I’ve been wanting so as to add a stair runner to our back hallway/mudroom staircase for some time now, and we lastly had a few days put aside to do it! Chris did a variety of analysis on easy methods to set up a stair runner and stair rods, and we’re going to share each step we took — it turned out superb and a lot cheaper (underneath $1,500!) than going customized.
CLJ x Loloi Judy Natural/Sky Runner | Polished Brass Stair Rods
Selecting a Stair Runner Rug
Step one was selecting the runners. The staircase results in the blue bonus room upstairs and the again hallway has the grasscloth wallpaper with vertical stripes. I wished the runner to even have vertical stripes so it sort of leads you up the steps, so I picked our CLJ x Loloi Judy rug in Natural/Sky. I like that it additionally has some blue in that provides a nod to the bonus room. I ordered 5 of the two’6″x7’6″ runners so we had sufficient, however we solely ended up utilizing 4 (every runner lined about 4 stairs, with a bit further that wanted trimmed off).
Measure and Mark Off the Runner Path
Our stairs are 39 ¾” broad and the stair runner is 30” broad, so we simply marked 4 ⅝” on the precise fringe of the tread away from the skirtboard. The reality is that the majority halls and stairways will not be completely sq., and that’s the case right here. Whereas our stairs are typically 39 ¾” broad, it is not completely constant stair to stair. If we tried to maintain the runner centered on every stair, because of the stripe within the rug you’ll see the runner jogging from left to proper barely because it went up, and that is not an important look. So we made a mark 4 ⅝” in on the precise fringe of the stair treads and risers, and we adopted that aspect as much as maintain the runner straight. Visually, the distinction just isn’t sufficient to inform its not centered – the blue stripes being straight was extra necessary to us.
Measure and Minimize Carpet Tape for Rug Pads
Carpet Tape | Rug Pad | Scissors | Utility Knife
Rug pads assist the runner final and really feel actually good underfoot. I picked up 1/8″ thick felt & rubber rugs pads in a dimension simply a few inches extra slender than the runner (2’x8′). I wasn’t positive what number of we would wish so I obtained a number of rug pads. For 16 stairs, we used two full pads and a part of a 3rd one.
To safe the rug pad, we utilized two strips of double-sided carpet tape width-wise (parallel) to the entrance and rear ends of the tread. We felt these have been the areas that will be most liable to “slumping” over time, so we added the tape to assist maintain it tight throughout set up, and hopefully long run. We laid out the tape over the width of the rug pad and minimize to measure (subtracting about an inch to stop the tape exhibiting on the perimeters). Take a while and minimize all of your items up entrance to assist velocity up set up.
Set up Rug Pads
We determined to wrap the rug pad across the bullnose of the steps, in any other case you’ll see a transparent line the place the rug pad ended.
We utilized the carpet tape inside the marked off runner space on the back and front of the tread with a couple of 3” overhang for the runner on both aspect.
After wrapping the piece of padding across the bullnose, Chris stapled it underneath the bullnose and ensured it was taut to the again of the subsequent riser under. Then he used a utility knife to chop the rug pad throughout the again (you may use a carpet knife if you wish to be fancy).
Stapler | Utility Knife | Rug Pad
(Non-compulsory) Minimize and Apply Extra Rug Tape
Chris could be very thorough. You can most likely simply go over the runner with a stapler however Chris wished so as to add carpet tape alongside the edges of the rug pad (half on the pad and half on the stair), in addition to the riser, so the runner actually would not transfer misplaced over time. Higher to be safe than sorry!
Begin Putting in the Runner
There are two set up choices relating to stair runners: the waterfall choice and the upholstered choice.
Within the waterfall choice, the runner goes over the nosing after which is hooked up to the very backside of the riser/again of the tread (so there’s a niche behind the runner in entrance of the highest of the riser).
The upholstered model, which is what we did, attaches the runner on the prime of the riser/again of the tread. It requires extra size of runner, however it has a extra high-end, customized look.
Chris set the rug by stapling the sting of the rug to the bottom again riser, then stapled on the prime of that riser (hidden beneath the bullnose), after which he pulled it taut round to the underside of the subsequent riser and stapled once more. We did a couple of steps after which determined to work on the transition once we would inevitably run out of rug.
Methods to Deal with the Transition Between Rugs
CLJ x Loloi Judy Natural/Sky Runner
We needed to speak this half out: What can be one of the best placement for when one stair runner, properly, runs out? I don’t need it to fray or come unfastened! Our answer was to run the runner (that is redundant) up the riser into the bullnose, and minimize it there. We then began the subsequent runner on the backside of that riser, overlapping the final part of the earlier runner (including extra carpet tape between the 2). For the reason that plan was to additionally add stair rods, we knew any potential imperfections within the transition can be a bit hidden, and the overlap would conceal any fraying that happened.
Then Chris stapled each few inches, beginning within the middle, then leaping from the left aspect to proper, working his means out, pulling the rug taut as he went to line up the stripes. The stripe sample was each useful and in addition a difficulty in case you’re off barely, as a result of you’ll discover it extra throughout set up. But in addition in case you mess up, these nails aren’t popping out simply!
Methods to End the Runner on the High of the Stairway
After we have been about 6 steps from the highest stair, we began fascinated with how we wished the runner to “finish” on the prime of the staircase. Since we did not desire a frayed finish on the prime of the stairway the place it might be most noticeable, we determined to begin the ultimate runner on the prime and work our means down to fulfill the one under.
The ultimate transition was the toughest, as a result of regardless of which aspect overlapped, we would wish to chop that edge, leaving an unsecured, fraying aspect of jute (which is able to simply unravel endlessly if not secured appropriately). What we ended up doing was utilizing a beforehand trimmed finish piece and reducing it to match the peak of the riser. We minimize the rug under on the backside of the riser, ran the highest runner right down to that time and minimize it in the identical place (placing carpet tape on the again aspect of every rug earlier than making the minimize, in order that the tape helped maintain the jute materials collectively), then ran the trimmed finish piece over prime so the completed edge was tucked within the nook, hiding the cuts, and the minimize of that piece was tucked up underneath the stair nostril (with carpet tape on the again holding it collectively and sticking it in place). We then stapled the heck out of it, aiming for the stitching in between the jute layers as a substitute of stapling the jute itself (in case you staple the jute, your staple factors can be extra apparent).
Set up the Stair Rods
CLJ x Loloi Judy Natural/Sky Runner | Polished Brass Stair Rods
The stair runners, rug pads and tape have been so cheap and made an enormous distinction underfoot that I made a decision I may splurge a bit and get stair rods to finish the look!
I initially ordered some stair rods that have been touted as “aged brass” and so they got here in and welp, they have been means too brief. However the shade was additionally actually brown, which might have been nice with a navy runner however it was mixing an excessive amount of with the jute. Sure, you’ll be able to order a customized size of rod, however it’s double the expense. And I used to be inspiration photographs that had longer rods, so I made a decision, let’s simply do 36-inch rods in brass, and so they’ll be a bit lengthy. It is okay! You will get actually ornate with the finials however I settled on one thing within the center.
As soon as the brand new rods have been ordered and right here, we eliminated the finials at every finish and Chris marked the place to place the rods centered over the runner. This was extra necessary to be centered because the finials have been so near the wall, so Chris largely eyeballed it (leaving about 1/2 in on every finish). He then put in the finials utilizing the supplied screws, after pre-drilling every gap with a very small drill bit.
Ultimate Ideas
I am joyful we did it ourselves, and it was fairly simple when you get going. We obtained right into a rhythm and I might minimize lengths of tape and Chris would come up and staple it. I will give one disclaimer: We went up and down the steps so many instances, our legs have been SO sore! Jute rugs are the kind of rug that will doubtlessly fray probably the most, so we have been actually delicate as to if this is able to fray. And it has been a couple of weeks now, and we have not had any points! As for cleansing, I plan to hoover and spot clear if wanted like we advocate in our rug care 101 submit.
Complete labor: Roughly 8 hours
Worth breakdown:
- Stair runners: 4 at $79 per runner = $316
- Rug pads: 3 at $35 every = $105
- Rug tape: 5 rolls at $21 every = $105
- Stair rods: 16 rods at $60 every = $960
Complete supplies value = $1,486
The brand new runner feels so luxurious underfoot and provides such an important, customized look to the staircase. We find it irresistible!
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