The best color to paint your stair spindles is a cool white that matches the trim and baseboards in a house. Avoid yellowish-toned white spindle colors or neutrals that make the railings look dirty or faded.
Your handrails or banisters should be either a darker wood stain or a wood tone that matches your floors. Likewise, stair risers should match the painted white spindles and trim of your staircase.
Other color variations include staining the spindles and handrailing to match your wood floors. Alternatively, a modern idea is to install iron or metal spindles that bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary styles in your home.