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Young House Love » Decorating » How To Install A Stair Runner

| By John Petersik | January 11, 2024 | 645 Comments

How To Install A Stair Runner

It may seem intimidating to install a stair runner yourself, but it’s so darn easy that we’ve done it twice! Thrice if you count demonstrating it on live TV (more on that later). Just follow the steps in our tutorial below, including our trick for making sure your rug is the perfect size for the project.

Finish Sisal Stair Runner On Staircase With Kitchen In Background

Adding a rug or runner to your stairs isn’t just a stylish decor choice that can add color, personality, or pattern. It’s also a safety feature! We find that adding a stair runner cuts down on slips, falls, and even makes it easier for our dog to traverse them. They also absorb sound, meaning your less likely to hear your kid clomping up and down the steps. So we highly recommend adding one if you’ve got young children, pets, or even just clumsy adults around.

DIY Stair Runner Before & Afters

The first time we installed a stair runner, it was to replace a dingy carpet runner that came with the house. You can see in the photos below that we not only livened up the stairs with a bold striped rug, we also modernized the steps by painting the risers, trim, & balusters white and staining the wood handrails dark.

Striped Stair Runner Before And After

For our second install, here in our current home, we used a beachy sisal runner instead. We also painted the treads a wary gray to brighten them up.

Before And After Sisal Stair Runner Installation

The “third” stair runner we added was for a DIY segment we taped for The Rachael Ray Show. We only shot about 3 staples on camera, but we prepped the small fake staircase backstage. It’s too bad we didn’t get to do a whole staircase. That runner is cute!

Ep70 Rachael Ray Show Young House Love

Overall, you have lots of ways you can customize this project to suit your style and your stairs. So let’s dive into the tutorial!

Tools, Materials, & Cost

Here are the supplies and tools you should have handy to install your own stair runner:

  • Stair runner
  • Rug pad
  • Tape Measure
  • String
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Electric staple gun & staples
  • Sharpie
  • Scissors
  • Needlenose pliers

This doesn’t have to be an expensive project either. Our first runner installation cost less than $300! It mostly depends on the runner you choose and how much you need.

Steps To Install A Stair Runner

Our project in total took us about 20 hours, but that also included removing the old runner and painting the risers and railings. The actual stair runner install only took about 4 hours, although may depend on the length of your stairs. We’ll go into each step in more detail, but here’s an overview of the process:

  1. Remove your old runner (if needed)
  2. Measure
  3. Select a runner
  4. Paint or stain your stairs (optional)
  5. Mark your placement
  6. Cut the rug pad
  7. Prepare your staples
  8. Start at the top
  9. Connect two runners (if needed)
  10. Finish the bottom edge

Step 1: Remove your old runner

Side By Side Of Process Of Removing Old Carpet From Stairs

This step only applies if you have an existing rug, runner, or carpet on your stairs that needs to go. This process may take time – especially getting all of the old stapes up! We counted nearly 600 staples in our old carpet. We have a separate stair runner removal tutorial for this, including what tools you’ll want to help get that old carpeting off.

Step 2: Measure

Before buying your runner, you’ll need to measure how much you’ll need. As with any rug, the important measurements are length and width. Knowing this will also help you determine if you can purchase a stock size or need to order something custom.

Measuring runner length

We suggest using a string or flexible measuring tape to determine the length of one step. This means riser + tread, including around the front bullnose edge. Multiply this measurement by the number of steps you have, and then add 10-15% extra. Having too much material is easier to deal with than not having enough!

Measuring runner width

Measuring Tape Checking Placement Of Sisal Stair Runner

Most stair runners don’t go wall-to-wall. Instead, they leave about 2-3″ exposed on either side (see above). This number is personal preference, and it may be dictated by stock sizes. Measure the width of your narrowest stair, and subtract 4-6″ to get your runner width. Just be mindful that many staircases “flare” at the bottom, so make sure whatever width you choose will fit and look good from top to bottom.

Step 3: Select a runner

Virtually any carpet or rug can be turned into DIY stair runner. However, we suggest choosing something that will be durable and easy to clean, especially if your stairway gets lots of foot traffic. Indoor/outdoor rugs and natural fiber rugs like wool or cotton are great for these reasons. We also suggest something low pile, since they are easier to keep clean. We have used both stock and custom runners for our stairs.

Using a stock runner

For our striped runner, we used a rug from Annie Selke (formerly Dash & Albert) because they are known for their durability. They also have tons of patterns and colors, and most styles come in a variety of sizes. We used two 2.5′ x 8′ Birmingham runners, but they now also sell a 20-foot version and as a customizable size. After 7 years of use, we can vouch that it held up great (apart from some fading from sun) and felt quite soft underfoot!

Screenshot of Annie Selke Website Birmingham Rug

Stock runners are typically cheaper, but they may require more ingenuity to fit precisely to your space. Don’t worry – we’ll show you how!

Using a custom runner

For our sisal runner, we ordered a custom outdoor rug from Sisal Rugs. This gave us great control over the exact look – we picked the color, border material, border color, size, etc – and only cost us slightly about $100 more than 2 Annie Selke rugs would’ve at the time.

Screenshot of Sisal Rugs Direct Belize Rug

We have been equally happy with both types of rugs we’ve used – stock vs custom, cotton vs sisal, bold vs neutral – so you should feel good about choosing whatever is best for you.

Step 4: Paint or Stain Your Stairs

If your stair makeover plans include any painting, staining, or other potentially messy updates: do them now! You don’t want to have to worry about dripping a new rug later!

Before we added our striped runner, we stained the handrail a darker color and painted the balusters, trim, and risers white. These were somewhat time-consuming tasks, so they are great to tackle while you’re waiting for your rug order to arrive.

Side by Side of Painting Railing Baluster and Stair Riser White

Before adding our sisal runner, we decided to paint the stair treads a warm gray to cover up some discoloration in the stain. We used this Porch & Floor Enamel in Requisite Gray by Sherwin-Williams. It didn’t require a primer and has held up great!

View Of Gray Painted Stair Treads From Above

This also is a great time to do any other repairs to the stairs – like if you have a loose or squeaky tread, or need to fix any nearby molding.

Step 5: Mark Your Placement

Once you’re ready to install your runner, start by marking its placement on every step. This will help make sure it stays straight and doesn’t drift to the side as you install it. We used a measuring tape and painter’s tape to mark the edges along each tread, which you can see below.

Painters Tape On Steps To Mark Runner Location

Alternatively, you can check your placement with a ruler or measuring tape as you go. We just found it faster to tape down guides at the start of the project.

Step 6: Cut The Rug Pad

You’ll want a rug pad under your runner to (1) provide more cushion and (2) keep the runner in place. If you don’t want extra cushion, you can use carpet tape instead. We have used both a felt rug pad and a rubber rug pad with equal success. Just make sure whichever you choose has a non-slip design. Both are sold in multiple sizes, including runner lengths, and don’t need to be very thick (we use 1/8″ depth).

Cut Piece Of Foam Rug Pad Placed Under Sisal Stair Runner

We prefer to use the rug pad ONLY on the tread surface (not the vertical riser). This saves money and also prevents unnecessary bulk against the riser. But it does require some time upfront to cut the rug pad into strips. Luckily they usually cut easily with household scissors. We leave it long enough to wrap around the front nose of the stair.

Overhead view of stairs with runner with rug pad

We leave enough overhang so the rug pad can wrap around the bullnose of each step, as you can tell above.

Step 7: Prepare Your Staples

Here comes the weird step, but we promise it’s worth it! After some trial and error, we found an electric staple gun designed for upholstery projects to be the most effective way to secure a stair runner. A hand-powered staple gun was too light-duty. We needed something with more oomph!

John Stapling Sisal Runner Under Lip of Stair Tread

The drawback to this approach is that your staples may be visible UNLESS you take the time to color them first. I know it sounds weird, but trust us. It works!

Strips of Staples Colored Gold With Sharpie Marker

For our sisal runner, we used a gold Sharpie to roughly color a strip of staples before loading them into the stapler. For our black and white runner, we did the same thing with a black Sharpie.

Using Sharpie to color staples black

Matching the exact color of your rug is not important because the main benefit of this approach is that it removes the SHINE of the staples. The staples were mostly visible when they catch the light, so the Sharpie ink dulls them enough that they camouflage into the pattern of the rug.

Coloring one big strip of staples before you put them in the stapler is much faster than doing it individually after they’re stuck into your rug. But you can test it on a few stapled staples first if you want to determine what color offers the best disguise.

Step 8: Start At The Top

Begin stapling your runner under the lip at the top of your staircase. Take your time to position your runner precisely – keeping the top edge flush, and your edges aligned with your tape markings. Use the electric staple gun to secure it at each edge and about 4-5 places in the middle. Your rug’s pattern may determine where best to place your staples so they are as hidden as possible. You can also go back and add more staples later if it is sagging anywhere. The important part now is to just get it attached.

Sherry using electric staple gun to apply stapes to black and white runner under first tread

With the runner stapled along the top, pull it tight against the riser and staple along the bottom into the RISER, not the TREAD. At no point during this process will you need to nail into the treads. This way you don’t have to worry about bare feet ever feeling cold metal.

Electric staple gun securing runner to the bottom of the top first risier

Next, pull the runner tight along the tread and repeat this process, starting with another row of staples under the lip of the next tread.

Yellow Electric Stapler Attaching Runner Under Lip Of Stair Tread

Use your judgment as to where & how many staples are needed to hold your runner tight to the stairs. With our sisal runner (above) we had two “lips” under each tread, so we had to do two rows of staples along the top of each step. Also, don’t fret if you need to remove a misfired staple now and again. Just keep some needlenose pliers handy.

Needlenose Pliers Removing Staple On Sisal Stair Runner

Continue this process, working down your stairs towards the bottom. Just remember to keep pulling your runner tight and make sure it’s not drifting to one side as you go. Oh, and don’t forget to put down your rug pad strips as you go.

Rug Pad On Steps During DIY Stair Runner Installation

Also, we find the electric staple gun works best when you apply pressure to the back of it as you fire. This helps the staples sink deeper into the swood.

Step 9: Connect Two Runners

If one runner won’t reach the bottom of your stairs, it’s easy to seamlessly connect two separate runners. The best way to do this is to hide the transition under the lip of a tread. Use scissors to cut off any extra material from your first runner so that it terminates under the lip.

Using scissors to trim off excess runner

Staple that cut end right under the bullnose edge of the tread, just as you have been doing.

stapling the end of first runner under one tread in order to start the next

Then attach the second runner under the lip, just like you did with the first runner at the top of your stairs. From there, you can continue down your stairs with the second runner. Here is a finished picture of our stairs. Can you find the spot where one runner ends and the other begins?

Black and White Striped Stair Runner After

You can kinda see it there about 3 steps up. The transition is not 100% undetectable, but it’s so subtle you only really notice it if you’re looking for it.

Step 9: Finish The Bottom Edge

Once you get to the bottom, use scissors to cut off any excess material – leaving about an extra inch of material. Fold this extra bit back under the runner and staple it into the bottom of the rise. This fold gives a cleaner, even edge on the bottom (since some runners will fray slightly when cut).

detail of how bottom of runner is folded to hide cut seam

And just like that, you’ve finished your stair runner installation!

Before And After of Stair Runner From Top of Stairs

You can read more specifics about installing our sisal stair runner, and see more before & after pictures of that space.

Stair Runner FAQs

Here are answers to other questions we frequently get about installing a stair runner.

How well do stair runners hold up?

Bright Foyer With Edgecomb Gray Paint On Walls

Our stair runners have held up very well, even with busy kids & pets in the house. Like any rug or carpet, they require regular vacuuming and the occasional stain removal. But as long as you choose a durable material like an indoor/outdoor polypropylene rug or a natural fiber rug, you should have little trouble. We lived with our striper runner for over 7 years before moving, and we only experienced light fading at the bottom (where it got lots of sunlight) and some small, but barely noticeable, fraying on the nose of a step or two.

Do stair runners damage the stairs?

When you install a stair runner, you will put small staple holes in your stair risers. A stair runner also may cause your paint or stain finish to fade unevenly, due to the steps being partially covered. However, both of these can be remedied with wood putty and a fresh coat of paint or stain.

What are the advantages of a stair runner?

In addition to improving the look of your stairs, you’re also making your steps safer and quieter when you install a stair runner. Rugs absorb sound and cut down on the noise of loud footsteps. They also are less slick than wood steps, which makes slips and falls less common.

How do stair runners stay in place?

Stair runners stay in place thanks to a combination of staples and rug pads. The staples hold the rug tight to each riser, helping it form to the shape of the staircase. Rug pads under the tread keep it from moving underfoot. Alternatively, you can use stair carpet rods to hold the rug tight to the riser.

What are alternatives to a stair runner?

In our historic beach home, we didn’t want to install a permanent stair runner. We used two alternate solutions to help our dog not slip on the stairs. On our front steps, we used non-slip sisal treads held in place with carpet tape. On our back stairs, we used clear non-slip treads for a nearly invisible look.

*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

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Comments

  1. Kristen says

    November 11, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Ah! It looks so sophisticated. Love it! :)

    Reply
  2. Megan B says

    November 11, 2013 at 9:53 am

    LOVE it! Well done, you guys!

    Reply
  3. Gabby {CookieCutterUnique} says

    November 11, 2013 at 9:58 am

    What a huge improvement, it looks so fresh and so clean. Love it!

    Reply
  4. Johanna P says

    November 11, 2013 at 9:59 am

    I love the look of dark rails with white. I may be Australian but my home is going to look so Southern :D

    Would the kind of stain you used on the rails also work well on furniture? Did it turn out super shiny or more like a light gloss?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:08 am

      I would think it should work on furniture too! It came in two finishes (satin and semi-gloss) so we went with the satin one, which wasn’t flat or matte, but wasn’t super mirror-shiny either.

      xo
      s

    • Lisa @ Double Door Ranch says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:34 am

      Johanna,

      I used this exact stain/poly on a couple furniture pieces and it works GREAT! I’d highly recommend the product itself and the Satin finish.

  5. Stacy says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:00 am

    This looks amazing!! I’ve been looking to do a similar project on my staircase, including painting all those posts/spindles. Do you have any good ideas for how to make that process easier? It just seems like painting all of them (several times) would be just the worst, which is why I’ve avoided it up until now!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:07 am

      If you tape off the top and bottom (assuming you don’t want paint on the stair treads and the railing) it’s really not that bad. A lot of coats, but after the first one it goes pretty fast. Good luck Stacy!

      xo
      s

  6. Theresa M. says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:01 am

    It’s great! I have a similar staircase, ideas, ideas, ideas. Thank you Peteriks! (or is it Petersik’s???)

    Reply
  7. Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:01 am

    Beautiful! Love your choice of runner, too! Totally worth all that hard work!

    Reply
  8. Anne Phillips says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:02 am

    Thank you so much for posting this! It looks great and gives me the confidence to work on mine. This weekend is going to be my ‘crunch time’ and i hope it works out as well as yours!

    Reply
  9. katie {deranchification} says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:03 am

    Looks awesome — I’ve been eyeing that runner for our basement stairs for a while!

    Reply
  10. Jenn @ HomeStyleReport says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:05 am

    I love how cozy this makes it feel…almost glam farmhouse, which is one of my favorite looks!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      November 12, 2013 at 8:27 pm

      Yes, “glam farmhouse”! What a great way to describe it. Love it!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 12, 2013 at 8:49 pm

      Aw, thanks guys!

      xo
      s

  11. Shel says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:06 am

    Looks fantastic guys!

    Reply
  12. Wendy & Alex (@OldTownHome) says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:07 am

    I’m a huge fan of stripes, and love the new look! I can personally vouch for the slippery nature of natural treads (after having fallen down ours a couple years ago!). Carpet seems to be the way to go for kids, pets, and adults in socks. :-) http://www.oldtownhome.com/2011/6/1/Hold-On-Tight-Staircase-Wainscoting-and-Handrail-Project/ It’s something we’re considering down the road in our house too.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:15 am

      Wow, that looks awesome Wendy!

      xo
      s

  13. Kate says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:07 am

    That looks great!!!

    As for carpet going out… This weekend I finally got around to getting a sample of quarter round so that we can finally finalize our flooring order and get an installation date to replace the worn vinyl sheet in our kitchen and the stained and worn carpet in our living room with wood-look vinyl plank. I hate pulling the trigger since it will be pricey, but hopefully I won’t regret it when it’s done since our little one will have a nicer place to play! Part of that will include us pulling up the carpet and also finding an area rug for the living room – both firsts for me!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:15 am

      Good luck Kate!

      xo
      s

  14. Sarah B says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:07 am

    I love the stained and painted stair rails, when staining was the previous stain poly’d? I am just wondering how well the stain sank in without having to sand too much? I have a project like this coming up and would love to avoid sanding all the details in the railing if I can just stain over it.
    Thanks,
    Sarah

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:14 am

      It wasn’t super glossy but it did seem to have some satin poly on it. The directions for this particular product said just to sand it to rough it up a bit and then paint it right on. Sure enough the wood grain showed through and it’s a really lovely result. Maybe the directions only say that if you’re going darker though (I can imagine how a lighter stain could work over something mid-tone without a lot of sanding to break through it all).

      xo
      s

  15. shannon says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:08 am

    This looks amazing! You don’t mention whether you needed to sand the risers before priming and painting–if that step isn’t necessary I might do this tonight! Love it.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:11 am

      We didn’t since ours weren’t super glossy or slick (sort of matte and chalky and worn down) but if yours are it never hurt to sand and use a liquid deglosser before going to the priming step.

      xo
      s

  16. Tyesha | House Made Home says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:08 am

    Love it! I need to work on my stairs as well.

    Reply
  17. lindsay says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:08 am

    It really looks great, proving that attention to detail is well worth it. We also have a D&A runner on our stairs, in the Cat’s Paw pattern, and it has held up remarkably well, in spite of plenty of activity, including that of our two big Goldendoodles, who run up and down during the day! Congratulations on another job well done!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:11 am

      SO GLAD to hear that Lindsay!

      xo
      s

  18. Anne @ Planting Sequoias says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:09 am

    AMAZING! I’ve used that polyshades stuff before, and it takes FOREVER to dry, it seems. But the results (and how easy it is) are worth it! Your stairs look so glam.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:11 am

      Good to know we weren’t the only ones who had that experience! It took about double the time it said it should to dry, but you’re right- the application was really easy!

      xo
      s

  19. Vee says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:10 am

    I love it. You guys did great. I sanded, restained and repainted by stair rails and spindles a couple years back and it took DAYS. It is a lot of work but definitely worth it when it’s complete. Now to convince the hubby to let me remove the carpet and add a runner.

    Reply
  20. Heather says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:11 am

    Way to hustle! It looks awesome. Isn’t painting those spindles just the worst??

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:13 am

      We rank removing the staples and painting the ceiling as the worst, but all that blue trim and those spindles were pretty monotonous. So great to have them gone though!

      xo
      s

  21. mpsoderb says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:11 am

    Your graphic with colored dots coordinating to where you stapled is genius. Are you sure you don’t have a degree in infographic design? :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:12 am

      Haha, I might be biased, but I totally think he deserves an honorary one.

      xo
      s

    • jeannette says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:32 am

      seconded.

  22. Bonnie @ The Pin Junkie says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:12 am

    Your hard work really shows! Those stairs look beautiful!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Thanks Bonnie!

      -John

  23. Tracy de Lemos says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:12 am

    You guys. This looks amazing! What a great/beautiful/amazing turnout! I am excited for you!

    On a completely random note, my husband just got the new Nest smoke detector for his birthday and is over-the-moon excited to try it out (we have the nest thermostat too). Will let you know what we think! (though I have a feeling it is completely unnecessary – just one of those cool things to have if you need to blow $150).

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Yes, keep me posted! I’m really interested to hear.

      -John

    • Rachel T says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:36 am

      I’ve actually been wondering about the nest system myself, sherry and john I would love it if you did an update about how it’s working for you! :)

    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Thanks Rachel! So far we’re loving it, but we’ll have to post an update for you guys. We are addicted to seeing how much we’re saving over the average user each month.

      xo
      s

  24. Mary | Lemon Grove Blog says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:12 am

    In LOVE!! Sorry if I missed it – but what is the runner made out of? Are you concerned at all about the white part getting dirty? I’m totally considering a similar look for our basement steps, but I’m concerned about the lighter parts getting stained over time.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:19 am

      Someone just commented a little while ago that with two dogs her D&A runner is holding up beautifully, so that’s nice to hear! We’re a no-shoes household, so that should cut down on lots of potential dirt or staining (we’ve had other light colored cotton flatweave rugs like this in rooms like our living room and kitchen for years without any issues). My friend with two young kids has a white and brown one on her steps and is really happy with hers too, but we’ll keep you posted either way!

      xo
      s

  25. Jenn says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:13 am

    You guys! I can’t even comment. It’s THAT good!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:15 am

      Aw thanks Jenn!

      xo
      s

  26. Ariana says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:14 am

    WOAH this might be my favorite upgrade yet!! Those stripes and white treads are working double time to visually make the staircase look way longer and more dramatic than it did before – sooo swanky!! I think you could work with the slate, but with the rest of the foyer so fancy I can’t help but dream about how nice an upgraded floor would look. What are you guys thinkin on the floor front? It wouldn’t be too hard to carry new floors over from your future kitchen reno!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

      Yeah, I’m kinda where you are Ariana! There are some damaged areas and some stains I just can’t seem to conquer, so perhaps when we redo the kitchen and add heated tile in there we can carry it over into the foyer and the half bathroom so there’s just hardwood and tile on the main level (right now there are three different flooring types that all meet at the corner of the kitchen/living room so it looks a little chaotic.

      xo
      s

  27. Party Box Design says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:15 am

    oh my gosh, I freaking love looooove it! awesome job!

    Reply
  28. Rene @thedomesticlady says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:16 am

    I desperately want to do this with our stairs but they turn 3/4 of the way down. I just don’t think it would work with a dash and albert runner. Maybe Santa with straighten out my stairs for Christmas if I ask.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:25 am

      My friend who has two kiddos and a similar D&A rug has a turn in her stairs and she had it professionally installed, but he mitered the corner of the turn if that makes sense (picture two triangles of carpet meeting there, so it looks really crisp, like the stripes curve). Just throwing that out there!

      xo
      s

    • Karla says

      November 11, 2013 at 2:21 pm

      I have the same problem! I was thinking about leaving the landing uncovered, like this:

      http://www.houzz.com/photos/122449/Staircase-traditional-staircase-grand-rapids

    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 2:30 pm

      That’s a great solution! Thanks for sharing the link Karla!

      xo
      s

    • Whitney says

      November 11, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      So I have a similar problem except my stairs are curved! They are so slick and our kids are constantly slipping on them, so I think a runner is in order. Any suggestions for how I accomplish that? Maybe we’ll have to cut the runner for each stair individually…. :/

    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 6:49 pm

      Anyone have ideas for Whitney or a link to share? We haven’t seen anything like that, but the idea to do each stair individually sounds like it could work.

      xo
      s

  29. Kate says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:16 am

    This is something that is totally on the “to do” list at our house. It was great to hear you rate this as a pretty straight forward DIY! I just painted our risers this weekend. Like you, we were hesitant because it was pretty much a “no turning back” commitment. But, we’re trilled! Anyway, we have a split-level which means we only have a “half” set of stairs, or, 5 treads. How did you measure to make sure you had enough runner? Did you just add up the height of the risers and depth of the tread? Thanks for sharing!!!

    xo
    Kate

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:26 am

      We measured like three times just to be sure (how frustrating would it have been to run out 5 inches too short or something?) so we literally went down the stairs with a tape measure (in case one stair was off by a bit or something) and added the riser + tread+ riser + tread, etc.

      xo
      s

  30. Kara says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

    Looks great!! Nothing like a weekend warrior trip to get you going!

    OTP – I have the exact same slate floor for my foyer, which I just had professionally cleaned over the weekend (prev. owners left it paint-splattered and the grout was really gross). Thought I would share with you what he told me. Slate has a finish on top of it, where mine has yellowed with age (could be between 20-40+ old) and with the cleaning he did – it was actually starting to come off in sheets. To restore it – he suggested stripping the waxy varnish (using stuff you buy from Home Depot). Then because slate is very porous, I must seal it again.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:27 am

      Thanks for the tip Kara!

      xo
      s

  31. Wendy @ New Moms Talk says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

    Absolutely stunning!

    Our weekend looked a bit like this…

    Friday- Hit up the Sherwin Williams paint sale (thanks for the tip!), but decided to put painting a few rooms on hold to save for bigger projects.

    Saturday- Spend insane amounts of time at three beaches because it wasn’t raining and it was one of the few places our sweet girl would sleep. (Cheers for a sleeping beach baby!)

    Sunday- Make mass amounts of granola to store for a few weeks, and then receive an offer from a neighbor for a free wood stove in excellent condition.

    That means this week we’re calling about wood stove installation costs and revisiting our budget. Just when I thought it was set (but I knew it wasn’t really)…

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Sounds like an amazing weekend.

      xo
      s

  32. Carol says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

    Absolutely stunning! I want to pin a picture of your stairs, but you don’t have a Pinterest link on your photos- is it okay to pin them?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:22 am

      Yes! Pin away! We have a pin it button at the bottom of the post instead of on the pics (we added a pin it button to our photos for about 3 hours a few months back and folks said it was distracting, so down it came).

      xo
      s

    • Carol says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:25 am

      nevermind- found it. I’m a dummy.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:39 am

      No worries! It hides down there!

      xo
      s

  33. Ashley A. says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

    What are your thoughts on the slate floors now that you’ve updated the staircase? Still liking them?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:21 am

      We love the idea of working with what we have, but there are some damaged areas and some stains I just can’t seem to conquer, so perhaps when we redo the kitchen and add heated tile in there we can carry it over into the foyer and the half bathroom so there’s just hardwood and tile on the main level (right now there are three different flooring types that all meet at the corner of the kitchen/living room so it looks a little chaotic).

      xo
      s

    • Lindsey says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:30 am

      If the slate floors end up not working for you, I am excited to see what you DO choose. I love your stairs and runner – you both did an amazing job. My wheels are now turning for our stairs, but I have some color correcting to do in our living and dining room first. Found my perfect muddy-grey-green :D

  34. Kerry says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:19 am

    All that hard work, thoughtful planning, money saving and patience has paid off — this is the staircase of a lifetime, if you ask me. :)

    Enjoy the floor traversing (and the glute-area payoff!).

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Haha, I’m still waiting for my J-Lo booty…

      xo
      s

  35. Sabrina says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Sorry, I think this is just the English major in me… devastated, not devistated.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:21 am

      Thanks Sabrina! All fixed!

      xo
      s

  36. Em says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Great job! Do you think the kind of stain you used to darken the banister could be used on kitchen cabinets? I always wondered if the builder standard light oak cabinets that so many houses have could be stained darker without having to be stripped. I feel like a lot of people end up painting them white, but always wondered if there was another option.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:21 am

      Yes, I think it could be awesome for that! I’d read the label to be sure it doesn’t say that wouldn’t work for some reason, but it would look awesome!

      xo
      s

  37. Kylie Helm says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:20 am

    You guys always amaze me. Literally, incredible the change in your entry. Its Jaw-Dropping now! I love seeing the progress. Thanks for sharing!

    xo Kylie

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:20 am

      Thanks so much Kylie!

      xo
      s

  38. Andrea says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:21 am

    So crazy good, y’all! Love the contrast of the crisp black and white.

    Reply
  39. Sabrina says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:21 am

    Forgot to add, I LOVE your new stairs! The runner is beautiful!

    Reply
  40. Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:22 am

    Wow, that looks fabulous. I was a little skeptical about the stripes but as always you guys made it work. :) Over the weekend I was busy making Christmas ornaments for my new Etsy shop.:)

    https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatsUrHomeStory

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:26 am

      So sweet!

      xo
      s

  41. Caroline says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:22 am

    Awesome! You guys have such patience.

    I didn’t rip out any carpet, but you will be happy to know that you guys inspired me in regards to the color of your front door. I painted my front door in Sherwin William’s Ebbtide over the weekend. So I have a blue door too now! :-)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:26 am

      Wahoo! Sounds awesome Caroline!

      xo
      s

  42. Grace says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:22 am

    Looks wonderful!
    We spent the weekend FINALLY updating our master, which meant the removal of the last of the dusty rose carpet in our house! So exciting. The wood floors underneath were in perfect shape, as they have been in every room we’ve done. Funny how someone would look at that wood and say “I think we should put down pink carpeting and cover these up!” Times change.
    Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:28 am

      YOU’RE SO LUCKY! That’s amazing.

      xo
      s

  43. Dana@chocolateandsunshine says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:23 am

    I cannot rave enough about this project!! I know you do just about everything but this was a huge project. I’ve followed, with interest, because as much as I enjoy decorating my home, my stairs look like your before photo. I want this done. My issue is that it’s not beautiful wood underneath the current wall-to-wall carpet, so may have to install wood first. This really makes your home.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:29 am

      Thanks so much Dana, you’re so sweet!

      xo
      s

  44. Manda Wolf says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:23 am

    Looks great! I am so impressed by how quickly you get things done!

    Reply
  45. Lisa @ Double Door Ranch says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:23 am

    I love it so much I wanna slide down the stairs on my belly. Weee!!!

    For as much as I love stripes, I don’t have them anywhere in my house. That needs to change STAT!

    With the help of my aunt, I got some big furniture pieces moved from the garage to the house thia weekend. Let the refinishing begin! I also blogged about my little gardening fail this year. #blackthumb

    http://doubledoorranch.com/2013/11/11/mad-gardening-skillz-2/

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 11:24 am

      That’s awesome Lisa!

      xo
      s

  46. Anela says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:24 am

    I’ve gotta say while I love the runner, I’m partial to the way it looked with the white paint on the backer. I can’t believe the difference that made alone! WOW! But when you’ve got lil nuggets to consider, you’ve got to give a little cush for a tumble or two. :)

    Reply
  47. Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:25 am

    OK, as amazing as this looks (and it looks freakin’ amazeballs; maybe my favorite thing you’ve ever done ever), I am exhausted just reading this. A few years ago I repainting our peeling messy stairs and it took me months. I’m not kidding. You must have been so darn happy to have this finished. So worth the effort though! Great job.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:37 am

      Thanks Erin! We’re SO HAPPY to have it done! Your stairs sound like a nightmare, so picture me raising a fist in solidarity. Ugh, peeling is the worst.

      xo
      s

  48. Nicole says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:25 am

    Just curious… you stained the railing, but not the treads…why did you chose to not stain the stair treads to match the railing before the install of the runner?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:34 am

      Since the entire upstairs of our house are hardwood floors that match the tone of the stairs (which run right into them at the top there) we didn’t want dark stairs that run into a mid-toned upstairs hallway, so we went with dark stripes in the runner, the doorknobs, and the railings (as well as the console table and the chandelier in the foyer) so they all tied together. To us it’s like putting a dark wood console table on top of a mid-toned wood floor – it seems to be compatible even though it doesn’t match.

      xo
      s

  49. Julianne says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:26 am

    Wow..such a fresh & updated look. So much nicer on the eyes & feet, I’m sure. Hopefully, Burger approved, too, since it looked like he wasn’t too excited to part with the old a few posts back, lol.

    We bought & put together a Karl for our den this weekend. So far, so good! Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. Taking a moment to reflect on the many who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 11, 2013 at 10:38 am

      Aw, thanks Julianne. Happy Remembrance Day to you guys up there. And I hope you’re loving Karl.

      xo
      s

  50. Nikki Kelly says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:26 am

    I worked on stairs too! I’ve been converting our carpeted staircase to wood for what feels like an eternity. As of yesterday, I have my unfinished oak treads cut and dry fitted. Now it’s time for stain!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      November 12, 2013 at 11:40 am

      Would love to hear how this works out, we are thinking of converting our carpeted stairs to wood, knowing that they are standard plywood stairs, how did you do yours?

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John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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