Stairway Carpeting Sets Tone

    The staircase is often the first thing you see upon entering a home, so choosing the right stairway carpet can take on special significance. If carpeting runs up the stairs and down a hallway, it should harmonize with each room it goes past.

    A neutral style will work, but neutral does not have to mean beige, designers agree. Depending on what else is going on in the rooms, muted shades of green, gold, gray, brown or navy blue can provide a calming note.

    This quality of agreeable neutrality is part of the wide appeal of sisal and seagrass carpets. They pair as well with priceless antiques as with shabby chic. But many designers say natural plant materials are not suitable for stairway use. The fibers are easily stained, difficult to clean and slippery when stretched around stairs. The rough weaves can scratch wood floors, so a wool lookalike is a better choice for stairs.

    A quiet, neutral color can be enlivened with texture or tone-on- tone patterns. The popular diamond or trellis patterns are particularly appropriate for narrow stairs and halls. They lead the eye forward, making the space seem wider and more expansive.

    For more visual impact on stairs, Oriental runners are the traditional choice. Many are densely patterned with lots of colors, so they relate to decor in other rooms.

    If your floors are in good shape, show them off with a runner installation. Most carpet professionals recommend leaving 2 to 6 inches on each side, depending on the width of the stairs.

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