Are you looking to give the stairs in your home a makeover? When it comes to stairs flooring, there are several different options to choose from. Spending some time to think about how you want to decorate the stairs in your home, and the overall look and feel you want for this area of your property is definitely worth it. In fact, since the stairs are such a high-traffic area, the type of flooring that you ultimately choose could even go towards improving the safety of your home.
When choosing the right flooring for your stairs, there are a lot of questions that are worth asking. The best type of flooring for the stairs area is perhaps one of the first and most obvious questions that you will have. Choosing the right flooring for your stairs not only contributes to the look and feel of this area in your home but will also have an impact on just how safe your house is. Before you decide on the best type of flooring for your stairs, there are several areas that are worth considering.
Budget
The first factor that you may want to think about before you decide on the right flooring type for your stairs is how much you want to spend. Flooring options for the stairs can cost anything from a few pounds to over one hundred pounds per square metre, so it’s definitely worth taking the time to think about how much you want to spend overall, and which flooring types are going to be the best option for your budget.
Stair carpet, for example, is usually one of the cheaper options to go for as there are lots of budget materials on offer such as nylon carpets. It’s also easier to fit compared to other flooring options, which makes it a great choice overall, and very popular in many UK homes for staircases. Be sure to shop around and choose the stair carpet that is perfect for your home and budget.
Noise Levels
Another factor that you may want to consider when choosing the perfect flooring for your home is the noise level. Some types of flooring are noisier to walk on compared to others. For example, while wooden flooring might look amazing on your staircase, you also have to consider how loud it is going to be in your home if somebody runs up the stairs. If somebody in your home usually leaves for work early in the morning while everybody else is in bed, for example, then you probably want a quieter flooring option for your staircase.
Maintenance
The stairs are quite a high-traffic area in any home, with everybody in the family going up and down them every day for various reasons. Because of this, you will need to think about the amount of time and money that you are willing to invest in maintaining your stairs flooring and keeping it in good condition. Some flooring types that are suitable for stairs, such as hardwood flooring, for example, look amazing but will take a lot of looking after to keep it that way. On the other hand, carpet only needs vacuuming every once in a while, while laminate flooring for your stairs will simply need to be swept and mopped.
Traffic Levels
Consider how much your household uses the stairs in your home. If you are looking for flooring for the main staircase in your property, then chances are that this is a high-traffic area that everybody in the home uses at least once or twice per day. A staircase that leads up to the bathroom and bedrooms is likely to require a much more durable flooring option compared to one that goes down into a basement for storage, for example. While some flooring options might look amazing, you may be surprised at how quickly they can wear down in a high-traffic area of the home. So, if you’re picking flooring for your main staircase that is used several times a day by the entire family, then make sure that the durability of the flooring is one of the main things that you keep in mind.
Slip Resistance and Safety
Since the stairs are an area of the home where accidents and falls can happen more than almost anywhere else, safety is an important factor to keep in mind when it comes to choosing the right flooring for your stairs. When choosing the right type of flooring, it’s important to look for surfaces that aren’t slippery. This will help you avoid any unwanted accidents. This is especially important if there are children living in the home, or family members who have limited mobility. It’s a good idea to go for a flooring material that will offer some extra grip and traction underfoot such as carpet.
Appearance
Finally, think about how you want your staircase to look – this will vary a lot, depending on your individual preferences. Some people prefer the clean, minimal look of wooden or laminate flooring on the stairs while others prefer a cosy, warm appearance that can only be achieved with carpet. Don’t be afraid to experiment and consider different options – one popular trend is to have a carpet runner, rather than fully carpeting the stairs. Or, you can have carpeted steps and laminate risers for a seriously unique and cosy look.
What are the Best Flooring Options for Stairs?
Once you have considered all of the above factors such as your overall budget, safety levels, traffic levels, safety, and the look and feel you want for your staircase, it’s time to look into the different types of flooring that are available and choose the right one for your home. Some of the most popular options to consider when it comes to getting the perfect flooring for your stairs include:
Carpet
Carpet is by far the most popular option for staircase flooring. It is easy to install by a qualified fitter and therefore cheaper overall to have fitted compared to many other flooring types. And there are lots of different carpet options to choose from, in a huge range of different colours and even patterns depending on the overall finished look that you are going for. When it comes to choosing carpet for your stairs, the durability of the material is going to be one of the main factors to keep in mind. Since the stairs are a very high-traffic area in the home, it’s no surprise that carpet can get worn down very quickly on them. Because of this, look for a high-pile, durable carpet that can withstand the traffic. Invest in a good quality underlay, which will help the carpet last longer and stay as durable as possible for as long as possible.
Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring is very versatile and budget-friendly, especially when it comes to choosing flooring for your stairs. There are lots of options to choose from since manufacturers can produce vinyl plank flooring that resembles pretty much anything. You can go for the classic wooden floor look, a stone effect, or even a patterned tile effect for a unique stairway in your home that looks more expensive than it was and is both highly durable and easy to maintain. Vinyl plank flooring is made from high-quality materials; so as long as you get a good one it’s really difficult to tell the difference between LVP and genuine hardwood flooring. It is stain-resistant and waterproof, making it a perfect option for high-traffic areas of the home like the stairs.
Carpet Runner
If you like the look of carpet but don’t want the expense that comes along with carpeting the entire staircase, then a carpet runner is an alternative option that might be worth considering. Runners are great for adding traction to stairs that already have hardwood flooring to make them safer. You can also choose a runner from a wide range of different colours and patterns to coordinate with the flooring beneath it and other areas of your home such as your hallway or landing. Pick a solid colour, striped, or patterned runner with an intricate design depending on the type of look you are going for. A carpet runner is also a good idea if you want a flooring option that doesn’t cost a lot or require a lot of work to install and helps to cut down on the noise levels when people are walking up or down the stairs.
Tiled Stair Risers
While tiles might be a slippery option for the entire stairs, one popular idea these days is to use tiles on the stair risers to add some interest and create a unique look. On the steps, you can use carpet treads to add traction and cut down on noise levels when people go up and down the stairs. Tiles are available in a huge range of colours, patterns, or textures so it’s easy to find something that will fit in perfectly with the rest of your home and help you achieve the desired look when it comes to your stairs. Ceramic is a popular tile material that is recommended to use on your stairs since it has a higher durability level compared to other tile materials like glass or porcelain. Or, if you want to do your stairs by yourself and like the look of tiles but aren’t interested in learning how to tile, then there are sticky back vinyl tile options that you may want to consider, which can simply be cut to size and stuck on. Consider using an additional spray adhesive to help the tiles stay in place.
Hardwood
Hardwood is one of the most upscale, and highly desirable flooring types for the stairs and the rest of the home. Having hardwood flooring installed is also one of the more expensive options to go for, but it can have a massive impact on the overall look and feel of your stairs and improve the aesthetics of the entire home. When it is installed well, high-quality hardwood can easily last as long as the house itself. Along with this, it’s also easy to clean and maintain. Before you decide if hardwood is the best option for your home, there are some drawbacks to consider – one major one is that it can be slippery when wet, which can compromise the safety of your stairs. That being said, there are things you can purchase for the stairs to use with hardwood such as a carpet runner or no-slip treads to make them safer to use. If you like the look and feel of natural wood, then hardwood flooring for the stairs might be an ideal option for you. There are lots of options available such as ash, beech, and oak, allowing you to create the perfect staircase for your home.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is another popular option around the home and can also be used on stairs. Laminate flooring is usually available in a wood effect finish with various styles and colours to choose from allowing you to easily find something that fits in with the rest of your home and create the look you are going for. If you like the look of hardwood flooring for your stairs but don’t have the budget for the real thing, then laminate flooring might be a good alternative to consider. That being said, there are some drawbacks including that laminate can be quite slippery for stairs, so you may want to consider using it together with carpet treads or a carpet runner to ensure that your stairs are safe for everybody to use. A good quality laminate is also essential as cheaper laminate is likely to wear easily in a high-traffic area like the stairs.
When it comes to choosing flooring for your stairs, there is no shortage of options available to consider. Before determining which flooring is the ideal choice for you, it is worth considering safety, noise levels, maintenance, and your budget to see which of these options is the best fit.
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