DIY Stair Runner
This stairwell was in desperate need of a refresh. We use it everyday to walk in from the garage, so it needed to be easy to clean, look welcoming and set the tone for the rest of the home. I decided the best way to do that would be to remove the old carpet and DIY a stair runner. This project had it’s fair share obstacles (and one spur of the moment pivot!), but I am so happy with the dramatic difference it made!
The Demolition:
We started with completely carpeted stairs in a dark stairwell. Before we started with any demolition, I painted the walls using Chantilly Lace by Sherwin Williams. Even with just the paint, I was excited with how things were looking brighter already!
Removing carpet from stairs is no small task. The amount of staples they use to attach carpet will shock you. Whenever you think you finally pulled the last one, three more will pop up!
To make this task slightly more manageable, I suggest a good pair of work gloves, vice grips to pull out the more stubborn staples, and either a crow bar or hammer to pull up even more staples and the carpet tack. A utility knife also helped me tear the carpet into more manageable strips.
Prepping the Stairs:
Our first big obstacle of this project was the giant gap between the stair treads and the skirting board. Although this isn’t a structural issue, it was annoying! I wasn’t expecting this, as most stair treads will meet perfectly with the skirting board.
The largest sections of the gap were about 1 inch wide, while the smallest sections were only about 1/8 inch. For the smaller sections, I was able to use joint compound to fill the gap. For the wider sections, I had to get creative. I decided to use expandable foam. Spraying the foam between the tread and skirting board allowed the foam to expand into the entire gap and fill the space.
Allow the foam to expand and dry completely. Once dry, I used an old kitchen steak knife to saw the excess foam off and created a level surface between the tread and wall.
Using a palette knife, I spread joint compound onto the foam to create a level, smooth surface across the stairs.
As you can see, my stairs were in pretty rough shape. The contractors had over sprayed the wall texture spray onto the steps. This required a lot of sanding and a few thin coats of joint compound to create the smooth surface I was going for.
Painting the Steps:
I started with a gray color, but ultimately chose to go with Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams. This beautiful beige color is great at making the stairwell feel lighter, but also warm.
I used a brush to paint the edges and the skirting board and a foam roller to paint the rest. I would recommend buying the nicest paint available. As a high traffic area, stairs often take a beating. A high quality paint will minimize chips and be easier to clean. I used Sherwin Williams Duration in an Eggshell finish.
Laying the Runner Rug:
I started by cutting my carpet pad and stapling it to each step. A carpet pad will not only help the stair feel softer underfoot, it will also help with the longevity of the rug. With two dogs running up and down my stairs everyday, I need this carpet to last as long as possible!
I used a stapler attached to an air compressor. This is one of those tools that would be great to rent from your local hardware store.
To start, I marked each step so I could keep the runner centered as I worked my way down the staircase. Then, starting at the top of the staircase, I stapled the runner to each step, right underneath the stair tread. Be sure to pull the carpet even and tight across each step.
If you have access to a buddy, this would be a great time to use them! Have a friend hold the rug while you do the stapling.
And remember all those staples you pulled out at the beginning? Use that as a benchmark with how many staples you need to put in. Secure the rug well with staples both beneath the tread and along the sides of the riser. Either use more staples or carpet tape to secure the rug to the top of the tread.
I used two 12 foot runners and one 8 foot runner to complete my staircase. When I got to an area where I needed to overlap the rugs, I always overlapped on the riser. I carefully tucked the new rug underneath the old rug and stapled them together on the sides and into the riser. Below is a photo of the step with the overlap.
The Landing:
The second obstacle of this project was the landing. I have a full set of stairs, a small 90 degree landing and three more steps. I wanted the runner to look as seamless as possible as it turned the corner. I carefully measured out of the landing and figured out how much carpet I would need to have an even gap between the runner and the walls.
I started by attaching my first runner to the top three steps. After securely attaching the carpet to the stairs, I pulled it taunt across the landing and marked where I would need to cut it. I used high quality sewing scissors to cut an exact 45 degree angle on the rug.
After cutting the first rug, I place the second rug beneath the first and traced the line. I cut the second rug at 45 degrees too.
After cutting both the rugs, I used two layers of Tacky Glue on the cut edge of the runner. The first layer locked in the frayed edges. After the first layer dried, I used a second layer to press the two rugs together. I let this dry completely.
After letting the glue dry, I used a large embroidery needle and heavy duty exterior thread to sew the two rugs together. I’m definitely not a sewer, but stitching the rugs really helped secure the seam and helps it to lie flat.
The Finishing Touch:
The whole time I was DIYing the runner rug, I was thinking how nice it would look to tile the top wall with a stone. If you want an in depth breakdown of the stone wall, check out this blog post.
