It’s the age old question that tears homeowners and families in knots: whether to lay carpet on stairs or leave them in their natural state. There are pros and cons associated with both, yet making the decision isn’t always easy.
Yes, carpeted stairs look great in certain homes, and on certain staircases. But it’s often a shame to cover some beautiful, hardwood stairs with anything, let alone a floor covering that will completely hide this natural aesthetic.
Before you make the decision, it’s important to think about the pros and cons of laying carpet on household stairs. There are advantages and drawbacks, and the relevance of each one depends on your home, how you live and your decorative preferences.
To help you make the right decision, here are a few issues to consider.
How safe are carpeted stairs?
Laying carpet on your stairs won’t always make them inherently safer, but it will make slips a lot less likely. But if you have people in your home who struggle to walk or climb stairs, the addition of thick carpet could make things more difficult.
If you decide to install carpet, try to choose something that isn’t excessively thick. If you opt for hardwood flooring, you can make stairs safer by adding handrails, extra lighting and differently coloured treads.
How easy is cleaning?
If you’re someone who likes to clean your stairs regularly, hardwood flooring options will save you a great deal of time and effort. A quick wipe of each step should suffice on most occasions, and you won’t need to carry large equipment as you climb. But unlike carpets, hardwood stairs are prone to scrapes and scuffs.
Carpeted stairs can be very tricky to clean, particularly if you have mobility problems or chronic pain. The action of carrying a vacuum cleaner up stairs is fraught with potential for accidents, and there’s not a great deal you can do about that. To make cleaning as safe and simple as possible, look for the best vacuum cleaner for stairs — which should include at least a few of the following features:
- Lightweight frame
- Cordless options
- A full selection of attachments
- Ergonomic handle
- Compact design
- Independently motorised brushroll
- Shoulder-mounted
The idea is to make the climb up stairs as simple as possible. A cordless stick vacuum cleaner, for example, removes a serious tripping hazard. A detachable, shoulder-mounted vacuum cleaner frees up both your arms for increased balance. Think about how you’ll clean your stairs every day before you decide on a floor covering.
What about the noise?
Wooden staircases are simply noisier than carpeted ones — and it’s as simple as that. Now, this won’t matter all that much if you have a no-shoes policy in your home. But if you prefer hard flooring and shoes, this is something to mull over. If you have pets, however, there will be no escaping the scratching and scraping of clawed paws climbing stairs.
Visual appeal
This is all about your personal preference. You should also think about how the rest of your home is decorated. If it’s dominated by hardwood flooring, carpet on your stairs may look a little out of place. Of course, you could opt for the best of both worlds with a runner, which leaves a lot of the wood exposed. If you’re not sure, take a look at some photos on Pinterest, or pop round to a neighbour’s house to see what they’ve done with their staircase.
Whatever you decide, think about how you’re going to keep your stairs clean. If you go with carpet on your stairs, you’ll need a vacuum cleaner that is up to the job.