Hardwood stairs are often the focal point for the entry to your home. DeSitter Flooring can help you add color, texture and beauty to this important design element to make an impressive, warm welcoming statement.
In addition to the aesthetics, other benefits of a stair runner are that it will also provide peace and quiet and added safety to your stairs for you and your pets. Stair runners protect stairs from damage and keep stocking feet from slipping on hardwood. Stair runners can vary in style, color and pattern; they can be understated or make a real design statement.
we think of stair runners, we often think of traditional style patterns but there are also many contemporary, transitional, tonal, geometric, floral, and animal patterns available. Geometric patterns or solid colors work well in a contemporary décor, while more elaborate designs look better in traditional homes. Some of the most popular styles today are sisal and natural fibers. In addition to readymade runners, consider using a standard broadloom carpet and working with your knowledgeable sales associate at DeSitter to design a one of a kind custom stair runner exclusively for your home.
At DeSitter we have over 90 years of selling and installing stair runners.
DeSitter Flooring carries an excellent selection of readymade, popularly sized runners for halls and stairs. We offer runners in traditional and contemporary designs with a variety of color combinations which can be ordered in any length.
Stair runners can be installed with different styles of retention rods and brackets or stapled on.
The stapling option is more secure. You might like to choose a stapled option with rods as an added decorative feature.
If your style is more contemporary, then stapling will give you a crisp, clean look.
If your stair treads have a bullnose edge, then stapling right up under that edge gives you nice definition.
Rods look great on this traditional- style staircase
Where should the stair runner end? You have a few choices.
 |  |
The runner can end just under the lip of the bottom tread or continue to the floor to cover the last riser.
 |  |
A runner can start the at the back of the top tread or connect to a hallway runner or carpet.
How wide should the stair runner be?
As a general rule of thumb, 4" of bare wood on either side of the stair runner is usually aesthetically pleasing and still allows the runner to be wide enough to give you a comfortable path for walking. You can vary this size depending on the look you want for your stairs.
Stair runners come in many widths varying from 20" to 48" wide. The most common width is 27" for a standard 36” wide staircase.
When deciding how wide to make the stair runner, take into consideration proportion and functional width.
 |  |
If you have a staircase that changes width, you can continue your stair runner at a uniform size, allowing more and more wood to show, or DeSitter can customize a runner by adding additional width to a runner so that it follows the size of each step as it changes.
 | These stairs are fully carpeted instead of using a runne. This creates the look of a runner and works well for stairs without finished hardwood to expose. This is also a nice option when your stairs change width. |
When you have treads but no risers, as in a floating staircase, you can wrap each step with carpeting and allow a wood border to show or cover the entire step.
Should my stair runner be the same as my area rugs?
Treat stair runners the same as you would an area rug when deciding on patterns and colors. If you have an open area where you can see both runner and area rug, they don't have to match but do need to coordinate.
 |  |
| Here, the stair runner is similar to the area rug, but it does not match. It's a very pretty look that feels collected. | When the stair runner matches the area rug, it creates a very custom look and increases the overall impact. |
 |  |
| If you decide to use a bold pattern for your stair runner, let that stand alone by using a solid area rug or carpet. | Or no rug at all |
 | Landings and hallways If you have a staircase that takes a 90 degree turn, but has a flat landing, you will need to decide how to lay the runner. One option is to have the runner mitered. This means the runner is seamed together as one continuous piece, like the corner of a picture frame. This is a very attractive look, |
 |  |
| By using a mitered corner, they maintained the same distance from the wall on the landing as on the stairs. | Another option would be to run the runner up and over the landing, and then start a new runner on the second part of the staircase. |
For a large landing, you might want to consider an area rug that matches or coordinates with the runner. You don't have to put any carpet on the landing if you don't want to. It will be a little noisy, but not quite the slip-and-fall concern of the stairs themselves.
We are able to install runners on any staircase including semi-circular and circular.
When you choose a stair runner for your home, consider your budget and your aesthetic so that you can select a style that fits your needs and your decor. Keep in mind that whichever type of runner you choose; it will receive a lot of foot traffic. Wools and darker patterns are the best choices for long lasting beauty but your DeSitter sales associate can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all the options available. With over 90 years of experience, they can help you decide what type of carpet fiber you need and the best stylefor your home all within your budget.
Look through the store’s samples and ask to take some home to see how the carpet will look in different lighting. This will help you determine what color or style will look best in your home. It can be helpful to look at the sample in several different locations on the staircase, such as the bottom, middle and top, Determine how you want the runner to fit on your stairs. You can leave a border of wood on either side of the runner or cover the stairs completely.
DeSitter will Measure your stairs, including the tread and rise. After measuring, your sales associate at DeSitter can tell you exactly how much carpet you need depending upon the style and pattern you choose.
 |  |
If you have been looking for a way to improve the look and comfort of your staircase then try a stair runner. Give your stairs the style that they deserve by adding a splash of color, or give your staircase a classic feel with a timeless pattern. The possibilities are endless! New runners at unbeatable prices are always arriving.
Visit one of our beautiful DeSitter showrooms to see our wide variety of options.
