what I like or for practical reasons like dado rails - then just refreshing the paintwork on the bottom is sufficient to keep it looking OK. We have wallpaper on the top.

A friend once told me her husband was papering under the dildos in her dining room
I think you just have to do what is best for you biker. Personally, I wouldn't do this and mine is a Victorian house. I don't do 'fussy' and dado rails break up the room into separate parts which, to me, is fussy! If it makes life easier for you then go for it.

just had a browse on net for modern dado rail idea.,some very smart décor about done with dados. I'm just thinking its an easy option for me on the stairs.