Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Staining

I recently replaced carpeting on my stairs. The wood showing on each riser was stained. The carpet I recplaced it with covers only the middle of the stairs leaving bare wood showing. I want to stain the bare wood now , how can I do this and make sure it blends in with the existing stain?

Steve

You can't just blend it together. You'll need to strip it all and sand it totally out before you can apply a new stain and finish across.

I disagree. Find out what type of wood the stairs are made of, pine, maple, oak, etc., a hard wood might need ot be conditioned first. Then get a stain chart and match what color stain you already have. Then test drive that color stain on an inconspicuous spot to see how well it matches. It may require multiple coats, or even the blending of 2 stains, but with a little experimentation, it can be done.

Stain and finishes will bleach out from the sun and also depending upon the finish used, it can also amber "Turn Yellow" which is very difficult to duplicate.

If applying a new stain in between areas that already have a stain/finish, it will stand out more than the other. It's the same concept as putting a piece of tape in the middle of the wood, letting it sit in the sun for at least one day, then trying to put a finish on it and have it all blend together. It's near impossible to hide the "Line"

you did not state as to IF the previously exposed wood was stained AND
finished??

if it was finished, then, if you are looking for a uniform colour, it would be
easier to strip,or sand the finish off.then restain.

OR, if it was not "finished" with a poly or whatever, then you could
simply "go" darker or you could choose a stain that matches your
carpet and have a "two tone" look on the wood.

its a canvas and you are doing the creating.

take the time to think of the possibilities and then how to get there.

Refinishing should have been done prior to carpet installation. Whatever you decide to do, there will be risk of getting stain and finish on carpet. Ideally, carpet should be removed and stairs sanded and refinished before reinstalling carpet.