Stair Runners

Our stairs are often the first thing which a visitor might see when they walk in the door. Along with our downstairs hallway, the stairs can set up the rest of the house. If we think about it, the stairway is the part of the house which receives the most use. It has people running up and down all day and is more of a thoroughfare than any other room. Yet it is the one part of the house which is easy to neglect. It is too easy to simply carpet the stairs and forget about it. But the stairs can be as interesting any other part of the home and the architecture and structure of it makes it more of a challenge.

Transforming the look of your stairs is much easier and cheaper than you might think. Simply moving away from traditional carpeting and trying out a stair runner or paint effects can turn your stairway into the best part of your house.

Carpet manufacturers sell many different types of stair runner. They tend to come in a standard width and can be quite expensive. The reason for this is the fact that they are so narrow and must be bound on each edge. But there are alternatives which are much cheaper.

DIY stores sell stair rods which can be used to hold your stair runner in place and with a little imagination you can use a hall runner to achieve a stair runner look. A narrow hall mat works well on stairs. You may need to buy two or three lengths to cover your stair but this will work out cheaper than buying carpet off a roll. You can opt for a thinner matting or cotton and attach it to the stairs with tacks and stair rods. If you ensure the joins are at the bottom of a step, nobody will tell the difference.

Preparing your stairs before you attach your stair runner is very important. The outer edge of the stairs will be seen and depending on the quality of the wood finish you may need to paint them. If your stairs are oak or similar you might prefer to simply varnish the wood before laying your runner. If you choose to paint them you should pick a paint which matches well with the runner, but which also offers a contrast. Don't be afraid to try a bright colour as it will only be a small section which will be seen.

If you really are pushed for cash but want a totally new look you can always paint all of your stairs. Bear in mind that they may become slippery if you do this, so choose a matt hard-wearing paint. You can paint the edges in a different colour or even try stripes. Painting each alternate step a different colour will add interest to the stairway as will trying out vertical stripes.

A virtual stair runner in a different or contrasting colour paint is a great way to get the look of luxury without spending a fortune. It is an easy way to transform the room and will certainly get the “Wow” factor.