Will decorative bath treads work just as well as standard tread strips on a step stool?

I have two step stools for my little girls and for safety, wanted to add tread strips. The standard black tread strips that you find at the hardware store are so unattractive and I was wondering if bathtub treads (like flowers or something) would work just as well? These are indoor stools, mainly used in the kitchen. I have not finished them yet... would the adhesive stick better if I put them on before staining (being careful not to stain the decals) or will they do just fine adding them afterwards? Thank you!