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!

It looks fine to me OP, good quality and stylish. My own house is as far away from neutrals as you can get, so not going by my own tastes. Painting the handrail would definately improve the overall look - now that you do have the carpet. Or, if you can't do that, choose picture frames, pots, etc to match the handrail. Stylish charcoals in wooden frames?

Or as PP said - by painting the spindles white - so taking the black away) then the carpet, plus handrail would all "fit" as variations on brown.

But at the moment you have the sisal, black, white plus orangy hand rail. All too much.

Black, white, sisal - OK
White, orange sisal - OK
Black, white, orange, sisal = too much.

It's not the central section, it's the brown edging that's bringing it down. I think stair rods and plants up the staircase will help a lot

What are you planning, decor wise? It's a bit "rental property" at the moment.

I would be inclined to look at getting a massive statement rug for the landing and pick one of its colours as a statement colour*

You MIGHT need to rebind the stair runner, but I think you could get away with a big planter or a small corner shelf with a vase of flowers to lift the eye.

*A decent rug dealer pre-Covid would lend you them for a few hours.

I think I would paint the banister and hand rail white/soft grey throughout. As other posters have said, the runner looks utilitarian and the dark bannister adds to the starkness. Even though they look nice in Pinterest, the dark bannister is adding to the municipal building feel here

I don’t think it’s the carpet, I like the carpet. The issue is with the the black and brown bannisters. There’s nothing that tones with the black from the bannisters, so it’s not pulling the look together. Im guessing you can’t strip the black from the bannisters? If not it may be better to paint the remainder black and add some black framed pictures up?
I would have had the colour scheme either black/white/grey (cool) or brown/white/cream (warm).

It’s lovely.

It's not great!

How much time per day are you on your stairs?

I don't think it's horrendous but I think it would be improved by changing the paint on the wall - brown/dark green colours with gold framed artwork. You could make it quite dramatic.

@Bonnieonthelam

I think there’s way too many conflicting neutrals in this picture. You have a smart home and this isn’t what you’d imagined it turning out like. Can you return it for loss and get something you love. I’d wager the seller could resell this quite easily. Whatever you choose next should compliment the banisters and white wood. The wooden part of your stair railings. Can’t that be painted black? I know natural wood showing through is gorgeous but it’s too many of the browns that’s causing the clash possibly (the edge of the carpet and the main body of the carpet are so different to me the wood)

I agree with this - too many different shades of neutrals - some of which are “cool” and some “warm”. I think a more natural honey-coloured sisal would have looked better BUT it’s really not that bad! Maybe wait a month or so and see if you get used to it? Having said that, I am the kind of person who would obsess over something and get no sleep until I had replaced it so I do understand how you’re feeling!

No, it is a horrible, municipal brown colour. Not nice OP.

I thought you'd be overreacting until I saw the photo. I totally agree!
I don't like that it has a different colour edging. There's too much going on with those 2 colours plus the brown and black stair rail. I don't like stair runners either! Very 70s!

It’s fine, Op, honestly. Ok, it may not be exactly what you wanted, but it’s down now and it will be fine. Softening with houseplants (you can get some really great textured plant pots which will look lovely, so I would really splash out on those, or maybe planters on feet) and with framed pictures/photos above the dado will really help. I wouldn’t repaint the woodwork.

We replaced loads of flooring earlier this year and I am pleased overall, but wish I’d done something a bit different. That doesn’t mean what I have isn’t nice, but making decisions when it involves spending a lot of money and therefore pressure to get it just right, is hard.

@Mummadeze

I don’t like it but if the bannisters were painted cream or white, it would look better. I don’t like the brown and black bannisters either.

Phew, I was beginning to think that it was just me thinking that! I'd perhaps leave the top wooden but paint the uprights white. Or strip the black off and leave it all as plain varnished wood.

I felt the same about my very expensive carpet - it looked like underlay when it was laid - I try not to see it.

I pressed post too soon. If you feel that you want to do ‘something’, then I’d maybe price up how much it would be to re-edge and add stair rods. And then wait.

I think it looks fine and different in a good way. Also looks like a quality job and very practical.

I like it ! Def some plants

I would paint the walls a light, clear blue or millennial pink, and the spindles a dark tone of the blue if I’d done blue walls, or oxblood red if I’d gone for pink. I’d leave the bannister natural wood. Then the brown carpet is just a toning neutral.

Alternatively, if I were considering rebinding the edges black, I’d get some black electrician’s tape and stick it on to see if I liked the look in black before I went through the hassle and expense of changing it.

How much was it Op ? I guess it depends how loaded you are to completely replace a brand new carpet 🤷

Black taping to go with the black spindles for sure.

Sorry OP I agree….too brown and dreary . Beautiful staircase though.

Its just screaming for accessories. My staircase is a riot of colour and art with plants everywhere.

I think some bright gold stair rods would lift it from dreary and make it look classy