In this month's blog, we're going up in the world - or upstairs. We're looking at carpets for the stairs. Compared to other rooms in the house, stair carpets work a little differently. The first and obvious difference is they are more often than not covering a thinner area. It means that certain patterns can work better. More on this later. The other is perspective: unlike other areas of the home, there is an uninterrupted view of the stairs upwards, whereas the rest of the carpets are flat and have furniture on them. Put together, it means that the process for choosing a carpet in the lounge can differ from the process of choosing a carpet for the stairs.
If you opt for a solid colour for your stairs, then the above is less of a consideration. And as for colour, that is purely a personal choice. When we, at Archway Carpets, have an enquiry for stairs, both Darrell and Graham suggest a wool mix carpet. This is a carpet made with 80% wool and 20% synthetic material. The wool maintains the shape with the synthetic, often made with polypropylene or nylon, providing extra wearability. Stairs, given the function they provide, receive a pounding. There's extra pressure on your stairs going up and coming down, so considering a wool mix ensures your carpet maintains its look and feel for longer.
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Crucial Trading - Audrey
Crucial Trading’s Audrey wool carpet - Where inspiration begins
So what about those patterns and stripes? Stairs are generally immediately visible when entering a house. Choosing a striking striped carpet is a good choice as it leads the eye upstairs. Stripes work well in hallways too. A bold stripe like Crucial Trading's Audrey wool carpet (above) can work well with the thinner space.
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Brockway Carpets - Herdwick Herringbone Runners
Brockway Carpets have just released a brand new carpet, Herdwick Herringbone Runners, with a runner, or border, incorporated into the design. It looks great while carpeting the entire width of the stairs. So often with carpet runners, the stairs wood is visible on either side – this carpets the full width, so a great option if the wood on your stairs isn't looking too good. At the centre of Brockway's carpet design is the ever-stylish Herringbone design. Being a small, subtle pattern gives the carpet a luxurious look.
Brockway Carpets Herdwick Herringbone Runners
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Fells Carpets - Patterned Carpets
And finally, we have Fells Carpets. Usually, larger patterns can be overbearing in such confined spaces. However, through their smart designs, Fells make it work with their tartan carpets, Castle Bay and Glencoe, and patterned carpets, Studio and Rebel Yell.
Fells Carpets 1: Castle Bay / 2: Glencoe / 3: Rebel Yell
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So there you have it, just three examples from many of the carpets available for the stairs. If you are looking for a carpet for your stairs or any room of the house, please get in touch with us at Archway Carpets in Woodbridge, Suffolk.