Choosing the perfect flooring for your stairs, hall and landing is important and can be confusing. Get it wrong and you’ll soon see the signs of wear and tear in these high-traffic areas.
As you enter a property, it’s likely that in the distance of the hallway you’re going to find a staircase, so it’s important that you choose a carpet that’s practical, the right fit, the right material, and of course, appealing to your eye.
Here are 5 key things to consider when choosing carpet for your stairs:
- Durability
- Material
- Thickness
- Pattern
- Colour
1. Durability
Staircases get a lot of use and are probably the highest-traffic area of any home, so you need to choose a carpet that can withstand the attention and still look wonderful.
One of the great things about carpet is that it cushions every step and helps reduce the noise of you and your family’s daily movement up and downstairs.
It’s crucial that you choose a carpet for your staircase that is durable, strong and tough enough to last. Choosing carpet for a staircase is very different to choosing carpet for bedrooms and living rooms.
We have a range of carpets in store suitable for staircases – each recommended because of their durability. As a rule of thumb, we recommend opting for the highest durability carpet that you can afford, in a style that suits you and your home.
2. Material
Many people ask us what material is best when it comes to choosing carpet – and rightly so. We believe every conversation about carpets for staircases should involve discussing pile types and materials which are best recommended for such a highly used area.
Wool carpet is the ultimate luxury choice, due to its durability. It’s also fantastic as it doesn’t flatten or matte down without a fight. Perfect for heavy footfall areas!
If pure wool isn’t an option for you, consider choosing a carpet that blends man-made fibres with wool. With a wool-mix carpet, you’ll have the best of both the materials, and may be a more affordable option.
3. Thickness
True or false? Thicker carpet is more durable. The answer… FALSE! Well, mostly false.
It’s not always the case that thicker carpets are more durable. In fact, you may be surprised to hear that some of the thickest carpets on the market are full of air, which would make them unsuitable for an area such as a staircase.
4. Pattern
As much as your staircase carpet has to be the right material and durable, it also has to look good.
Whether you opt for a full width carpet or a fitted staircase runner, striped carpets are always a popular choice due to their wow factor and visual impact.
Striped carpets are also ideal as they lend themselves perfectly to the angles of a staircase, achieving stunning results.
5. Colour
Think you’d prefer a plain carpet instead? Then we recommend that you stick to lighter coloured carpets.
Deep and dark shades can narrow spaces like hallways, stairs and landings, which are usually lacking in natural light already. But bear in mind that white and exceptionally light shades of carpets will stain easily. Light grey and taupe shades tend to be most popular with customers.
Have you considered a stair runner?
Now we’re not going to lie – we adore the classic stair runner look. Offering the best of both worlds, you really can have your cake and eat it too with this option.
One of the many advantages is that you don’t have to choose between carpet and the bare look of wood, you can combine both and create one stylish staircase.
A stair runner is like a rug, but for your staircase, fitted right down the middle to create an appealing and practical display. The exposed wood at the edges really is a wonderful sight!
If you’re looking for the perfect carpet for your stairs, get in touch with Kennington Flooring today.
