Hate new stair carpet

[ilkleymoorbartat]

Total first world problems I realise. Have attached pics. Gah, I hate it! I don’t know exactly what I’m asking but aibu, and if not what should I do!

I would paint the bannisters white. I think they're quite jarring in the dark colour . Think the flow of the walls stairs and bannisters would then soften the carpet.

If you can't change the carpet , how about painting the stair rail black, paint the walls and stairs in a warm colour that matches the carpet. Then add some pictures / photos, plants etc. I think the starkness of the white is making the carpet stand out more . A bit of colour, it won't notice as much and will blend in and look more homely.

Not voting on this one. I don't care for carpet on stairs. I do not like the way it looks, and it always gets worn and a bit tatty from use quickly.

The wall colour appears to have a bit of a yellow tinge? I think if you were to go with a red based neutral (eg F&B Joa’s White) the carpet would look less brown.

@Mamanyt

Not voting on this one. I don't care for carpet on stairs. I do not like the way it looks, and it always gets worn and a bit tatty from use quickly.

Are stairs not really noisy without carpet? I’ve always thought they would be slippy too

@milkyaqua

That is hideous. But if you are going for an office carpeting look, it fits well.

Wow! You work in a fabulous office! Lucky you!

Are stairs not really noisy without carpet?
I’ve always thought they would be slippy too

If they are good stairs they shouldn't be noisy or slippery.

For me the problem is that 1. I don't like carpet on stairs 2. the bannister is too dark 3. the wall paint is too creamy. The whole thing doesn't look light and modern, it looks dated.

i.pinimg.com/originals/a2/0e/d3/a20ed35867d14e7a0306bb3409f0ee86.jpg

It doesn't really matter what other people think as these kind of things are entirely down to personal choice. I'm guessing that in a house that big their is more than just you living there - what doe the others think?

If the consensus is that you don't like it then if you can afford it, change it. If not what else can you do to change the area to make it look nice. Paint the stair case a different colour, pictures on the wall, plants, paint the stairs either side of the carpet runner.......

I think it would be more cost effective to change the wall colours-go for something more warm & inviting -maybe mustard or gold tones

Oooo, I really like this, I'm looking at a new stair carpet too, so now heading off to see if it comes in grey 👍🏻

It looks great with the style of house. Reminds me of Little Women lol YABU

Wow. I love your stairs and the carpet looks fabulous.....Very jealous

Looks beautiful OP.

I think the carpet is a good shade but I think the problem is the black darkness of the banisters. They look too dark and would suit being the same shade as the brown carpet edge.

@ilkleymoorbartat

Another reference, but when I tried these colours they seemed too oatmealy. Now realise I should have probably gone with that.

Can you add those brass rods?

@EvaLution

I feel your first world pain *@ilkleymoorbartat*

We have stair treads that had to be painted as they were in such bad condition (grade 2, so we weren't allowed to replace) and mismatched handrail, spindles and flooring. It's taken me forever to figure out what I to do.

The one thing I'd say is there is lots of advice to use stair rods, which would work with the age of your house, but if you're going in that direction, I'd trial one or two, as I'm not sure adding yet another element will make you like it better.

I debated and debated something like yours and went for this in the end (don't know if this is helpful)-- the third picture is what we've chosen, which will be installed this week, so haven't seen it in place.

@EvaLution Your runner is beautiful - may I ask where it's from? I did a Google lens search but it didn't come up with anything.

I was thinking the same. @EvaLution that's a lovely design ... I'm tempted to do our stairs

@Caelan2018

Your stairs are beautiful but carpet does it no justice give it 6 weeks if you still hate it change it life is too short

Easy to say but I had my hall, stairs and landings recarpeted in a house v similar size, style and layout to OP around 4 yrs ago. It cost just under £10k, certainly not doable to replace within 6 weeks because ‘life’s too short’!

@EvaLution’s runner looks like a Roger Oates design . Very lovely it is too

The carpet gutters are coming back this week to finish the job, they're going to see how easy it easy to take off and rebund. Meanwhile I'm thinking wall paint copies and styling in the hall. So a multi pronged approach. I will DEFINITELY update properly once I've made a decision though because you've all been so helpful. Thank you!
Who'd have thought my most responded to thread would be about carpet troubles.

*fitters
Freudian slip

I've just watched the new decorating programme on Ch5 with Sophie Robinson and in one of the room ideas they had a hallway that looked pretty much like yours! Even down to the dark spindles and paler handrail. The jute/style runner put the stairs had a black taped edging the same width your current brown one is and it looked good. Maybe have a look at the programme and see what you think @ilkleymoorbartat

Thank you @longtompot ! I'll check it out!

@Morethanthis71 was it you who mentioned the French Chic browning wax? I have some original woodwork in my house that a previous owner saw fit to varnish violently orange with a delightful ‘antique pine’ concoction. There is a fair amount of it and it is fiddly so don’t really want to paint over or strip it. Would the browning wax take it down a bit or would it just look botched, do you think?

@ilkleymoorbartat It's not awful, but I don't love it either. It's not so bad that I would remove it, but it does look a bit 'industrial' like something you'd see in a business/office block. Also looks a bit like a private let house. Not being a snob, and we have rented privately, and now rent social housing, but it does look a bit like something a private landlord would stick down as it's hard wearing and inexpensive.

Nice set of stairs though!