When it comes to whether or not it’s the right move to carpet your timber staircase, the answer is entirely contextual. In this guide, we'll run you through the key considerations—style, comfort, safety, and upkeep—helping you make an informed decision for your home.
Aesthetic appeal
As the leading UK manufacturers of bespoke timber staircases, we’ll admit to a certain degree of bias and a love for a natural timber look; however, there are times when a well-considered runner can improve a home’s aesthetic appeal.
Arguably, the main consideration when choosing to carpet for style purposes is the condition of your timber stairs. While older, worn, or even slightly uneven steps can effectively be hidden from view under a beautiful runner that complements the rest of the home’s design choices, covering pristine, beautifully finished timber can detract from a home. A well-finished timber staircase is a natural focal point that adds value and character to a home; be careful about covering it up.
We do not recommend carpeting floating or central spine staircases with open risers. These designs create an open and airy feel, and a carpet will immediately undermine the visual impact. If your timber floating or spine staircase is beginning to show its age, we recommend a staircase renovation instead of covering it up.
Safety and comfort
Carpets win comfort, but take the ‘L’ when it comes to safety.
There’s no denying that a plush carpet feels so much better underfoot, especially when walking around barefoot or in socks. Carpets also offer some noise damping and a little bit of cushioning in the event of a fall. Banging your toe against a carpeted step is also much more ‘comfortable’ than banging it against a timber edge.
That said, these benefits have to be weighed up against a few real safety concerns. With time, staircase carpets may loosen, wrinkle, or detach, causing significant tripping hazards. We strongly recommend addressing any of these issues immediately, especially when there are small children or elderly residents in the home.
Upkeep and durability
A hands-down win for timber.
Timber staircases are significantly easier to keep looking their best, requiring only the occasional dusting and mopping. Scuffs, scratches, and other imperfections are usually easier to address than with carpets, and spilling a glass or red wine on a timber staircase is much less of a disaster than spilling it on a plush white runner. When it comes to durability, timber comes out on top again, with high-quality timber staircases lasting decades while carpets typically have a 5 to 10-year lifespan.
Further boosting timber’s appeal in this category is the fact that carpets are genuinely tricky to keep in tip-top condition, requiring not only regular vacuuming but also the occasional deep clean to remove allergens, embedded grime, or deep stains. Without the right equipment, this is a real challenge.
Unless you’re willing to put in the effort to maintain your staircase carpet, timber stairs will almost certainly last longer and reduce the cost and effort of ownership in the long run.
First Step Designs: Bespoke Timber Stairs for Bespoke Homes
At First Step Designs, we work closely with homeowners, interior designers, and architects to design and engineer the UK’s most stunning timber staircases—not the kind you would soon want to cover with a carpet.
While we don’t install carpets on new or renovated stairs ourselves, our design team is more than happy to help you visualise what your staircase could look like with or without a runner, as well as provide expert design advice on what colours, patterns, and textures would complement your home. When renovating a previously-carpeted staircase, our team will address glue residue, nail holes, or other carpet-related imperfections we come across.
If your stairs have reached the point where you’re considering covering up imperfections with a carpet, reach out to our design team for a zero-cost and obligation-free discussion of how our staircase renovation service can give your staircase a new lease on life.
Let's talk
Get in touch and let us show you how we cantransform your home.
.jpg)
