You can get the same 1/4 round with the floor, but stain it, or paint it before install them.

The stairs get a lot of wear traffic. I would use a metal trim. You can purchase several different types at most hardware stores. The shapes vary but I think metal would hold up better than wood. You can get aluminum in different colors and should give you a good finished look.

If you are trying to match what you have you can buy exactly the same size quarter round the make a series of cuts along the back side (the hidden side) of the trim. These series of cuts allow the trim to comform to the curves of your stairway. You'll have to make the cuts every 1/2 inch or so (closer if the curves are really tight). Play around with some test pieces before trying it out on the longer piece you plan to install.

Stain/paint the trim before you install. It will make in much easier.

I just answered a Q involving Vinyl molding as opposed to wood. Will the molding itself be painted? If so the Vinyl will help you solve the proble. I use it on occasion for curves. Obviously that won't help in the molding needs to be natural/stained.

Vinyl; while assumed a "CHEAP" method is often more durable than wood; obviously flexes more readily; and paints as well. I'm not talking about the extruded foam/formed molding; but like NEVER ROT so often used for exterior work.

If the stairway is enclosed by walls/Drywall; and painted; then the molding might likely be painted as well. Vinyl will easily perform in exterior and interior curves, where the radius isn't too tight.

Steven Wolf

If it's painted you can keep it a secerct as to its substance.

If you are talking about the curve in the first step that is on the floor that is called the riser and there are two ways you can do this with out it looking like an after thought.

1: If the rest of you home has white painted 1/4 round or shoe molding go to your local mill company and ask them for Flex Trim shoe molding if they don't have it try to find a local wood flooring distributor or look on line. This stuff is made out of rubber and can bend around anything. The only thing that sucks about this stuff is that it doesn't stain well at all, I mean it rubber!

2: If you want wood you have to find the radius of the riser and you can do this by using a straight edge of some sort ( Framing square, level or ruler) put both stright edges on apex of the curve and measure the distance between the two. In mot cases is about 10 in. that means you have a 5 in. radius.
Now with that info jump on line and use key word like "stair parts" and find a company that will make on for you using the "Bent Wood Lamination" method, They are pretty expensive around $200 but it's real wood and it looks real good.