Choosing The Right Type Of Carpet For Stairs

Protecting your stairs and keeping them in good shape might seem like a simple matter of consistent vacuuming and dusting. However, when it comes to keeping your stairs in truly pristine condition, it helps to choose carpet that’s actually going to protect your stairs and keep them clean at the same time, not mention keeping unwanted creaking at a minimum. So how do you find the perfect carpeting for your stairs? While some homeowners prefer carpet runners, which only cover a part of the total area, others swear by the virtues of all-over carpeting for stairs. While part of the decision has to do with style and functionality (not to mention creating an easy Chem-Dry cleanup for your carpeting) there are distinct benefits to choosing certain types of carpeting for specific stair styles. If you’re wondering what type of carpeting your home stairs could benefit from, read on.

Choose By Concern

You may not initially approach the project of finding carpet for your stairs with an issue in mind. However, when it comes to a decorating choice like this, the type of carpet you choose could end up having a bigger effect on your home as it ages. For instance, if your stairs are hardwood or made of a more slippery material, you might want to choose all-over carpeting or a carpet runner that helps increase safety, especially if you have older adults or children in the house. If you’re trying to maximize heat and create a cozier atmosphere, choosing a thicker rug may help boost your home’s thermal energy in the winter. If you’re looking for a rug that’s going to do everything, including keep your stairs safe, warm, clean, and protected, choosing the right all-over carpeting could be a great way to keep your stairs looking their best and functioning at their top capacity for longer.

Quality and Safety

Safety is always a huge concern with stairways. The style, size, and material of your staircase are all things to take into account before you buy. For instance, if you have a home with modern-style open-backed stairs that have a wider footfall, overall carpeting probably isn’t going to make sense. Still, because stairs like this are more conducive to slip and falls, you might want to consider getting a stair runner that’s a little more functional than stylish. Many households even opt for getting a runner to be placed over base carpeting just to be extra safe. While choosing a high-grade luxury material probably isn’t the wisest choice for an area that famously carries a lot of weight and constant foot traffic, you also don’t want to choose something cheap that’s going to wear out in a couple of years. Remember, your carpet is meant to protect you and your stairs at the same time. Even if cost is an issue, you don’t want to purchase a runner or carpeting option that leaves you looking at uneven markings, stains, and indentations within a year or two.

Durability

 

The carpeting you choose should be thick enough to help pad footfall, control sound carry, and provide warmth to the home without being so thick that it becomes a tripping hazard. While many homeowners assume that a thicker material always means better insulation value or higher-grade material, this isn’t always the case. Rather than judging a rug by thickness alone, take the time to actually bring fabric swatches home with you to feel and test before deciding on a rug material. You’ll be able to instantly assess the quality of each rug type simply by feeling them, and bringing swatches home will help you to choose a style and color that’s consistent with your home atmosphere.

Sounds Carry

Nobody likes a creaky stairway. If you’re not thrilled about the prospect of a noisy staircase, getting the right padding is crucial to help cut down on creaking and to absorb any unwanted acoustics in the home. If you live in a home with a lot of people, it’s even more important to choose a carpet that won’t emphasize the fact that there are always people coming and going, sometimes at very late hours.

Cleaning

Whatever rug style or material you choose, you don’t want to box yourself into a corner by getting something that can’t be easily cleaned. If you’re opting for overall carpeting, make sure you’re able to keep it clean by doing at least a weekly vacuum job. Getting a material that’s dry clean only or that requires special care will end up hurting more than helping in the long run.