It often difficult to convince clients that have spent a fortune on hardwood floors to spend more installing a stair runner on top of them.  While aesthetic is a great reason to invest in such an endeavor other important reasons are safety, noise, and protection.

Bare floors create a slipping hazard especially for children and pets that don’t hang on to a hand rail.

Runners muffle noise and reduce the echo effect many open plan homes have.

Wood floors are protected from the heavy traffic of daily use.

Achieve drama on an otherwise boring flight of stairs

Style options range from the most delicately patterned Persian to simple solids.

Tips on stair runners:

Reveal four to six inches of bare wood on either side of the runner.

Staple the carpet under the bullnose of the tread for a clear step definition

The stair runner and hallway rugs Do Not have to match.  Coordination is best.

Step pads can be used as long as they are secured to the step for safety

Pick a design you will love for years

Mr. H says: Life is like a staircase, sometimes you are going up and sometimes you are going down-Enjoy!