When I updated the hallway, I added trim and new light fixtures, but something still felt off. I realized that the pony walls closed off the hallway and made it feel really dated. That convinced me that I had to, and could, change the pony walls to a stair rail.

If You Hate Something In Your Home, Change It

Seriously though. If there is something in your home, take the chance on making it into something you love! I started by demolishing the pony walls, all the animosity I felt toward them went into smashing them and taking them out. When I started the demo I first had score the drywall on the side where the stairs are. If I just swung a hammer into it I would risk damaging the drywall and then having to repair it. I scored the drywall and then felt safe taking the hammer to the pony wall. It was so exciting to finally start to change the pony walls to a stair rail.

After the demo, I cleaned up and then added a base for the spindles using a pre-primed pine 1×6. I attached it with four inch screws down into the subfloor. The post was then attached using screws at an angle down into the floor. Once the post was in I was able to put the spindles in between the base and the hand rail. Then I attached the hand rail to the post and the studs using the same four inch screws driven in at an angle.

Updated Hand Rail, Well Worth the Time

Once both sides were done it looked like the rails should have always been there. They are such a beautiful addition to the hallway and I am so glad I made the change from pony walls to stair rail. The hallway looks cleaner and more open without the pony walls. Click here to see the video of this update.