If you like the look and feel of carpeted stairs when you visit the homes of family members and friends, you might be thinking about installing carpet on the stairs in your own home. There are lots of advantages of using this type of flooring in this location, including how it makes the stairs less slippery than materials such as hardwood. Visiting a carpet store will give you the opportunity to evaluate many different carpet samples to see which would be the best fit for your stairs. You'll also learn about some different ways to add carpet to your stairs, including these popular options.

Treads And Risers

A common way that people install carpet on their stairs is to cover both the treads and the risers with carpet. In this style, none of the wood that makes up the stairs is visible. Some people favor carpeting both the treads and risers if they have carpet on the floor around each end of the stairs. While you can choose a neutral color of the carpet, another option is to go with something more vibrant. For example, you might favor a bright solid color or a pattern such as a floral print.

Treads Only

Another installation option to consider is to put carpet on the treads of your stairs only. This means that the risers will be bare, which can create a degree of visual contrast that many people find appealing. Popular options for the risers are hardwood or inexpensive painted wood. If you already have an idea of how you want the risers to look, visit the carpet store with this idea in mind. Generally, you'll want to choose carpet that contrasts the risers. For example, if you favor dark hardwood for the risers, you might opt for a cream-colored carpet for the stair treads.

Stair Runner

If you want to go in a different direction, consider buying a carpet stair runner. This term describes a strip of carpet that covers both the treads and risers of your staircase but not from edge to edge. This means that part of each tread and riser is visible. Carpet stores have a wide selection of stair runners that can be a good visual fit with a wide range of home styles. You'll often find a lot of colorful stair runners, which can pair well with a staircase that has a neutral color such as white. 

Visit a carpet store to discuss your options with the staff.