Stair carpet or painted?

[YourHandInMyHand]

At the moment my stairs have cheap blue carpet on my landlord put in, and white glossed skirting boards. The carpet shows every hair and speck of dirt.

I'm torn between getting a carpet in a more neutral colour, or painting/varnishing the stairs and tiny landing instead. Only worry there is that the stairs will be slippy? Only ever had carpeted stairs before so not sure if it would be or not.

Any ideas anyone??

[flipchart]

For me carpeted any day!
I've had mine painted in the past and couldn't stand the noise!
I prefer the feel of something warm on my feet rather than wood (although I have wood in my kitchen)

Quickly changed and got a carpet back on.

[ParsingFancy]

Thickly carpeted stairs hurt a lot less when you fall down them...

But that might not be an issue for you.

[YourHandInMyHand]

Parsing I am quite clumsy! Fortunately I've not fallen down the stairs since DS was a baby, unfortunately I was holding him at the time. Even with carpet it still bloody hurt!

Thanks flipchart, good to hear from someone who's had both. Hmm didn't think about the noise aspect. DS is like an elephant stomping around as it is.

[ParsingFancy]

Ouch! at your fall. Honestly, if you're the clumsy type, I just wouldn't do bare stairs.

[ditavonteesed]

I am currently painting mine as we speak, having a coffee and mn break, after I tore the carpet up yesterday it looks so much nicer.

[flipchart]

Going back to the noise thing, even if DH was walking upstairs normally it sounded like he was in a bad mood, often I would shout up ' what's up' and he would be ' nothing, why?'

Then when the kids and their mates started running up and down, well enough was enough! lol!

[bootsycollins]

The noise generated by painted stairs would really piss me off, I fell down some varnished stairs because of wet soles on my Converse, managed to grab a bannister but I nearly ripped my arm out of it's socket and had to have a cry because it really shook me up, and hurt. The varnished stairs did look lovely though, matt satin varnish on a bespoke oak staircase. I like the look of painted stairs but a nice thick carpet would be my final choice.

[TheChaoGoesMu]

Painted with a stair runner. But if the house didn't belong to me, or I wasn't guaranteed a long term stay, then I wouldn't bother at all.

[YourHandInMyHand]

Well I am on a long term let, its been bought to let out rather than the owner wanting to sell if the market picks up IYSWIM. As I plan to live here a long long time I want it looking nice.

Am gradually swapping the landlord magnolia walls and cheap flooring for something I like but would never spend 1000s doing up a house I don't own.

Still undecided on stairs. Might go look at carpets tomorrow see if I see any I like. I prefer hard floors for their wipeability as me and DS are both spillers but stairs are a different area aren't they.

I'm guessing it is more expensive to get a runner with stairs showing either side. I do like that look though, with a nice bright boloured stripey carpet. Think it's out of my skint single mum price range though! :-D

[ClaimedByMe]

Do you have a neighbour through the wall to the stairs, we had ours carpet free for a few months while we decorated and the neighbours gently complained about the kids thundering up and down the stairs.

[betterwhenthesunshines]

We currently have bare stairs and the dirt!! Unbelievable how much accumulates, even sweeping daily. And it's very tricky to get into the corners, so unless you are the kind of person who hoovers daily, I say carpet.

[Chubfuddler]

Ours are varnished - so dusty and noisy. Ideally I'd have a runner with stair rods.

[YourHandInMyHand]

Looking like carpet would be the best choice.

I definitely do NOT hoover everyday.

Yes we live in a row of terraced houses. They are fairly well sound proofed for their age but I am thinking DS and the dog clattering up and down wouldn't be a good idea.

So glad I asked MN, it's definitely helped me decide.