Can't have patterned carpets on stairs apparently??

[Rollnsquare]

We went to a carpet shop yesterday to pick bedroom carpets and while there enquired about stair/landing carpet. I mentioned I was inclined towards a pattern and the woman immediately said patterns and stripes don't work on stairs where there's a turn/curve. She said looking down the way it looks ok, but looking from bottom up it wouldn't line up and wouldn't look great.

Is this correct? I understand what she means of course, but then again I'm sure plenty of people have patterned carpets on their stairs. Is that just when it's a straight run?

I've been so disappointed by stair carpets and finally found a nice geometric design so this is quite disappointing.

If you have a lovely non-wonky patterned carpet on your stairs with a curve/turn please show me it's possible!

I was told this too and just accepted it. I have since questioned it a lot as I think the same as you!
Stuck with plain and boring now though as I needed to make a quick decision for various reasons.

Do what you want with your stairs. The sellers are only there to advise and sell, you don’t have to listen to it. As long as it’s not a pattern that would make you more likely to trip or fall or creates an optical illusion, what’s the problem? Every house when I was younger had the same mad patterned 80s carpets going from hall to stairs to landing. No one even blinked 😂

Also if it is geometric pattern and you have a corner turn, can you not make the pattern work with the right angle? Could look really sharp, but you’d need to anticipate buying more carpet than you would with a straight run.

Here's a photo of our stripey stair carpet - I think it looks fine at the turn!

Ok, the stripes don't match up, but it doesn't bother us at all.

They are a lot easier to keep clean.

Of course you can, we have stripes. Google and lots of pictures will come up. It is more difficult to lay on the flat landing bits if you have lots of stairs as we do (3 storey). There are a couple of different solutions but that’s down to the person laying the carpet being experienced.

It’s definitely possible. The question is whether their fitter is competent enough and willing to put in more than minimal effort!

@Rollnsquare It is certainly possible.

Perhaps their fitters are unable/reluctant?

https://www.rogeroates.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/RO-Dart-Midnight-12_850.jpg

That is gorgeous!

A competent fitter can make it work, even if there are winders.

Those mid-matched stripes might drive me nuts.

You need a good fitter. Patterned carpets can be fabulous on staircases with a turn.

OMG that is absolutely gorgeous 😍

That’s beautifully done.
Well done to the fitter- clearly good at their trade.

@McPancreas
Is that your carpet?

I am strongly against striped carpets on stairs.

DH has nystagmus, and I have a mild form myself. I think that actually loads of people have it. The stripes really hurt, and would mean I couldn't risk looking at my feet when I was coming downstairs - they would really make me dizzy! I know a LOT of other people (OK, I am old, but a LOT of people - not age related) who would say the same.

Some lovely examples, love that pattern @McPancreas!

So perhaps it is possible, I wonder if I should find a local shop for the carpet to ensure good fitter (it was a national chain who broke the disappointing news!)

We used a little independent carpet shop in our local town to do ours and they royally fucked it up the 90 degree angle. It looked terrible. I’m not sure how you’ll do it but definitely find a good carpet fitter!

Patterned carpets would be better for stairs as they don't show every speck of fluff etc.
It won't need vacuuming so often if you're like me and often only vacuum when it looks like it needs it.

I own a carpet shop. Yes, you can have pattern on turn stairs. Shops should advise that it won't match completely on the turns and you will need to buy more carpet than if you went for plain but it's not for them to say you can't have it. A good fitter will match as best as possible on the turn. Here is one of ours.

Oh thank you @Vera1234 , great to hear that. That's a lovely example.

Useful photos. It depends what you want and how your stairs turn. But I bet they've had years of people not paying or making a drama because it didn't look like they thought it would.

People saying to get a good fitter - but that's not something you can be sure of before they start the job. And shops sub-contract this work. So they'll not want the stress or worry of not being sure the guy will match the stripes.

You should visit some independent carpet shops. They are usually cheaper than the large chain stores and usually have their own fitters whereas the larger stores usually sub contract the fitting out.

Omg I love this pattern! Where is it from?

Ooh where are you based?

The brand is Devine Savages, my grandma had it and it looked awful because of the way it was laid.

@ladygindiva