Although hardwood stairs can be beautiful, they are also slippery and could lead to serious falls. It’s easy for you to slip or miss a step without a textured surface that helps your grip.
Kim and Scott Vargo, Yellow Brick House, were ultimately motivated by the need for safety to explore other options for their staircases, like carpet or rug runners. After transforming their entrance into a beautiful space that features their original 130-year-old staircase, the decision to cover those stairs was not easy.
They fell in love. Their entryway stairs have been made safe and secure after installing a beautiful sisal staircase runner. Find out more about Kim’s and Scott’s projects. Discover why they chose a stair runner and how you can choose one for your staircase.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Do you remember the scene from “Risky Business” where Tom Cruise slides down the hardwood floor of the living room at least 10 feet?
Imagine sliding down a hardwood stairway. It wouldn’t look good. It might even look like this:
Hardwood can be a slippery surface – especially if your feet are always covered in socks. On your stairs, it isn’t easy to keep a firm grip and prevent slipping. Those hard stairs are even harder to navigate for children, pets, or senior citizens. How can you fix the slippery stairs? The stair runner may be a good option.
With a baby on the way, we knew a stair runner would be a must. Kim says that as a family who does not wear shoes, the stairs were always a little slippery. We were worried about their safety.
Kim and Scott were concerned about safety, so they began looking for a stair runner. They wanted something that would not completely cover the wood planks but help to prevent slips.
Kim explains, “We knew a runner was the perfect solution, not only because of its safety, but also because it’s a great way to add texture and a little bit of color.”
Kim says that a stair-runner is not only a good way to improve safety, but it can also add a touch of exoticism to your entrance. A stair runner is also better for your legs, feet, and back when you use a mat beneath.
How to Choose the Perfect Stair Runner
Finding the perfect stair runner is similar to choosing an area rug.
Kim recalls: “We considered a few key factors, including durability, ease of cleaning, comfort and minimal pattern.”
Kim recommends that you look for a stair runner with a tight weave, and preferably if it has a thin pile to avoid fibers being stretched out or sagging. Kim recommends a simple pattern if you are set on having a particular way. This will make it easier to see wear and tear.
The stairway is the most used space in any home. It may not be a room, but it receives more traffic. It is important to keep in mind that the stairway will need to be able to endure everyday wear and tear.
In light of the increased traffic, you might want to consider a durable stair runner made from polypropylene or another option.
Kim and Scott selected our polypropylene sisal-look-alike runners to meet all their needs. To ensure that the pattern would not show as easily with wear, Kim and Scott chose our Four Seasons Collection with a Belize Dune color and a Granola cotton border.
There are fewer slips, trips, and falls.
They installed their new stair runner themselves! Kim and Scott noticed an immediate difference in the safety of their stairs after installing their new stair runner (they did it all themselves, by the way!
Kim says, “We have noticed a big difference in how our dogs run. Their paw pads are less slippery, and we feel our family is safer overall because of the runner!”
Kim and Scott also enjoy other benefits from their new stair runner.
Kim continues, “We’re over the moon!” We chose a traditional color and a cotton border to match but made sure we selected the runner from the outdoor collection. The faux sisal material is not attractive to pets (as it would be with natural sisal).
Kim and Scott are now able to rest assured that their new baby, guests, and pets will be safer on the stairs.