Choosing the right carpet for your stairs

Sooner or later it will be time to replace your stair carpet and you will be faced with the decision of whether to focus more on appearance or durability. The good news is that there are plenty of attractive carpets suitable for use on busy staircases, enabling you to find a style and design that complements the rest of your home’s flooring. The stairs take a bit of a beating in any family home and flooring here tends to show wear and tear sooner than in other areas of the property. People tend to walk up or down the stairs by stepping on the same spot of the stair every time; therefore, it is not hard to see why carpet here needs to be tougher than a bedroom, for example.

Check suitability

Any good retailer will provide information about every type of flooring they sell, which means it should be easy to find out whether a certain carpet is recommended for use on stairs. If you are unsure, speak to a member of staff and explain how much traffic your staircase tends to experience. If your household is particularly large or family members tend to race up and down the stairs, or you have several pets, you might want something extra durable. Trained and experienced staff will be able to point you towards the toughest floor coverings they sell.

Use an experienced fitter

You might be comfortable laying your own carpet in a study or small bedroom; however, the stairs are considerably more complicated. No matter how durable your carpet, it will soon become loose and could even cause a tripping hazard if not installed correctly. Most carpet retailers will have their own fitters or will regularly work with experienced contractors they will be happy to recommend. Hiring a reputable fitter will protect your investment and help keep your stairs safe for your family.

Consider patterns to hide stains

Especially if you have children and pets in your home, your stairs might fall victim to spills and muddy footprints from time to time. Choosing a patterned carpet can help disguise small stains and patches of dirt. If you are not keen on traditional extravagant designs, opt for a modern alternative such as colourful stripes. This is a great way of updating the feel of your hall and staircase and will make imperfections far less noticeable, meaning you will be able to keep your carpet looking good for longer.