When it comes to picking the right carpet for the stairs, there’s several things you need to consider.
The type of carpet is the most important element of getting your flooring right, and this comes down to:
- Carpet material
- Pile Height
- Carpet construction style & thickness
- Style of carpet
Here’s the top considerations you need to think about when choosing a stair carpet, and the best types of carpet you should choose.
Key Takeaways
- Stairs are usually a high traffic area, so you’ll want a hard wearing carpet
- Nylon is a good choice for a synthetic carpet, while wool and an 80-20 wool-nylon mix is a good natural option
- Twist pile and loop pile (berber) carpets are the best choice for busy households
- Avoid deep piles and plush carpets as they leave footprints and flatten more easily
Best Material For Stair Carpet
When it comes to a carpet for stairs, there’s two main options for the best material, synthetic and natural.
Synthetic Carpet Fibres For Stairs
Nylon is a great material for a stair carpet. It is springy and doesn’t flatten easily, holding it’s shape well.
Polypropylene is another good choice, which is similar to nylon, but is more budget friendly. For man-made fibres, these two are good choices.
Natural Carpet Fibres / Mixed For Stairs
If you want a natural carpet, a 100% wool carpet for the stairs is an excellent choice. A high quality wood carpet will be hard wearing, perfect for the stairs and landing.
Wool has a luxurious feel, doesn’t flatten easily and offers great durability.
For a mix of both, an 80-20 wool carpet is a good balance between the two. A mix of natural wool with a synthetic fibre such as nylon or polypropylene gives a luxury feel with added resilience.
Stair Carpet Construction & Pile Height
Your stairs, hallway and landing is going to be one of the most walked on areas of your house, so getting a hard wearing carpet is going to be the most important consideration.
When it comes to the carpet pile, you’ll want to get a carpet with a low pile height, and not a deep plush carpet.
Shorter piles tend to be more hard wearing and durable, making them the best choice for a stair carpet.
Deep piles and plush carpets such as a saxony are fantastic for low-traffic areas such as a bedroom, however don’t make the best choice when it comes to stairs and other high traffic areas.
Style & Colour Of Stair Carpet
Of course one of the biggest factors you’ll be looking at is the actual style and colour of the carpet. Do you want it striped, patterned, plain, flecked or something else?
Striped carpets were really popular for stairs, while now the more plain carpets of neutral colours are more a more popular choice. There’s also the option of carpets with tonal patterns in the design, such as boucle, herringbone and rib designs.
Shades of grey and beige are fantastic options when you want a more neutral colour tone, while very dark grey, blues and greens offer a more bold choice.
Household Considerations When Choosing A Stair Carpet
You’ll also want to consider your own household composition when picking a stair carpet. You should consider things such as dogs, cats and other pets, if you have kids and how busy in general your household is.
For those living alone or as a couple, hard wearing may not be as high a priority as a large busy household with pets and children.
On That Note
And there you have it, the best choices when it comes to carpet for your stairs. The construction, carpet material and construction are the biggest considerations when it comes to picking out the perfect carpet for stairs.
You’ll want something resilient and hard wearing, and be able to withstand your household whether it’s busy or not.
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