Now that my kitchen renovation is nearing completion, I’m finally able to start tackling some smaller projects around the house. First up is adding my own stair runner. Not only is it going to elevate my entrance & add a gorgeous textural element, it’s important from a safety standpoint as well. I’ve been using some temporary stair treads that surprisingly have held up amazing with only carpet tape, but it was time to spice this area up!
Before
After removing the old, temporary carpet treads, I cleaned each stair tread thoroughly to prep for my runner.
Materials i Used
- Carpet Runners
- Painters Tape
- Measuring Tape
- Very Sharp Razor Knife & New Blades
- Staple Gun & Staples
- Stair Rods
To keep things cost effective, I used 4 runners and pieced them together in lieu of a full size custom piece. If you go this route, I do recommend ordering your entire product all together to ensure your dye lots will be the same. You do not want to run out of product only to order another and have a completely different color.
The brass stair rods are purely decorative but give it such an elevated feel. After a hunt for these beauties, I ended up finding very affordable ones on etsy & the craftsmanship is stunning!
I have my own staple gun, however they are extremely affordable to rent at Home Depot if you don’t have your own. If you aren’t sure or are intimidated about using the full air compressor style staple gun, they also have airless staple guns that are so easy to use!
The Installation
I started out my taping off my “grid”. This will ensure that as I work my way down the staircase I will not fall out of line causing the rest of the length of the runners to be off center. This part is a bit time consuming, but well worth it to ensure an even product the entire length of the staircase.
Line up your runner using the finished edge as your starting point and making sure you are within your taped grid.
When it came time to cut my runner, I made sure to use an extremely sharp, brand new blade on my razor knife. Using a dull blade can cause fraying and a chewed up looking runner edge. I then stapled the bottom of my cut end right into where the stair treads came together. I then started my next piece right there on top of the stair tread and continued on.
Documenting & celebrating my progress!
Lastly was adding & sizing my stair rods. I ordered them wider than my runner & then cut them to exact size once everything was in it’s final place. I used a hack saw to trim mine, but you can also order the size you need and avoid this step.
After
This project turned out beautifully and I’m beyond happy with the final product. The finished product is just so charming with brass stair rod detail. In hindsight, I would not have waited so long to tackle this one now knowing how easy this was to install!
The Sources
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”4607622″]
