Wooden stairs are classic, beautiful and fashionable. Adding staircase runners, or areas of fabric or carpeting that cover most or part of the treads, is a great way to enhance interior safety, and doing so also gives you an opportunity to inject your own sense of style into what might otherwise be a boring stairway.
Stair runners are a great way to prevent slipping, and they can also help muffle noise – but if you’re like a lot of homeowners, you may not know quite where to start when you want some. Here’s some helpful Q&A about stair runners, so you can inform yourself before you buy.
Q. How big should stair runners be?
Obviously, this is a matter of personal preference, but we typically recommend leaving about four inches of visible wood on either side of the runner.
Q. What do I do as far as landings?
Typically, while your stair runner will cover only part of the stairs, leaving visible wood on either side, the material used for the runner typically covers any landings in their entirety, in the manner of wall-to-wall carpet.
Q. How do I install the runner?
You can add runners to your staircase using one of two methods. The first involves simply stapling it down, while the second involves holding the runner down using rods. While using stapes is a great way to hold your runner firmly in place, rods can add a touch of style and elegance to your abode while serving the same purpose.
Q. Should the runner match nearby area rugs?
While again, there’s no “right” answer here, matching your staircase runner to your area rug can give your home a customized, sophisticated look and feel. You don’t have to do an exact match, necessarily, but do take into consideration whether your runner of choice will coordinate well with existing and visible area rugs.
Stair runners are a great way to improve safety and express your own signature style, so now that you know a thing or two about them, it’s time to find one that suits your tastes.