Stairway carpet ideas – 11 ways to make your steps feel soft and cosy in style

Along with the hallway that it’s usually connected to, stairways are usually something of a forgotten and neglected space that doesn’t get a lot of love. And yet, we pass through here countless times during the day when getting from room A to room B – so why not make it a pleasant passage with some stylish stairway carpet ideas?

These staircase ideas are not only an easy way to make your steps feel softer and more comfortable underfoot, it’s also the perfect way to bring an overall feeling of cosiness to a neglected area of the home, a feeling we all crave in our homes, no matter the season.

Whether you go for a full coverage carpet or a stair runner idea instead, this is the perfect opportunity to get creative and inject some colour or pattern into your stairway. There’s no need to be shy!

Stairway carpet ideas

‘Staircases and entrance ways are often the least thought about areas of the home, but it is important to remember how much influence they have on a space, stairs so often tie the entire home together and form a central stage making the staircase the ideal area to make a statement,’ says Jodie Hatton, design manager at heritage carpet brand Brintons. ‘Without a large wall expanse, using the flooring to add interest is the perfect solution.’ So we recommend making the most of it.

1. Go for a statement design

As Jodie already pointed out, your stairway carpet presents the perfect opportunity to make a bold statement, whether that’s through its pattern or colour. Or both!

‘Similar to how dark walls can transform a small room or a patterned wallpaper can bring interest to otherwise dull space, a patterned carpet is an inspired way to make a feature of the stairs – it can help to add interest and character,’ Jodie at Brintons says.

Kirsty Barton, brand storytelling manager at Alternative Flooring, continues, ‘A key emerging trend for staircases is the use of bold patterns, such as colourful stripes, oversized geometrics, and modern florals, which create a striking statement in any home. In terms of colour, earthy tones, greens, and deep blues are growing in popularity, blending warmth with sophistication.’

Florals, chequers or even tartan are all fair game. ‘Modern tartan and plaid patterns have a timeless appeal that can instantly brighten up and bring warmth to a home. Available in extremely versatile colour palettes, tartan patterns are a wonderful way of injecting personality, whatever your interiors style,’ Jodie adds.

2. Pick wool for longevity

Choosing the best carpet for your stairway is not just about the looks – practical features such as durability and longevity also need to be considered. And for this, wool is undoubtedly the best carpet material to go for.

‘When selecting a stair runner material style, it’s best to go for a material that offers a nice blend of comfort and durability,’ says Liam Cleverdon, flooring trends expert at Flooring King. ‘That’s why I strongly recommend wool or wool-blend materials, these are naturally stain-resistant, making maintenance much easier and making them suitable for homes with pets or children.’

Jodie at Brintons adds, ‘Stairs are high-traffic areas, so it's best to choose a carpet made from durable materials. A wool carpet provides superb performance with its long-lasting durability; it has a natural crimp, robustness and elasticity which means it bounces back for years.’

3. Make an impact with monochrome

Mixing black and white is a failsafe way to make an impact with your stair decorating ideas. So laying a black carpet runner on a white-painted staircase in a white hallway will create a dramatic entrance to your home.

‘Staircases are probably the most heavily used areas, particularly in a busy, family home so a hard-wearing carpet is essential,’ says Rupert Anton at The Carpet Foundation. ‘For busy areas like the stair, I would suggest an 80% wool composition; certainly 50% wool at the least. Remember as well as being soft underfoot, carpet insulates against noise.’

4. Pick a smart pattern for an elegant entrance

If bright or bold colour is not your bag, go for a carpet with a graphic pattern instead. Give it more gravitas with a smart border and traditional stair rods.

‘A stair runner may once have been seen as a more budget option,’ says Rupert Anton at The Carpet Foundation. ‘Once a covering that could be laid in a strip and secured in place with stair rods, it was a practical solution and less expensive to fit.

'However, carpets have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and with new technology and exciting developments like being able to add your own creative flair, the traditional stair runner is now a hugely popular contemporary trend.’

5. Add style with a big border

Choosing a carpet or a sisal in a neutral tone is a sound investment for the long term. As you'll generally have a little more freedom with your decor. A strong colour on the floor means your walls will need to coordinate with it, which could be limiting.

It's often easier to introduce other colours against a neutral foundation. Instead of using bright shades, add interest to a runner with a big border in a natural hue.

6. Go wall to wall for softness

While a stair runner offer modern style, but don't rule out wall-to-wall carpet on the stairs altogether. If you have hard floors, such as timber, tiles or stone elsewhere, stair carpet adds softness and comfort to your space.

Natural materials such as wool also have sound-absorbing qualities, which is often welcome in open-plan living.

Choose a carpet colour that will work with your hallway flooring and landing ideas. 'In terms of colour, pale, neutral shades will brighten up narrow spaces while lighter shades also create the illusion of a wider staircase,' says Rupert Anton at The Carpet Foundation.

‘And always buy new underlay, it improves a carpet’s performance and life, and ensures it sits properly and wears evenly.’

7. Make a statement with stripes

A bright striped stair carpet is a bold and dramatic way to introduce colour. Consider your choice carefully and ensure the colours are those you can live with.

Flooring is likely to have the longest life span in an interior, so it’s important to get this right and to invest in quality. Remember it’s quicker, easier and less expensive or wasteful to refresh walls than recover floors.

'To get the best out of your carpet ensure that it is installed by an experienced Flatweave fitter and vacuumed on a regular basis using a suction vacuum cleaner,' says Jane Armstrong at Roger Oates Design. 'A skilled fitter will also be able to install a flatweave runner on a winding staircase whilst still matching the pattern in the crutch of the step.'

8. Choose honey-toned plant fibres

Sisal looks gorgeous on a stairway and comes in a variety of warm earthy tones. It's made from a hardy, fast-growing plant from the Agave family with little pesticide used in its production. It’s also naturally moth-resistant and contains tannins, which repel dust mites.

If you’re undecided whether to go for the modern styles of sisal or the traditional comfort of wool, consider a mix of the two with a carpet made of sisool.

9. Continue a bold design onto the landing

A stair carpet in a bold stripe looks heavenly. So why not take things a step further and continue the eye-catching design along the landing?

'Bold, rich colours can be attention-grabbing and transform a standard staircase and landing into a statement area,' says Rupert at The Carpet Foundation.

'Stripes can also serve to change the appearance of a room’s natural dimensions. For example, narrow stripes appear to lengthen a room while wider stripes can open up a space.'

10. Opt for an oatmeal hue

Choose natural oatmeal hues or carpet made with undyed wool for a low maintenance option.

'The carpets which disguise dust or specks of dirt well are those with a fleck to them,' says Jodie at Brintons. The natural colours of sheep’s fleece creates a subtle fleck. So we have collections that celebrate the subtle, flecked colours of the natural wool.

'Wool provides comfort underfoot whilst insulating your home and helping to reduce energy costs. It absorbs sound to give a sense of calm and tranquillity and is naturally fire resistant too.

'Additionally a wool carpet has the benefit of a protective natural waxy coating on wool fibres which make wool products resistant to staining. A wool carpet will also pick up less dust as wool is naturally anti-static.'

11. Finish with a thin trim

It's the finer details in a design scheme that add finesse, so choose a smart trim to finish your stair carpet or runner with. This seemingly minor detail will give your stairway an elegant finishing touch.

Choose the darkest colour in the carpet for the trim and repeat it elsewhere for more impact.

FAQs

What carpet is best for stairs?

'A good quality wool carpet or a wool blend carpet is ideal for stairs as they are hard-wearing and long lasting thanks to wool’s ability to bounce back,' says Jodie Hatton, design manager at Brintons.

'When subject to heavy foot fall you need a product which isn’t going to flatten and wear in the places most trodden. A wool carpet will also provide some amount of grip on stairs which is a good safety feature.'

'British wool is the bulkiest wool in the world which makes it particularly good for carpets. It is the ideal material for carpet because it has a spring to it which makes it resistant to flattening over time. Wool has the ability to bounce back so your carpet will be much longer lasting. It is also inherently hypo-allergenic and stain resistant.'

Do I need special carpet for stairs?

Flat weave runners are a good choice for stairs, as are twist pile carpets. 'Twist pile has a coarse rugged, bobbly look and can be used anywhere in the home, it's the most popular type of carpet,' says Rupert Anton at The Carpet Foundation.

'I would not recommend loop pile carpets on stairs – particularly if you have animals,' 'Their claws can get stuck on a tuft and unravel it.'

These tips are sure to transform your stairway beyond recognition – and make it an enjoyable place to be, even if for brief moments.