There’s no need to tread so lightly when it comes to the runner for your staircase. Designers such as Sara Noble recommend going bold, and summer is the right time to go fresh and bright.
“Often, the staircase is the first thing you see when you walk into your home, so it’s good to make an impact,” says the owner of Noble Designs. “The carpet is the only soft space on the stairs—and it’s not like you can dress it up with throw pillows. Pattern and color from the carpet give the staircase importance.”
Noble says there are more fashion-forward choices than ever before and at every price point. Colors include blues and pinks, and patterns include geometrics, abstracts, stripes, and animal prints.
“I consider cheetah and antelope prints neutrals,” she says.
Recent projects have swapped out the tired tan carpet of yesteryear with crisp, confident choices including a navy-and-white geometric by Stark on a curved grand staircase. A few of Noble’s other favorite carpet vendors for stairs include Stanton, Dash & Albert, and PFM Patterson Flynn Martin.
In another home, Noble is custom-fitting a staircase runner with the pattern from a nearby area rug.
“I like to show off the wood treads,” she says. “That solid footing combined with the soft anchor of the carpet makes a statement.”