Should I bother with stair runners?

Last month we looked at the new carpet trends for the year ahead. There were plenty of ideas and options for your home no matter what your preferred taste and style – for a reminder have another read here. One thing we didn’t cover was stair runners and that is because they are worth covering in more depth. So, this month we bring you a little more on stair runners and whether they are worth considering instead of fully carpeted stairs, or nothing at all.

In short, yes, they are worth bothering with! And here’s why:

Choosing between full carpet or stair runners

Both will add warmth to your home so there is little to choose between them on this front. However, fully carpeting your stairs can be a costly exercise as there is a lot more work to this than fully carpeting your floor. This is because there is a lot more tucking and tacking that is required when installing carpet on a staircase.

Maintaining a certain style

As you saw from last month’s article, wall-to-wall carpeting is neither as popular nor as desirable as it once was. Which brings in a dilemma if you want carpet on your stairs but don’t want every surface to be covered by it. If you are opting for smaller-sized carpets, then stair runners will fit right in with that style. What’s more, you can switch things around and use different carpets and runners from time to time, giving you a fresh look as often as you want.

Safety as a priority

Where you have little ones in the house or elderly relatives safety on stairs is an important consideration. Stair runners offer an excellent way to ensure that stairs are not slippery, especially in socks or stockinged feet. If you choose a free-standing style – in other words, not one that is secured in place like a carpet – you must ensure that it is held in place well and that it won’t move, otherwise the risk of accidents is still there.

Showing off your stairs

If your home has an original staircase or you have installed a new one that you don’t want to hide behind carpet, a stair runner is an excellent option. It offers both the warmth and safety of carpet, the style variety that you may be looking for, and it will keep parts of your staircase in full view – allowing both you and your guests to admire it.

Protecting your stairs

A carpet runner will also protect your stairs from the wear and tear that will affect them over time. Stairs, like entrances and hallways, will put up with a lot of foot traffic. This will inevitably lead to your wooden stairs becoming scratched and worn down. A sturdy carpet runner can take that punishment better than your stairs and is ultimately cheaper to replace than the wooden stairs when the time comes.

Keeping the noise down

Carpet runners have the added benefit of providing sound proofing, particularly when compared to no cover at all on a wooden staircase.

Still in two minds? Talk to our Cherry Carpets specialists and they can give you answers to all your questions. They can also fit and install all types of flooring, not just carpet. For an informal chat or a free, no-obligation quote all you need to do is call us on 020 8249 9726 or write to us at .