A stair runner is more than a carpet, it’s a statement piece that adds style, comfort, and timeless character to your home. Traditionally found in period and heritage properties, stair runners softened footsteps, reduced noise, and brought warmth to grand staircases. Today, they remain a beautiful way to enhance both historic and contemporary interiors.

What is the best carpet to use as my stair runner?

• Wool Flatweave - Though not the most luxurious option, a flatweave carpet is the most popular choice for stair runners. while it uses looped yarn (wool), the loops are woven with no height, giving a very flat appearance and firm feel. You are standing on the 'edge' of the fibres, which means the carpet won't shade (eg show vacuum lines) or flatten. It’s less likely to have problems with loops being pulled, because the yarn is woven in rather than looped up. (Less risk of snagging).

• Wool Loop / Berber Pile - Softer than a flatweave, a wool loop is a great choice of carpet to have fitted on your stairs, fully fitted, or as a runner.  Underfoot, loop pile has a noticeable “looped” texture — somewhat springy, but not soft like a twist pile, These loops can all be the same height (level loop) or different heights (multi-level), which creates texture. Like the Flatweave, you are standing on the 'edge' of the fibres, which means the carpet won't shade (eg show vacuum lines) or flatten as much as a twist. However, loops can be snagged and pulled (e.g., by pet claws or sharp objects).

• Twist Pile - A twist pile carpet is made from cut fibres that are tightly twisted together. This gives a slightly textured look (not smooth like velvet, not looped like a loop /berber) and makes it the most common type of carpet throughout the house because it balances softness and durability. Because the fibres are cut, and you're standing on the top of the pile, heavy traffic can make the pile Flatten along the tread path. Synthetic fibres are softer than 80/20 Wool mixes, so synthetic carpets will show signs of wear quicker and will shade (eg vacuum lines), whereas the wool mixes are more rigid, so the pile won't move/shade, as much. Unlike loop pile carpets, twist piles has cut fibres, so there are no loops to catch / snag on shoes, pet claws, or toys.

Any carpet in our showroom can be transformed into a stair runner, meaning you can have the same carpet on your landing, giving you complete freedom to coordinate your home’s flooring with elegance and style.

At Newbolds, every stair runner is made to suit your staircase perfectly and can be tailored as wide or narrow as you like, ensuring it complements the proportions of your space. All edging is applied in-house, making the process quicker than most other shops, which often have to cut and send it away. This guarantees a high-quality, precise finish delivered faster for your home.

Choose from two premium edging styles, which one will you choose?

• Taped Edges – Available in plain, herringbone, or patterned tapes in almost any colour. The width of the tape can be customised to perfectly suit your staircase and your style.

• Whipped Edges - Finished like carpet samples with an overlocked wool edge, traditionally in a colour that matches the carpet. For a bold, striking statement, it can slo be finished in a contrasting colour.

For a classic modern finishing touch, stairrods can be added. Nowadays they are purely decorative, they don’t hold the runner in place like in the past but beautifully complete the look. They are available in a range of finishes such as antique brass, black, pewter, and more, and can be paired with matching doorbars leading into other rooms. Many homeowners tie the look together by coordinating stairrods and doorbars with other features such as door handles, radiator finishes, and other metal accents throughout the home.

Browse our gallery to see a selection of some of the stunning stair runners we’ve completed. Follow us on Instagram for regular updates and to see our latest bespoke creations as they’re finished—bringing timeless style and elegance to staircases across homes.