To want a stair runner? Or are they dust traps?

[Weaningworries]

Currently gathering ideas for a renovation. I really like stair runners like the image attached. Has anyone had one? DH thinks that the white bits would look dirty/attract dust.
Or have they been and gone?! Another friend told me she thought this style was a bit tacky now.

it never occurred to me this look would be a trend, i have it and think it looks lovely. does your friend have the whole stairs covered?

i just hoover the white bits and keep it dust free,
you could always pass a damp cloth if you think there are any stains.

I had them back in the 90's. You do need to hoover often. I had brass rods which then, needed polishing. It does seem to make the stair spindles more dusty. You need a soft brush attachment for your vacuum, I loved the look. It suited my Victorian terrace. I was a SAHM, so had time to clean.

I’m looking for a lovely one - any ideas.

An oatmeal colour would be good, as that hides a multitude of sins dirt-wise!

Dust traps. Mum had these in the sixties. The paint bit had to be swept every day. Showed up every bit of dust and dander known to man! They do look lovely but far too much work, unless you like cleaning.

We live in an Edwardian house with a grand staircase and a runner. Yep, total dust trap at the sides and we seem to get cobwebs very quickly. We need to re-carpet and DP likes the neutral runner with black edging. The black edging will very quickly show dust and muck as it's a dark, solid colour. So yes, it looks smart, but will be a pain to keep looking that way. The white paint is probably not as bad as dark wood for showing dust though.

We have a striped one and love it. I just hoover it when I do the other hoovering (not as often as I should!)

In an old period house they look great. In a new build they look silly , same as that fake panelling - as it doesn’t match the style
of the house so just looks tacky.
and yes the edges are dust traps.

We had open stairs and I was surprised by the amount of dust a bits of debris that fell into the hall just from using the stairs. We bocked them in and carpeted from side to side for that reason. Stairs are dust traps in my experience. Runners do look really good though!

I disagree. I follow a fair few reno type accounts including new builds. Tongue and groove, panelling and runners add so much character to new builds and look really good imvho. I don’t have a new build myself but will be adding a few touches like this to our house.

They really don’t look good . They are just fashion in new builds so will look very dated in a few years and be changed for the next fashion.

whereas in a period house they are timeless !

In your opinion! They absolutely do look good and there are no rules.

Look at Fourthhome on Insta. I don’t know how anybody can say her house doesn’t look good. You can switch accessories as time goes on to adjust your preferred style.

But back in the 60s, did you have open fires, and an old-fashioned vacuum? I had a big Victorian house with these. I bought a Dyson. After a couple of weeks' use (which removed far more fluff and dust than my previous vac had ever done) the daily dust reduced dramatically everywhere, so my cleaning schedule could relax. I still have a big old upright Dyson, which we keep nursing along with spare parts, as I don't find the new small ones as effective.

But surely the white bits can be wiped with a damp cloth or microfiber duster in a couple of minutes every day if needed?

They’re a load of faff to clean. Not for me. I prefer the whole thing carpeted.

@BikergranWe didn’t have an open fire. We had electric heaters that were wired into the house. Big grey things. The house was a new build so I suppose it was very modern back then. Mum used a dustpan and brush on the stairs every single day, top to bottom. She had a cylinder vac that was mighty heavy, so I suppose she couldnt use that. Maybe with a handheld vac it would be easy now. I’m not about to find out.

I have this in my Victorian terrace as do a lot of my neighbours. Yes, there is a bit of dust on the sides but I don’t clean very often !

I really don’t like the look of wall to wall carpets and don’t have them in any room (have lots of large rugs instead) so a runner for the stairs made sense.

I want this for my Victorian cottage until I realise how much more expensive it is than ordinary carpet.

On reflection I wouldn't have fancied the extra painting of the treads and the faff of the cleaning required. I do think it looks lovely in an old house though.