What to do when two connecting rooms don't match?

Our newly redone guest room is two steps up from a little closet area that used to be a laundry room, years ago, before we moved the washer and dryer downstairs (best idea EVER) and before we carved this room out of the attic.

Previously, we redid the closet floor in a faux oak laminate. The upstairs of my house is all new, compared to the age of the main house. We bought an 800 sq ft, old farmhouse, and added on, changed, redid, remodelled, and then added on some more. I adore the ancient wood floors downstairs, but for the guest rooms and kid's room upstairs, matching that gorgeous, old wood wasn't in the budget. I was happy with slapping down some cheap laminate.

And was very happy just to have the carpet gone.

Anyway, when it was time to redo the guest room, I went with a dark, hickory laminate. I feel like it is much better to go the opposite of what is down in a connecting room than it is to try to match it and be a hair off. Since the first floor had been done years ago. I knew I couldn't do an even match. So, I went darker.

We talked about covering the step in the hickory too. But, I didn't like the two floors butting right up against each other.

So, I covered the back of the steps, (is that called the risers?) with paintable, heavy duty wallpaper.

Glued on tightly, not with just wallpaper paste, with real glue.

Hmm, I reckon it would have been smart to have a photo of the finished project to show you, but this is as close as I have right now. I could probably run upstairs and snap one pretty quickly.... but I think you get the idea from this?

I've painted the step and the wallpaper white to match the trim. (after caulking the areas that need it)

I think I'm going to like this solution!