43 Cool Carpet Runners For Stairs To Make Your Life Safer

a chevron patterned wool stair runner is a great addition to a contemporary staircase

A chevron-patterned wool stair runner is a great addition to a contemporary staircase.

Even though wooden and marble stairs looks amazing they aren’t safe enough. When you have young kids or little pets, the danger of them slipping is very real. Besides, the sound of a child racing down the stairs isn’t something you want to hear very often. That’s why covering your staircase with a carpet runner might be a great idea. Some people don’t like how they look but in my opinion, they can become great stairs decorations. There are so many carpet patterns and colors available that it won’t be hard to choose the one that fit your interior. That’s why stair runners not only provide quiet safety to your stairs but could become a real design element in their own right. We’re here to answer the most popular questions about these runners and show you great examples of how cool they could be.

How wide the runner should be

The basic idea is that the runner shouldn’t cover about 4 inches of stairs from both sides. So if your stairs are 3 feet wide your runner should be about 27 inches wide. For the wider stairs of 4′ and 5′ you should go with at least 32″ runner.

How much carpet would you need

For straight steps, you need to measure each step. The step consists of a riser, a thread, and a nose. Next, you need to multiply the sum of these measurements to the number of steps. Besides you need to add the height of the final riser and about 10″ per flight to allow for tolerance.

What to do with landing areas

There are various ways to deal with them. On the pictures below you’ll find plenty of ideas. The easiest to install is simply to use small square rugs there.

Other tips

Decorative rods are totally decorative elements. They don’t hold the runner in place because it usually is installed using staples or something similar. Although they add an interesting finishing touch to stair’s backs, where the riser meets the tread.

An underpad is quite important even though the runner is a piece of carpet. It should be very thin and dense so the carpet doesn’t flex too much.

You should clean these runners regularly using a simple vacuum cleaner. If any spillages occur, you need to act very quickly so have some absorbent cloth and upholstery shampoo on hand.

Enjoy all these cool carpet runners below and make your life safer!

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A monochrome striped runner could make a bare wood staircase less noisy.

A monochrome striped runner could make a bare wood staircase less noisy.

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A stairway carpet provide perfect protection from slipping.

A stairway carpet provide perfect protection from slipping.

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A striped runner in shades of gray is a great addition to white surroundings.

A striped runner in shades of gray is a great addition to white surroundings.

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An oriental runner is perfect for an eclectic look.

An oriental runner is perfect for an eclectic look.

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Black and white runner in a flowers pattern could become a trendy addition to any interior.

Black and white runner in a flowers pattern could become a trendy addition to any interior.

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Leopard-print stair runner would make a statement in any interior.

Leopard-print stair runner would make a statement in any interior.

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Monochrome wool carpet runner is a great addition to a black and white staircase.

Monochrome wool carpet runner is a great addition to a black and white staircase.

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Multicolored carpet runner for stairs might a great way to spice up your home decor.

Multicolored carpet runner for stairs might a great way to spice up your home decor.

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Multicolored stripes would look awesome on any staircase. A mirror could add an illusion that the runner is on a wall too.

Multicolored stripes would look awesome on any staircase. A mirror could add an illusion that the runner is on a wall too.

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The runner that is done in the same colors as walls in a hallway is a great choice if you want to make the space look complete.

The runner that is done in the same colors as walls in a hallway is a great choice if you want to make the space look complete.

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Even if your staircase is narrow and with an angle you can add a small runner to make your life safer.

Even if your staircase is narrow and with an angle you can add a small runner to make your life safer.

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Stripes is a very popular choice for stair runners.

Stripes is a very popular choice for stair runners.

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Who said stripes couldn't be horizontal?.

Who said stripes couldn't be horizontal?.

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It's a cool idea to get yourself a runner with an interesting pattern. You'll see it a lot.

It's a cool idea to get yourself a runner with an interesting pattern. You'll see it a lot.

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Zebra animal print looks interesting on a staircase too.

Zebra animal print looks interesting on a staircase too.

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A carpet that is done in many colors would make any stairs a focal point of the hallway.

A carpet that is done in many colors would make any stairs a focal point of the hallway.

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If you don't have a lawn you might want to choose a carpet that reminds grass for your stairs.

If you don't have a lawn you might want to choose a carpet that reminds grass for your stairs.

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Sometimes it's a good decision to make a runner for stairs almost invisible.

Sometimes it's a good decision to make a runner for stairs almost invisible.

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Zebra pattern is perfect to decorate stairs in a modern home.

Zebra pattern is perfect to decorate stairs in a modern home.

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Some people prefer carpet runners that are in contrast with stairs color.

Some people prefer carpet runners that are in contrast with stairs color.

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That's great when you can achieve an effect that one stair doesn't look like another.

That's great when you can achieve an effect that one stair doesn't look like another.

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Thick rope carpet is perfect for a staircase in a nature-inspired home decor.

Thick rope carpet is perfect for a staircase in a nature-inspired home decor.

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The cool thing about stair carpets is that you can install them on angled staircases.

The cool thing about stair carpets is that you can install them on angled staircases.

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The cool thing about carpet stair runners that they make racing down the stairs process less noisy. Perfect when you have kids.

The cool thing about carpet stair runners that they make racing down the stairs process less noisy. Perfect when you have kids.

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Once again, the zebra pattern is perfect addition to the design of any staircase.

Once again, the zebra pattern is perfect addition to the design of any staircase.

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Stripes visually make stairs looks longer.

Stripes visually make stairs looks longer.

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Leopard pattern is an interesting alternative to the zebra one.

Leopard pattern is an interesting alternative to the zebra one.

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Even honeycomb pattern can make a bland staircase design looks more interesting.

Even honeycomb pattern can make a bland staircase design looks more interesting.

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It doesn't matter if honeycombs are big or small. Although the visual effect is different.

It doesn't matter if honeycombs are big or small. Although the visual effect is different.

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Do you want your staircase looks like it's a part of a large tree? It's possible with the right runner.

Do you want your staircase looks like it's a part of a large tree? It's possible with the right runner.

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If your walls are painted in light color and stairs in dark you can make them look better with each other with a light colored stair runner.

If your walls are painted in light color and stairs in dark you can make them look better with each other with a light colored stair runner.

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Cool Stair Carpet Runners
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Cool Stair Carpet Runners
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Adding a splash of color to your interior is easy with the right carpet on stairs.

Adding a splash of color to your interior is easy with the right carpet on stairs.

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Cool Stair Carpet Runners
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Seagrass stair runner looks great in many interior styles.

Seagrass stair runner looks great in many interior styles.

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Contemporary stair runners looks good in eclectic interiors too.

Contemporary stair runners looks good in eclectic interiors too.

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Cool Stair Carpet Runners
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That is how cool a professional carpet runner could be.

That is how cool a professional carpet runner could be.

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Cool Stair Carpet Runners
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Gray rug runner is always a great choice for stairs. It won't get dirty too quick.

Gray rug runner is always a great choice for stairs. It won't get dirty too quick.

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Lovely alternative to a runner that is covered with a zebra pattern.

Lovely alternative to a runner that is covered with a zebra pattern.