How To Set up A Stair Runner

It could appear intimidating to put in a stair runner your self, but it surely’s so darn straightforward that we’ve completed it twice! Thrice in case you rely demonstrating it on stay TV (extra on that later). Simply observe the steps in our tutorial under, together with our trick for ensuring your rug is the proper measurement for the mission.

Including a rug or runner to your stairs isn’t only a trendy decor selection that may add shade, persona, or sample. It’s additionally a security function! We discover that including a stair runner cuts down on slips, falls, and even makes it simpler for our canine to traverse them. Additionally they soak up sound, that means your much less prone to hear your child clomping up and down the steps. So we extremely advocate including one in case you’ve received younger kids, pets, and even simply clumsy adults round.

DIY Stair Runner Earlier than & Afters

The primary time we put in a stair runner, it was to switch a dingy carpet runner that got here with the home. You’ll be able to see within the images under that we not solely livened up the steps with a daring striped rug, we additionally modernized the steps by portray the risers, trim, & balusters white and marking the wooden handrails darkish.

For our second set up, right here in our present residence, we used a beachy sisal runner as an alternative. We additionally painted the treads a cautious grey to brighten them up.

The “third” stair runner we added was for a DIY section we taped for The Rachael Ray Present. We solely shot about 3 staples on digital camera, however we prepped the small faux staircase backstage. It’s too dangerous we didn’t get to do a complete staircase. That runner is cute!

Total, you’ve got plenty of methods you may customise this mission to fit your type and your stairs. So let’s dive into the tutorial!

Instruments, Supplies, & Value

Listed below are the provides and instruments you must have helpful to put in your personal stair runner:

This doesn’t should be an costly mission both. Our first runner set up price lower than $300! It principally is determined by the runner you select and the way a lot you want.

Steps To Set up A Stair Runner

Our mission in whole took us about 20 hours, however that additionally included eradicating the outdated runner and portray the risers and railings. The precise stair runner set up solely took about 4 hours, though could rely upon the size of your stairs. We’ll go into every step in additional element, however right here’s an outline of the method:

1. Take away your outdated runner (if wanted)
2. Measure
3. Choose a runner
4. Paint or stain your stairs (elective)
5. Mark your placement
6. Lower the rug pad
7. Put together your staples
8. Begin on the prime
9. Join two runners (if wanted)
10. End the underside edge

Step 1: Take away your outdated runner

This step solely applies in case you have an present rug, runner, or carpet in your stairs that should go. This course of could take time – particularly getting all the outdated stapes up! We counted almost 600 staples in our outdated carpet. We have now a separate stair runner elimination tutorial for this, together with what instruments you’ll wish to assist get that outdated carpeting off.

Step 2: Measure

Earlier than shopping for your runner, you’ll have to measure how a lot you’ll want. As with all rug, the necessary measurements are size and width. Understanding this may even aid you decide if you should purchase a inventory measurement or have to order one thing customized.

Measuring runner size

We recommend utilizing a string or versatile measuring tape to find out the size of 1 step. This implies riser + tread, together with across the entrance bullnose edge. Multiply this measurement by the variety of steps you’ve got, after which add 10-15% further. Having an excessive amount of materials is simpler to cope with than not having sufficient!

Measuring runner width

Most stair runners don’t go wall-to-wall. As an alternative, they depart about 2-3″ uncovered on both aspect (see above). This quantity is private choice, and it could be dictated by inventory sizes. Measure the width of your narrowest stair, and subtract 4-6″ to get your runner width. Simply be conscious that many staircases “flare” on the backside, so make certain no matter width you select will match and look good from prime to backside.

Step 3: Choose a runner

Just about any carpet or rug may be was DIY stair runner. Nevertheless, we propose selecting one thing that will probably be sturdy and simple to wash, particularly in case your stairway will get plenty of foot visitors. Indoor/outside rugs and pure fiber rugs like wool or cotton are nice for these causes. We additionally counsel one thing low pile, since they’re simpler to maintain clear. We have now used each inventory and customized runners for our stairs.

Utilizing a inventory runner

For our striped runner, we used a rug from Annie Selke (previously Sprint & Albert) as a result of they’re recognized for his or her sturdiness. Additionally they have tons of patterns and colours, and most types are available in a wide range of sizes. We used two 2.5′ x 8′ Birmingham runners, however they now additionally promote a 20-foot model and as a customizable measurement. After 7 years of use, we are able to vouch that it held up nice (aside from some fading from solar) and felt fairly gentle underfoot!

Inventory runners are sometimes cheaper, however they could require extra ingenuity to suit exactly to your area. Don’t fear – we’ll present you the way!

Utilizing a customized runner

For our sisal runner, we ordered a customized outside rug from Sisal Rugs. This gave us nice management over the precise look – we picked the colour, border materials, border shade, measurement, and many others – and solely price us barely about $100 greater than 2 Annie Selke rugs would’ve on the time.

We have now been equally proud of each forms of rugs we’ve used – inventory vs customized, cotton vs sisal, daring vs impartial – so you must be ok with selecting no matter is finest for you.

Step 4: Paint or Stain Your Stairs

In case your stair makeover plans embrace any portray, staining, or different probably messy updates: do them now! You don’t wish to have to fret about dripping a brand new rug later!

Earlier than we added our striped runner, we stained the handrail a darker shade and painted the balusters, trim, and risers white. These have been considerably time-consuming duties, so they’re nice to deal with when you’re ready to your rug order to reach.

Earlier than including our sisal runner, we determined to color the stair treads a heat grey to cowl up some discoloration within the stain. We used this Porch & Ground Enamel in Requisite Grey by Sherwin-Williams. It didn’t require a primer and has held up nice!

This additionally is a superb time to do another repairs to the steps – like in case you have a free or squeaky tread, or want to repair any close by molding.

Step 5: Mark Your Placement

When you’re prepared to put in your runner, begin by marking its placement on each step. It will assist make certain it stays straight and doesn’t drift to the aspect as you put in it. We used a measuring tape and painter’s tape to mark the sides alongside every tread, which you’ll see under.

Alternatively, you may examine your placement with a ruler or measuring tape as you go. We simply discovered it sooner to tape down guides at first of the mission.

Step 6: Lower The Rug Pad

You’ll desire a rug pad beneath your runner to (1) present extra cushion and (2) preserve the runner in place. In the event you don’t need further cushion, you need to use carpet tape as an alternative. We have now used each a felt rug pad and a rubber rug pad with equal success. Simply make certain whichever you select has a non-slip design. Each are bought in a number of sizes, together with runner lengths, and don’t must be very thick (we use 1/8″ depth).

We favor to make use of the rug pad ONLY on the tread floor (not the vertical riser). This protects cash and likewise prevents pointless bulk in opposition to the riser. But it surely does require a while upfront to chop the rug pad into strips. Fortunately they often reduce simply with family scissors. We depart it lengthy sufficient to wrap across the entrance nostril of the stair.

We depart sufficient overhang so the rug pad can wrap across the bullnose of every step, as you may inform above.

Step 7: Put together Your Staples

Right here comes the bizarre step, however we promise it’s price it! After some trial and error, we discovered an electrical staple gun designed for upholstery initiatives to be the best option to safe a stair runner. A hand-powered staple gun was too light-duty. We would have liked one thing with extra oomph!

The downside to this strategy is that your staples could also be seen UNLESS you’re taking the time to paint them first. I do know it sounds bizarre, however belief us. It really works!

For our sisal runner, we used a gold Sharpie to roughly shade a strip of staples earlier than loading them into the stapler. For our black and white runner, we did the identical factor with a black Sharpie.

Matching the precise shade of your rug isn’t necessary as a result of the primary advantage of this strategy is that it removes the SHINE of the staples. The staples have been principally seen once they catch the sunshine, so the Sharpie ink dulls them sufficient that they camouflage into the sample of the rug.

Coloring one massive strip of staples earlier than you place them within the stapler is way sooner than doing it individually after they’re caught into your rug. However you may take a look at it on a number of stapled staples first if you wish to decide what shade provides the perfect disguise.

Step 8: Begin At The Prime

Start stapling your runner beneath the lip on the prime of your staircase. Take your time to place your runner exactly – maintaining the highest edge flush, and your edges aligned together with your tape markings. Use the electrical staple gun to safe it at every edge and about 4-5 locations within the center. Your rug’s sample could decide the place finest to put your staples so they’re as hidden as potential. It’s also possible to return and add extra staples later whether it is sagging anyplace. The necessary half now could be to simply get it connected.

With the runner stapled alongside the highest, pull it tight in opposition to the riser and staple alongside the underside into the RISER, not the TREAD. At no level throughout this course of will you could nail into the treads. This fashion you don’t have to fret about naked ft ever feeling chilly metallic.

Subsequent, pull the runner tight alongside the tread and repeat this course of, beginning with one other row of staples beneath the lip of the subsequent tread.

Use your judgment as to the place & what number of staples are wanted to carry your runner tight to the steps. With our sisal runner (above) we had two “lips” beneath every tread, so we needed to do two rows of staples alongside the highest of every step. Additionally, don’t fret if you could take away a misfired staple on occasion. Simply preserve some needlenose pliers helpful.

Proceed this course of, working down your stairs in the direction of the underside. Simply bear in mind to maintain pulling your runner tight and ensure it’s not drifting to 1 aspect as you go. Oh, and don’t overlook to place down your rug pad strips as you go.

Additionally, we discover the electrical staple gun works finest whenever you apply stress to the again of it as you fireplace. This helps the staples sink deeper into the swood.

Step 9: Join Two Runners

If one runner gained’t attain the underside of your stairs, it’s straightforward to seamlessly join two separate runners. One of the best ways to do that is to cover the transition beneath the lip of a tread. Use scissors to chop off any further materials out of your first runner in order that it terminates beneath the lip.

Staple that reduce finish proper beneath the bullnose fringe of the tread, simply as you’ve got been doing.

Then connect the second runner beneath the lip, identical to you probably did with the primary runner on the prime of your stairs. From there, you may proceed down your stairs with the second runner. Here’s a completed image of our stairs. Can you discover the spot the place one runner ends and the opposite begins?

You’ll be able to kinda see it there about 3 steps up. The transition isn’t 100% undetectable, but it surely’s so delicate you solely actually discover it in case you’re in search of it.

Step 9: End The Backside Edge

When you get to the underside, use scissors to chop off any extra materials – leaving about an additional inch of fabric. Fold this further bit again beneath the runner and staple it into the underside of the rise. This fold offers a cleaner, even edge on the underside (since some runners will fray barely when reduce).

And identical to that, you’ve completed your stair runner set up!

You’ll be able to learn extra specifics about putting in our sisal stair runner, and see extra earlier than & after photos of that area.

Stair Runner FAQs

Listed below are solutions to different questions we often get about putting in a stair runner.

How properly do stair runners maintain up?

Our stair runners have held up very properly, even with busy youngsters & pets in the home. Like several rug or carpet, they require common vacuuming and the occasional stain elimination. However so long as you select a sturdy materials like an indoor/outside polypropylene rug or a pure fiber rug, you must have little hassle. We lived with our striper runner for over 7 years earlier than transferring, and we solely skilled mild fading on the backside (the place it received plenty of daylight) and a few small, however barely noticeable, fraying on the nostril of a step or two.

Do stair runners injury the steps?

Once you set up a stair runner, you’ll put small staple holes in your stair risers. A stair runner additionally could trigger your paint or stain end to fade inconsistently, as a result of steps being partially lined. Nevertheless, each of those may be remedied with wooden putty and a contemporary coat of paint or stain.

What are the benefits of a stair runner?

Along with bettering the look of your stairs, you’re additionally making your steps safer and quieter whenever you set up a stair runner. Rugs soak up sound and reduce down on the noise of loud footsteps. Additionally they are much less slick than wooden steps, which makes slips and falls much less frequent.

How do stair runners keep in place?

Stair runners keep in place because of a mix of staples and rug pads. The staples maintain the rug tight to every riser, serving to it kind to the form of the staircase. Rug pads beneath the tread preserve it from transferring underfoot. Alternatively, you need to use stair carpet rods to carry the rug tight to the riser.

What are alternate options to a stair runner?

In our historic seashore residence, we didn’t wish to set up a everlasting stair runner. We used two alternate options to assist our canine not slip on the steps. On our entrance steps, we used non-slip sisal treads held in place with carpet tape. On our again stairs, we used clear non-slip treads for an almost invisible look.

*This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, so we could earn a small fee whenever you make a purchase order by means of hyperlinks on our web site at no extra price to you.

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