Which Carpet Is Best For Stairs?

Choosing the best carpet for your stairs can differ quite significantly from how you might choose to carpet other rooms of your property. To get the best carpet for your stairs it needs to tick several important boxes. You’ll need to consider everything from durability, as your stairs receive a high volume of foot traffic, through to design choices to suit the aesthetic you want. In this article, we lend our expertise in the carpet industry to help you make an informed decision about which carpet is best for your stairs.

Why Do We Use Carpet For Stairs?

Carpet is a common stair covering material and is one of the most practical choices for stairs, and it’s not hard to see why. Stair carpets offer a degree of safety compared to hard flooring such as wood or tile as they reduce the risk of slipping, which is especially important to consider if you have children or older adults in the house. Carpet also provides a much quieter solution than hard flooring, helping to muffle the sound of footsteps. From an aesthetic perspective, carpet can make your home feel more inviting, adding an element of warmth and texture, and turning a plain staircase into a cosy, decorative feature. Additionally, carpet comes in a wide range of colours and styles so it can fit the design style of any home.

The Best Carpet Material For Stairs

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best carpet material for your stairs, each offering its own unique advantages. It is important to fully understand what purpose your carpet is going to provide. Are you looking for a purely design-focused solution? Are you expecting a lot of footfall on a daily basis where safety and durability need to be considered? Do you want your carpet to feel nice when you walk downstairs in the morning? The table below showcases some of the key distinctions between each carpet material to help you choose what suits your needs the best.

The Best Underlay For Stairs

To complement your choice of carpet, it is also important to choose a supporting underlay for your stairs. A good underlay doesn’t just make your stairs more comfortable; it also helps extend the life of your carpet. Rubber underlay is one of the best options for stairs because it’s firm and holds the carpet in place securely. PU foam underlay is a softer choice that’s great for absorbing noise, making it ideal if your stairs are in a central area of your home. Felt underlay, while a bit more traditional, is dense and works particularly well with wool carpets. Whichever you choose, make sure you work with your carpet installer to pick a thin enough underlay to cover your staircase, while maintaining enough cushion to support the carpet and people using it.

Staircase Carpet Designs

Whilst having the right material and underlay is important for the practical uses of your staircase carpet, it is no shock that people also want a design that fits their home aesthetic. Every home and every set of stairs is different, so there is no magic answer to the “best” carpet designs, however, over our years of experience, here are some of the popular options we have come across:

Stripes

Striped patterns add a bold, contemporary feel which can visually make a staircase appear longer. Striped carpet has become a very popular option for modern homes that are looking to use their staircase as a striking focal point of the home’s design.

Geometric Patterns

Geometric designs (patterned with shapes) are popular for their convenient ability to hide stains or damage from wear and tear. They also add a dynamic, stylish look to the high-traffic areas of your home.

Neutral Tones

For a classic and arguably timeless option, consider solid or textured carpets in neutral shades like beige, grey, or taupe. These pair well with any interior style and provide a soft, understated charm. Instead of attempting to be the focal point of the home, the staircase can offer an accent to complement other features.

Bold Colours

Deep blues, rich reds, or emerald greens can make your staircase stand out, ideal for making a design statement.

Berber or Loop Pile

With their tight weave and speckled designs, Berber carpets offer durability and a natural, organic look perfect for busy households. This style is unlike other carpet options in that the texture is the key design feature and can come in a range of colours as mentioned above.

How To Replace Carpet On Stairs

Replacing the carpet on your stairs is a fairly simple process but it is important to make sure it is done right! We always recommend hiring a professional carpet fitter unless you have some experience with carpets yourself.

The process itself involves a few key steps which require some careful planning and understanding of your staircase dimensions. Start with removing the old carpet, being careful to pull out any staples or glue. Once the stairs are clear, you need to clean and smooth the surface to create an even base. Fit the underlay next, ensuring it’s secured properly and cut to fit the shape of each step. When it’s time to install the new carpet, measure and cut it carefully so it fits each step snugly in the desired layout you want. Secure the carpet with staples or adhesive, starting at the top and working your way down. Make sure to smooth out any wrinkles and tuck in the edges for a neat finish.

Looking For A New Carpet? Contact Us Today.

Powers Carpets are based in Lutterworth and serves the surrounding areas including Leicester, Rugby, Hinckley and more. If you are in the local area and are looking for a new carpet for your staircase or other part of your house, speak to our team today to arrange a home visit and quote for your desired design. We are experts in what we do, so can advise you on how the above applies to your home and give you some guidance based on your carpet needs. 

To get in touch, call us on 01455 55 21 55, use our contact form or visit our showroom.