One of the best things that come with the Christmas season is the excitement that seems to grab hold of every family member through the entire month of December. You have the excitement of picking out the perfect presents for your loved ones and then the anticipation of seeing them open those gifts. You have the thrill of making your home it's own winter wonderland with a tree, ribbons, and ornaments. Then you get to enjoy the excitement of all the seasonal events and traditions that warm your heart. And all of this excitement leads up to the big moment on Christmas morning when everyone races down the stairs to see what's under the Christmas tree.
A picture-perfect moment like that deserves a picture-perfect setting. We're talking garland woven around the stairwell, those pretty little strings of lights brightening the way, and of course, beautiful carpeting!
While it may not be necessary to add carpeting to your stairway, it really can elevate the style of your home and add some extra non-slip protection for your little ones and elderly family members. But there are a few things to consider before making the final decision about which carpeting you want to add to your stairs. After all you want to get the best results from your investment, so let's take a look at the three most important factors.
1. Looks
The carpeting on your stairs needs to do more than just make your stairway look nice. It needs to enhance the floors around it and add to the overall elegance of the room without drawing attention to itself. Typically this is best accomplished with neutral tones for your carpet if not carpeting that matches what you already have in your entryway or living room.
After the initial look you have to think of what will hold up best against stains. Since stairways are typically high-traffic areas in the home they often fall victim to a muddy shoe or spilled beverage. For that reason carpeting with a variety of textures or with a pattern is popular for stairs.
2. Longevity
As we just mentioned, stairways are high-traffic areas in most homes, so you have to choose a carpet that can stand up to that. Durability in your carpeting is key if you want your carpet to last a long time. What makes a carpet durable, you may ask? Shorter carpet fibers. Carpeting with these shorter, more durable fibers is known as low pile carpeting and basically covers any carpeting with fibers below 3/4 of an inch. Sorry to all of our plush carpeting fans out there. The lush stuff will have to stay in your living room for now.
3. Looking Out
Forgive us for sacrificing a more proper word to keep with the "L" theme, but what we mean here is safety. What good is carpeting on your stairs if it doesn't making the trip between your upper and lower levels more safe? Thankfully you are guaranteed the safety of a much less slippery surface than if you had simply stuck with the original surface of your stairs, but slipping isn't the only danger there. Little things like a pet snagging a claw on looser carpet loops or not having the stability of a firm surface to step on are also red flags. The solution to these issues? That low pile carpeting we have already recommended!
Now you know a little bit more about what kind of carpeting will make your stairs Christmas morning ready! Happy Flooring!