Transform your staircase with stair runners
Want to carpet your stairs but also want to show off its wooden features? Stair runners could be the perfect answer. Stair runners can help to transform your stairs and make them stand out – whatever your chosen style is.
What are stair runners?
Stair runners are strips of carpet running through the middle of your staircase.
Leaving space to each side, stair runners let you show off more features of your staircase and give you almost limitless design options.
What do they bring to a staircase?
With so many inventive design opportunities being made available to you, stair runners provide you with a great opportunity to make a statement with your staircase. They can flow from your hallway or landing or be totally separate – the choice is yours.
But what’s more, they’ll protect your stairs from all of the foot traffic they get. They also reduce the noise associated with people navigating up and down them.
When they’re best used
Stair runners make a plain space stand out. So, they can be particularly useful in larger, older homes and homes with taller ceilings, allowing you to breathe some new life into the house’s original features.
Older staircases that are likely to creak and crack could also benefit from having some carpet fitted to them, both to protect them and to give them a fresher look.
You can fit stair runners on all types of stairs, but they’re best used on wide stairs. And don’t worry about the shape – stair runners can work perfectly well on staircases that spiral in places as well as those that are straight.
Lots of variety on offer
Whatever your style, stair runners can add something to your home. Whether you’re going for a traditional look or something a bit more contemporary, they can provide just what you are looking for.
Big, bold, and repeating patterns work well – we’re a big fan of stripes, which help to bring out the angles in your home. If you’re not wanting to commit fully to patterns, they could simply feature on the edge of the runner like a border to help your staircase stand out.
You can check out our blog on using contrasting colour schemes if you need some help with making a statement with your staircase.
How to install stair runners
There are two styles to installing stair runners – waterfall and French cap. The waterfall method lets the carpet flow over each step while the French cap method sees the carpet stick rigidly to the lip of each step.
Installing them isn’t as hard as you may think, but if you’re unsure we’d recommend calling on the assistance of a professional carpet fitter to do the job. They’ll be able to do all the necessary mathematics to make everything fit perfectly and ‘whip’ the edges of the carpet for a neat, smooth finish - just like a rug.
Make sure you install underlay, too – a big part of helping a carpet feel cushioned underfoot and a good way to protect your staircase.
Finally, you can add a finishing touch to stair runners using decorative metal stair rods, which fit at the base of each step. They help to keep the carpet in place and can provide an elegant style.