Our Staircase Mini-Makeover

I’ve always loved the way the right stair runner can set off a stair case, giving it a polished and streamlined look. Stair runners may be traditional by nature but they don’t have to feel outdated with so many great low-pile carpets or quick-ship runner options out there today! Installing a stair runner is a fairly quick and easy DIY that can beautifully transform your staircase while adding comfort and safety to your stairs.

B E F O R E

First, let’s talk about the very first “before” version of our stairs. When we moved in the stairs were all the same dark stain, so the week before moving in we painted the risers and balusters Benjamin Moore Simply White, and put a coat of Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black on the handrail. That helped bring dimension to the staircase while giving it a light and airy feel.

After a few years of living in our house I wanted to make our staircase feel more special without being too “busy”. I’ve tried gallery walls and other wall decor that I always ended up removing; I ended up going with my long-time favorite look of a stair runner & wall sconces.
I knew we would need a durable runner that could hold up to our kids and wouldn’t easily attract dirt; we wear shoes in our house most days and have always had good experiences with natural fiber rugs in our home. Sisal rugs have backing & a bordered edge (unlike jute), giving the runner cushion + durability with a finished edge. We went with this Safavieh sisal runner that has a slight herringbone pattern paired with a 1/4″ rug pad on each stair for extra cushion underfoot, which made such a difference.

INSTALLING A STAIR RUNNER

–Calculate how long of a runner you will need: measure the stair rise + stair tread x the number of stairs on your staircase. For example, ours measured like this: 7″ rise + 10″ tread x 16 stairs = 22.6′
–1/4″ felted rug pad (we ordered a 6×9′ and cut individual pieces for our stair treads)
–Sisal stair runner (give yourself a few extra feet to work with -we purchased two 12′ runners)
–Pneumatic 18-Gauge 1/4″ Crown Stapler
–1″ staples
-Sharp scissors

The most helpful post that we referenced for installation was by Yellow Brick Home and the stair runner in their foyer – I highly recommend checking their tutorial out if you’re also planning to install one yourself. You can also watch the Instagram highlight that I saved detailing each step of our installation here.

A F T E R

Installing this stiff of a runner wasn’t easy, so I was really glad to have Tyler’s help! We were able to get it pulled snug around each tread giving the staircase a tailored look.

THE SCONCES

I love the curve and white shade on these wall sconces, so I was excited to get the chance to use them. I initially ordered them in an iron finish and decided to use Rub n’ Buff in Antique Gold to give them a gilded look that matches our existing stairwell lantern.

Because we didn’t want to tear into the wall to hardwire the sconces, I used the “puck light trick” — we mounted our sconces directly to the wall and I slipped an LED, remote controlled puck light into each sconce. I just have each light resting on the sconce where a light bulb would normally go; the lights I ordered came with sticker adhesives to firmly secure them in place.