Collaborative Post¦ We are slowly but surely making our way through renovating our house. It’s not always easy with a busy lifestyle working, studying and looking after a 6 and 2 year old! One thing I’m really looking forward to is replacing the carpet on the stairs and landing. It’s not especially offensive, but is a dull beige with a few marks and it’s done its time. With laminate laid in the kids’ rooms this month, hopefully stair carpet isn’t too far away. Stairs are a high-traffic area and we made a bad decision in our last house which I don’t want to repeat. As such, I’ve been looking into what we need in terms of carpet for stairs.
Why should you install carpet on your stairs?
We currently have carpet on our stairs and it is definitely the better choice, having also lived in a house with uncarpeted wooden stairs.
- Unlike slippery wooden steps, you get some grip under your feet. This makes it much safer, especially if there are children, elderly people or pets in your home. If anyone does fall, it also gives them a bit of cushioning so hopefully they’ll be less hurt!
- Carpets feel nicer under your feet too – it’s cosy and comfortable. It helps insulate your house in cold weather.
- Of course it depends on your aesthetic, but there is so much choice that you can choose a carpet that helps decorate your home. Whether you go bold with patterns or keep things neutral, it can make a real difference to how your home looks and feels!
Should I go for a full stair carpet or a stair runner carpet?
Both look great, so it really depends on what you find aesthetically pleasing!
Stair runner carpets are often cheaper so likely to be more budget friendly. They certainly have a wow factor too! Sadly, it’s not an option for us as our stairs aren’t in very good condition underneath the carpet.
On the other hand, full carpets are slightly less hazardous as there’s no ‘lip’ to potentially fall over. They’re also marginally warmer as they cover more of the stairs and easier to keep clean.
What carpet material is best for stairs?
Nylon is a popular choice as it’s mould-resistant and cheaper than some materials. Other options are polyester, triexta, and olefin.
If you’re looking for a more environmentally friendly choice, wool, sisal, coir or sisool are good options. There are carpets available that are a blend of wool and synthetic materials to increase durability while decreasing the environmental impact (and the price tag!)
Bear in mind you will also want to make sure your carpet is stain-resistant. Thinking about wool? It’s naturally stain-resistant!
What carpet pile and density do I need?
Remember that stairs are a high-traffic area, so you need a low pile carpet that can handle it. Loop pile carpets are great for areas with a lot of foot traffic, while cut pile carpets are also a viable option for stairs.
The carpet you choose should also have a high density rating to help protect against the amount of use it’ll get. This will also help to hide dirt and debris.
What kind of underlay do I need?
I remember last time we were carpet shopping, a salesman said to us that picking the right underlay is just as important as picking the carpet, if not more! The right stairs underlay will make a huge difference to how your carpet feels underfoot, as well as insulating and protecting the carpet. It also gives a better finish to the carpet.
Thicker doesn’t always mean better quality when it comes to underlay – it’s actually unsafe if you get underlay for stairs that is too thick. Make sure that your underlay has a high density to withstand the high traffic on the stairs. You might also want to consider choosing an underlay with good noise reduction properties!
You’re probably familiar with PU underlay made from recycled foam. However, you can also get rubber crumb underlay made from recycled car tyres. This is a fantastic sustainable option and has high density.