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!

Agree plants, pictures and if you can, changing the wall colour will transform it...but the carpet is the problem I think.

I think the issue is that the surrounding wood is too dark.

The staircase spindles look black or ebony, then there is natural wood for the handrails, and it's all a bit gloomy.

Paint the stair spindles white? Or replace them?

I love. That olive green looks wonderful with orange.

It’s gorgeous and will have been expensive, the taping would need to be removed and resewn by hand and it will cost you pretty much what you paid to have it redone. Plants, pictures and then reassess in a few months when you’ve lived with it a while. For what it’s worth, I think it’s great.

Yes it’s a bit too commercial premises looking for my taste. I think though you’ve had some ideas from PP on how to soften it. Your house looks lovely btw and I can see how you could be disappointed by the effect of the carpet.

First, I think it’s a great choice. Hardwearing, will hide marks. Agree with others to paint the brown on the banisters. It’s just one colour difference too many.

Get whatever paintings/prints you have and rest them on the stairs to see what goes. The big white walls aren’t helping with distracting. I think paintings would attract your eyes and soften your issue with the brown.

Good luck with whatever you do.

Burnt orange not bright orange. Its calling out for dramatic artwork and something on the window ledge.

It's too brown and a bit institutional for me. However, the previous poster is right about adding some plants. I think that will make a big difference.

Brown and black are not a great mix

This

Oh and paint the wood bits of the banister in olive to match

Paint the stairs black !

I know you have gone for a neutral look.. but I would add colour to the walls.. especially seeing the other picture with your beautiful radiator. Pictures on the wall might help..

It’s very dreary. Plants as suggested may help.

But it’s only the stairs, you’ll get used to it.

How often will you honestly, realistically spend looking at it?

I really like it but think it is maybe just a touch 'officer' I am sure there is something you can do to make it fit better, maybe try the plant idea from another poster? Your home is gorgeous!

Sorry @Pbbananabagel paint all the stairs olive?

i think the issue is that you've got two competing dominant colours, black and brown. If you'd edged with black that would have tied it together. Try putting some black framed pictures on the walls and see if that works, then add in a couple of plants, so it becomes black 50%, brown 35% green 15%.

@Pegasussnail

This is softened by the plant and the pictures. After a few weeks it won't be as noticeable to you.

And the cute kid, but that's a bit extreme!!

I must be getting old because all I could think looking at that picture was I would never cope with all those stairs!

That aside, I like it.

I don’t think it’s bad but doesn’t add anything to a lovely staircase. It looks a bit dull to be honest, I’d try and liven up the space with a picture/plants etc if you can. It can then be the more neutral backdrop.

I’d paint the bannisters black and add some black stair rods to pull it together more.

I think the look works better with higher contrast and cooler/sharper tones, so by softening it with the brown colourway it jars a bit and clashes with the banisters. If you have the option to change the runner and carpet I’d go for black tape and a lighter oatmeal carpet (as you say). Or if that’s too much I’d paint the black spindles white and go for a more natural tones look overall. I’d probably do the latter at least at first (if non-refundable), plus jazz up with plants and wall art as others have suggested and see how it settles in once it’s been trampled on a bit!

Actually, having seen your landing pic then I think you have to make the brown the dominant colour with black as the next (that's why it works on the landing). Maybe some strong wooden (same as the bannisters) framed pictures, I'd consider a small wooden stool with a plant on top but appreciate that depends on how much space you have on the little part landing

@ilkleymoorbartat

Sorry *@Pbbananabagel* paint all the stairs olive?

I always refer to farrow and ball colour charts and they suggest Arsenic (bright mint green) to go with a brown like that.

I think you probably need to just get used to the change. I hated our new floor when we got it because the colour was too warm. I don't love it now but it's fine. As some PPs said, get some plants, put some pictures on the wall. It's a great grounding backdrop for the hallway.