22 stylish stair carpet ideas for your own home

Looking for stair carpets and runners to transform your staircase? From stripes to classic beige, give your hallway the five-star treatment with a new carpet.

Carpets work wonders on stairs, providing soft and spongy comfort underfoot. Whether you want to make a design statement or prefer a pared-back neutral look, or you've set your heart on a grey stair carpet over a patterned one, we've got stylish suggestions to suit every interior style and budget. And don't forget, you can find the perfect stair carpet from our exclusive House Beautiful collection at Carpetright for a design that's both hardwearing and practical.

What is the best carpet for stairs?

As a high-traffic area, it's crucial that the carpet covering a staircase is durable to withstand its activity levels. When it comes to the best stair carpet material, synthetic nylon carpet may be your best bet for safety and strength, while wool is also a good option as its fibres repel stains and dirt (although it's more expensive). Meanwhile, berber carpets are an incredibly durable choice for staircases as they are made from loops instead of strands.

Full stair carpets or a stair runner carpet?

As well as all-over carpet, a modern stair runner is a great way to transform a simple staircase. 'A runner is an excellent way of updating your staircase without breaking the bank,' says Myles Shaw, Managing Director from runrug.

Essentially, a stair runner is fitted to the middle of your staircase, leaving some wood visible on either side of each step, while with fully carpeted options, the entire steps are covered.

'A stairway is often the first thing your guests see as they step inside your home and can completely set the tone for your personal interior style,' says Jess Contomichalos, Interior Stylist at Cormar Carpets. 'Fully carpeted stairs project a feeling of opulence, while a runner will add wow factor.'

Why is carpeting on stairs a good idea?

Carpet is a great option on stairs, especially for homes with young children and elderly family members. Hardwood flooring can become dangerous if anything spills or little ones run with socks. Carpet might not prevent falls, but it certainly provides more stability when climbing stairs.

How much does it cost to carpet a staircase?

According to Checkatrade, the average cost of carpeting a straight, single staircase will usually be around £75 to £100. Meanwhile, the average cost of a carpet fitter is around £120 - £150 per day. If your staircase has a number of changes in direction, it may cost more.

It's also worth noting that the cost will depend on what style you choose. More luxurious carpets, including those made from real wool, will cost more than synthetic materials. Additional bars or staircase rods will also affect the cost.

Do stair carpets need underlay?

'We always recommend that stair carpets and runners should be fitted with a good quality underlay,' Julian Downes at Fibre, tells House Beautiful UK. 'An underlay will do the vital task of taking a significant proportion of the ongoing wear and tear and it would be a false economy to choose a beautiful carpet only to cut corners with your underlay.'

It finances allow, it's a good idea to choose the best quality underlay to avoid undue wear and tear of your carpet. Your manufacturer or retailer will be able to advise on an underlay to suit the carpet and installation, as well as discuss the different options.

Julian adds: 'Wherever possible, choose a contract-rated underlay (an 8mm carpet underlay) to ensure you have the optimal durability. A good underlay offers comfort under foot and sound insulation, too – a welcome bonus for busy households!'

Whether patterned or plain, there are lots of stylish stair carpet ideas for your stairs and landing. Browse through these suggestions...

Make a design statement with stripes, which perfectly complements a natural wooden staircase. This stylish Portobello carpet, which is from our House Beautiful range at Carpetright, ticks all the style boxes.

Pictured: Carpetright x House Beautiful Portobello Carpet In Magpie

Have you considered painting your hallway bannister to match the carpet? Turn your bannister into a feature with a striking black, navy blue or dark grey paint. It works particularly well if you keep the walls light and bright.

Pictured: Herringbone Jute Border Stair Runner, Dunelm

Bold and brilliant stair carpets will make a real design statement. 'Jewelled tones of crimson, magenta and yellow give us a cheerful palette to work with and can be used on flooring for statement carpets and rugs,' the team at Fibre Flooring say.

'With full permission to be bold with colour, pattern and texture, you can look at stripes to really set off a room scheme.'

Pictured: Wool Varsity in 'Princeton' from Fibre Flooring

Loop pile carpets — made from tightly woven, densely packed fibres — are the perfect blend of durability and affordability. Designed to stand up to heavy foot traffic, they are a great choice to consider.

Pictured: Highgate Loop Carpet, Carpetright

When choosing stair carpets in a busy home, opt for carpets which are stain-resistant and durable.

'Herringbone wool carpets for stairs meet the demands of busy households wanting to make eco-conscious choices when it comes to their flooring,' say the experts at Tapi Carpets. 'Wool and woven carpets are extremely cosy and exude elegance but the natural fibres used have elasticity and bounce back making it extra durable.'

Pictured: Carpet runner in the style 'Herringbone' by Tapi Carpets

Implement pattern into your home with an eye-catching carpet runner, such as this hand-woven style from Jennifer Manners. It's a charming, playful pattern that will really work well alongside a white or neutral staircase.

Pictured: Tiles runner in Teal, £2,020, Jennifer Manners; Plant stand by Ferm Living, £179, Heal's; Hemp storage basket, £69.95, Oggetto. Black concrete planter, £55 for two, Rose & Grey.

Stair carpets offer a practical solution to bring comfort underfoot. Real wool carpets, such as this design from the Country Living collection at Carpetright, will create a luxurious feel in the home.

Pictured: Country Living Monmouth Twist Carpet Green Tea Fleck, Carpetright

'Bold, geometric designs and bright colours will give your stairs that wow factor and work well when mixed with minimalist furniture and accessories,' says Jemma.

'Opting for repeating patterns will not only allow your design to flow easily into other rooms, but will be forgiving to everyday marks and scuffs as your stairs see some serious use over their lifetime.'

Pictured: Colombus by Carpetright

Grey continues to be one of the most versatile colours in interior design — and it makes an excellent hallway hue. In this image, the calming grey carpet runner works wonderfully alongside the dark border and papered wall.

With tones of brown, light blue and yellow, this stair runner from Kersaint Cobb helps to create a natural feel in the home. If you want to create a real statement, why not paint your staircase navy blue? You won't regret it.

Pictured: Kersaint Cobb, Morocco Runner, Casablanca priced from £68 per linear metre.

Why not use your staircase to add a pop of colour. This blue stair carpet from Carpetright is ideal for jazzing up an all-white hallway — and will cheer up any rainy day.

Pictured: Condo Patterned Carpet by Carpetright

Bring together a glorious medley of raspberry, mulberry and blackcurrant shades for a chic and cosy scheme. Paired with a classic grey stripe carpet runner, this hallway is the ultimate recipe for an inviting space.

Refresh your entryway with a calming colour palette. Classic and elegant, it's the ultimate way to create a welcoming first impression. And, it looks brilliant with hallway panelling.

'Neutral shades can lighten up a small or dark entrance by accentuating the feeling of space, while gentle stripes add a stylish feature to your staircase,' adds Jess.

Pictured: 'Avebury' by Cormar Carpets

Shake up your interiors by turning your staircase into something fun for the kids — especially if it leads to one of their bedrooms. This classic grey stair carpet is adorned with white clouds, which adds a playful touch..

Pictured: 'The Nursery Collection Patterned Carpet in Daydream Silver' by Carpetright.

Showcase subtle textures on your stairs with a neutral runner. We've got our eye on this design, which has a chic finish thanks to its neat black trim. Go on, give your hallway the upgrade it deserves...

Pictured: Bouclé Neutrals in Kensington Oak, Comar Carpets

As well as drawing attention, striped carpets help create the illusion of a bigger space, which is great for a smaller home.

'Often the first thing you see when entering a house, the stairs and hallway create a first and lasting impression on your guests,' says Jemma Dayman, Buyer, Carpets and Rugs at Carpetright. 'It's the perfect area to take risks and be daring with your styling.'

Pictured: Boston Stripes by Carpetright

Bring some plush texture to your home with traditional hues, such a dark purple or classic brown. To truly set the mood, why not paint your staircase bannister the same colour as your carpet? Bold and daring, yes, but it will wow guests in an instant.

Pictured: Console table, £269.99, Oak Furnitureland

Lively blue is a calming shade perfect for high-traffic zones (it masks stains better). If you have a small hallway that you're struggling with, try matching the stair carpet to your walls. Picking out just one shade will tie the whole space together perfectly.

READ MORE: 8 ways to make your hallway the ultimate Insta-ready space

Redecorating your hallway? Keep things fresh and fun with splashes of green paint, lots of potted plants and a neutral carpet runner. We love the gallery wall here, too, which journeys up the stairs.

Shop the full look at Cult Furniture

Carpet runners — decorative strips of carpet which run down the centre of a staircase — are all the rage on Instagram. Unlike fully carpeted options, runners aren't as wide as your steps as they leave a gap on the side. Typically installed over hardwood or tiled stairs, they are a brilliant choice for both modern and traditional homes.

'Runners can be fitted on the stairs either as a standard carpet, attached with stair rods or used as standalone hall runner,' says Jenna Kane, Product Development at Kersaint Cobb.

Pictured: Carpet runner by Fibre Flooring

READ MORE: 23 beautiful doormats to brighten up your home's entryway

Flooring needs to meet practical needs, but you'll also want to ensure it complements the rest of your interiors. If you're looking for a style that will give your hallway a smart upgrade, this monochrome stair runner is just the ticket.

Pictured: Black and white runner from Sisal & Seagrass

Give your stairs a new look by matching your carpet runner to wall paint or wallpaper. Take inspiration from this characterful hallway, which features a floral wall design, classic runner in beige and a crisp white staircase.