Stair runners are a great way to transform the look of your hallway, bring in colour and texture and add softness underfoot. There are so many different styles to choose from with geometric patterns, stripes and bold colours on trend this year.
Why have a stair runner?
The growing trend for hardwood floors and stairs has also led a rise in stair runners. Instead of wall to wall carpet on the stairs, stair 
runners leave a few inches of hardwood visible on either side.
In many homes, the staircase is one of the first things you see when you open the front door, so you want it to make an impression and a stair runner does the job perfectly. The contrast with the hardwood is eye catching and gives a stylish and put together look. It adds warmth to the staircase and you can easily update the look by replacing the stair runner.
Stair runners make the stairs safer, as they help prevent slipping by providing more grip underfoot. If any falls do occur, is it much softer to land on carpet than wood. It is also easier on your joints to have carpet underfoot as you walk up and down stairs. Plus they reduce the noise if you are trying not to wake the whole household up.
Another advantage of a stair runner is that it reduces the wear and tear on the wood, so it won’t need to be refinished as often.
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What is on trend?
Broadloom
carpets that are cut specially for the stairs are becoming more popular now than pre-cut stair runners that have a border. Both are still widely available though, so you can choose what suits your staircase best.
Contrasting the colour of the carpet with the wood is a current trend that looks stunning. If you are choosing a patterned carpet, then pick one that has a secondary colour that complements the wood tones. This gives a sense of flow through the hallway and stairs. A strong repeating pattern is a great choice if you are going to extend the runner to cover the landing area and/or hallway. The secondary colour can also be used for flooring in the surrounding rooms, to give the feeling of continuity throughout the house.
With so much time being spent at home these days, many people are choosing bolder colours and patterns to reflect their personality in their homes. Jewel tones, animal prints and textures are all popular and help make the staircase a feature.
To add a contemporary twist to a classic design scheme, herringbone patterns are modern and sophisticated, with the advantage of making the stairs appear wider. Also on trend, geometric patterns are eye catching and can be as bold or subtle as you like.
Stripes always look stylish and contemporary. With so much choice available, you can create stunning colour combinations to fit with your existing decor. To make the area appear larger, choose vertical stripes as they create the illusion of more height by drawing the eye up the staircase. Horizontal stripes are ideal to make narrow staircases seem wider.
Carpet rods are no longer common, as you can achieve a much cleaner look without.
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What is the best carpet material for the stairs?
Generally, a low pile (3/4″ or less) is best for stair runners, as it will give greater stability underfoot on the stairs. It is also very 
durable so will stand up to wear and tear better. With a looped style, such as Berber, make sure it is a good quality one and properly installed.
A wool carpet is always a great investment that lasts and resists stains and dirt well, whilst retaining its shape. There are more affordable, man-made fibres like polypropylene which have similar qualities, but go for a shorter pile so it does not flatten as easily.
For the best of both worlds, a wool and polypropylene mix is easy to clean and keeps its appearance well, while wool and nylon mixes are very durable and also have good appearance retention.
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Whatever look you want to achieve in your home, we can help with all your flooring and carpet needs. Contact us here to book a free estimate with our friendly and professional Herts Carpets team today!
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to bring a greater sense of joy and personality into their homes, after having spent so much time in them during the lockdowns.
muted as you like.
and versatile with a beautiful finish, wool carpets come in a wide range of styles and patterns. Also known for their appearance retention (as they have an elasticity that means they bounce back when crushed) and colour retention qualities, they keep their stunning look for years.
and biodegradable natural fibre offers so many advantages. As it is recyclable, it won’t take centuries to break down in a landfill like some man-made, synthetic fibres do.
When properly maintained with a regular schedule of vacuuming, it will continue to trap air-borne dust particles, making it a natural air filter that reduces the amount of dust floating in your home
colours are black, brown, white, grey and beige, with a huge number of shades within these five. This expands neutrals to include off-white, cream, graphite, coffee and chocolate – the entire spectrum from light to dark within each.
General rules are to have a wall colour that is two tones lighter than your carpet, or for very dark walls, have carpet that is two tones lighter.
such as an ivory shade, or with more vibrant paint or wallpaper. 
rid of them, you can easily reduce the risks by regular ventilation of rooms and washing all bedding at a high temperature. If you have carpet in your house, it is essential that you have a 
allergens. It is natural, 
hypoallergenic.
time but if you keep thinking of the house as a whole, you can create a feeling of continuity, and flooring is a big part of this. Using two or three paint colours from the same family throughout the house will also achieve this, but if the flooring materials do not complement each other it will still give a jarring effect. Our eyes are drawn quickly to things we see as disjointed or odd and this is same when moving through a house.
enough to withstand its environment. When choosing flooring, you always want to pick the most appropriate material for the area.
it all run the same way, especially in an open plan house. Whilst there are of course exceptions, this will give the best sense of flow.
actually keep the heat in, as well as being warmer underfoot than many other options. It also keeps the room quieter as it absorbs noise very well. This is a great option for anyone who is not as firm on their feet like children or older adults, as carpet is much softer to land on, so cushions falls. A regular schedule of vacuuming will keep carpet clean.
flooring. This practical, hard-wearing flooring is scratch and dent-resistant as it has a high quality wear layer. Many new varieties are also water resistant thanks to a protective layer.
widths allow you to create the perfect design and there is a huge range of colours, styles and patterns available. For a wood or stone effect, plank or tile are the best choices. This versatile flooring is water proof (handy if you have an ensuite bathroom) and easy to keep clean by sweeping and occasional mopping.