All You Need to Add a Stair Runner Is a Rug and a Staple Gun

By Amanda Sims

Having a staircase is a luxury of sorts—it means you've got two floors instead of just one, obviously! But running up and down a staircase will make you quickly realize why they're also a responsibility: To make stairs more comfortable and also safer (those binge-watching The Staircase can certainly relate), you'll probably want to install a stair runner all the way down them. Part of this is aesthetic—your stairs will feel less naked!—but mostly it'll just make them more pleasant to use. And even though it seems like one of those tasks that will require customization and special expense, it isn't. You can totally install a stair runner all by yourself, just a few supplies required. The pads of your feet will definitely thank you.

Two supplies are essential: a runner rug and a staple gun. You might also want something called a bolster chisel (basically a glorified scraper) to be sure you get a nice, clean crease where the riser meets the tread. Would you like the stairs to be extra cushy? Also, grab a rug pad that can be cut to the size of the treads.

For the rug itself, you can absolutely use a regular runner—or even a few runners placed end-to-end. Just make sure it will go the entire length of your stair risers and treads; a good way to shop for one is to take that measurement and then find your rug. Keep in mind, you can always buy one that's too long and trim it to fit.

At its simplest, installation looks like this: Lay one end of your runner at the top of the stairs where you want it to begin, then use the staple gun to staple across it in regular increments. Feel good? Move on. Kinda bunchy? Tug the staples out with a flat-head screwdriver and begin again. You'll get the hang of it. Now pull the rug taut over that little lip at the end of the tread and put a row of staples right underneath it.

Nice and clean? Keep going. Use your bolster chisel to crease the runner into the corner of the stair, then staple as close as possible to the crease. You've officially secured the runner over one stair! Break for a celebratory shimmy and begin again, repeating a row of staples under the lip of the tread, followed by a good crease, followed by another row of staples, all the way down the stairs.

At the end, if you have extra length of the rug, cut it off with scissors to be only two inches too long. Fold that bit up and under the runner so you get a nice clean edge at the end of the stairs, and staple.

If you like the minimal look, keep your runner just as it is. If you want it to look a little more "finished," here are three options:

Rods: Install these long, often-metallic runner rods across each creased section. Paired with a super-modern pattern on the runner, they won't look too traditional.

Holders: Similar to rods except they don't go all the way across, stair holders, also known as "carpet clips," are installed on either side of the creased edge like little carpet brackets. A nice embellishment for a solid rug, if you ask us.

Nail heads: Probably best to go with a smooth shape for foot safety, but you can use any nail heads you can find for this task. They look great evenly spaced down the sides of the runner, even in the same color as the fabric itself for a subtle look, and are installed with (you guessed it) a hammer.