Have you ever walked into a home in Lawrence, looked at the stairs, and thought, "Wow, those look amazing!"? There is a good chance that the staircase had something called a stair runner. If you live in Douglas County and are thinking about making your stairs safer and prettier, you have come to the right place. At Paradise Carpet One Floor & Home, we help families just like yours transform their stairs every day.
Let’s talk about what makes a stair runner so special, how you can get a custom one right here in town, and why they are such a smart choice for Kansas homes.
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A stair runner is a piece of carpet that doesn't cover the whole stair. Instead, it runs right down the middle. You can still see the wood or other hard flooring on the edges. It is like a beautiful rug that is specially fitted just for your steps. Ideally, your new stair runner will:
Most people in Lawrence have carpeted stairs, but runners are a little different. They give you the best of both worlds. You get the soft feeling of carpet under your feet, but you also get to show off the beautiful wood of your staircase. It is a style that fits perfectly whether you live in a historic home near downtown Lawrence or a newer house out west near Rock Chalk Park.
A runner adds traction. Traction is what stops you from slipping. This is super important if you have young kids running up and down the stairs. It is also very helpful for elderly family members who need to feel steady when they walk. Besides safety, runners add comfort. Walking on hardwood can be cold and noisy. A runner adds warmth and softness. It also makes your home quieter because the carpet absorbs the sound of footsteps. Imagine not hearing "thump, thump, thump" every time someone runs upstairs!
Other benefits of your stair runners:
Safety is one of the biggest reasons people in Kansas choose stair runners. Hardwood stairs can be slippery. If you are wearing socks, it is easy to slide.
Your stairs are a "high-traffic area." That means people walk on them a lot—probably more than almost any other part of your house. Because of this, you have to be smart about the color you pick. We often tell customers to avoid white carpet for stairs. White is beautiful, but it shows dirt very quickly. On a staircase, where shoes and paws are stepping in the same spot over and over, white carpet can look dingy fast.
Instead, think about colors that hide dirt a little better, such as:
Maintenance is minimal for most runners. You just vacuum them like regular carpet. It is much easier than trying to keep bare wood stairs dust-free!
Here in Kansas, we see a mix of styles. Some people love the classic, cozy look that matches the traditional brick buildings on Mass Street. Others want something modern and sleek.
Right now, we are seeing a lot of people move away from plain beige. Lawrence homeowners are getting braver with color and texture. We see lots of blues, grays, and even greens. Texture is big, too. Carpets with a bit of a pattern cut into the fibers can look very fancy on stairs. Another trend is the "stair nose" look. This is about how the carpet fits over the edge of each step. We can help you decide the best way to install it so it looks clean and tailored.
You don't need to drive all the way to Kansas City to find beautiful flooring. Paradise Carpet One Floor & Home is right here in Lawrence. We know our community, from the university students to the families who have been here for generations. We pride ourselves on being expert advisors. We aren't just here to sell you carpet; we are here to help you solve problems. If you are worried about your dog slipping on the stairs, we have a solution. If you want to make your entryway look grand for the holidays, we can help with that, too.
Adding a stair runner is one of the easiest ways to change the look of your home without doing a huge construction project. It adds safety, warmth, and style all at once. Come visit our showroom to see what we have. You can look through our remnants to find a hidden gem, or browse our full selection of carpets to find the perfect bold pattern. We will help you measure, choose the right material, and arrange for our local partners to bind it beautifully. Your stairs do a lot of work. Isn't it time you gave them a little love? Stop by Paradise Carpet One Floor & Home today and let's get started on making your Lawrence home even more beautiful.