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!

Lovely! A few colourful eye catching pictures on wall? Just to break up the cream?

I do normally love a black banister but in this case with the brown of the carpet it's just too much , I would paint all the banister the same as the stairs , brighten it all up , then see how you feel about it .

I’d put small plants on either side. All the way up.

I’m not a huge fan. However it’s salvageable with accessories I feel. It’s also hard wearing.

Big green tall plant on the floor. Greenery on the windowsill, perhaps trailing down. Large colourful picture on the half turn.

It looks nice op,

Agree with PP that it would benefit from stair rods.

I’d also out the gold things across each stair. Like on your (3rd?!?) photo. Not sure what they’re called?!?

It looks good!

I don't think the carpet is too bad - I don't like the black stair case though - it jars with the carpet, which seems traditional and the black stair case is very modern - sometimes you can make these things marry but in this case not. I'd repaint the staircase...but that might be more expensive depending on whose doing it.

It's alright, just a bit brown. I think some pictures up the stairs with darker frames would make it all look a bit more tied in.

I would suggest removing the taping entirely

It's a beautiful staircase! I think it's the colour of the spindles that is wrong being black, if you could tone these in more with the carpet, everything would blend really well. Maybe if you find you don't come to like it, considering repainting the spindles would be a better option than replacing the whole carpet? Also brass stair roads would look great. I sympathise with you OP, it's horrible when you take time to choose & decide and are disappointed with the result.

It's ok to make a mistake OP.

It's also ok to keep that carpet and work out how to love it.

Life is too short to go through all the trouble of replacing it.

Be excited about the smaller things you can do to make it work.

I’d try detracting from it first with pictures, plants. At the moment there’s no other focus.

I suppose the question is if you really hate it can you afford to replace it?

It's absolutely fine. It's very much in keeping with the pared back, unfussy style of your banisters. I think it helps enormously that the banisters are black. If they'd been pine it might all have been too brown but this does work. It may also, when the light is better, look less brown. January light makes everything look drab. And brown is coming in again, often paired with orange and yellow for a twist on the 60s-70s vibe.

I'd put a good piece of artwork on the wall at the bend in the stairs. I'd either go monochrome graphic in a black frame to set the mono/minimal 1920s-30s feel or something bright but with some depth of colour. I wouldn't normally say this because I'm not one for pointless decorative touches, but I might try to find something colourful or striking to hang from the newel post. A woman I know keeps a beautiful crimson-patterned Japanese silk scarf draped around the newel post in her home to keep the eye from some ugly surface-mounted plumbing nearby. A giant decorative tassel or similar would do the trick without looking too fussy, if unfussy is the look you're after.

I’d change the colour of the spindles before I changed the colour of the edging.
But honestly adding in more accessories will distract the eye and blend everything in.

I think it's nice OP the landing is big and light enough to handle the darker tape. You need to tie in some more earthy neutrals. It's classic.
In your first picture of your inspirations the stairs are dark painted, perhaps if you're unhappy then you could try that if you have enough light to handle.

It is a bit institutional. Change it, stairbars or add some plants for colour?

I get that you don't like it and that is a horrible feeling, but honestly it looks fine O.P.
I think as other have said, if you add plants and pictures (maybe even the odd fairy light ) then the carpet will serve as a lovely strong but neutral backdrop and actually look much really good.

It is classic and a bit plain but you need to def accentuate it with some lovely plants like a fern or cheese plant to continue the natural theme. Also would def inject some colour with some stand out art that will we the focus as you go up the stairs...! The carpet is fine, its neutral and practical for a heavy use area! You've done the right thing and made a good decision you just need to guz it up a bit! Enjoy!

Oh dear, sorry OP but it all looks very utilitarian-style ugly. I don't understand the black railings with wood top either. We are getting a grey-blue stair carpet to match the front door, white railings though.

I like the carpet. You need some colour on the walls, either paint, pictures or both.

I like it :)

Tbh the think I would change (if anything) is the banister, either the black is too dark or the wood is an off colour, can't pinpoint it

Check out Lisa Dawson interiors on Instagram- she is the queen of picture galleries

If you’re staying/ can afford it I’d change the edging- try some samples against the carpet but I’d maybe consider a bright pink or a sage green?

It’s your monochrome paint palette that’s the problem. It doesn’t go with the natural tones in your carpet and woodwork. Soften with lighter stone coloured paints, keep away from brilliant white and black.