I like a runner in a handsome pattern. I find naked stairs noisy, hard for dogs to negotiate, and scary if you slip.

What's the floor covering throughout the rest of the house?

Good point about whether you're a sock or barefoot family. My husband slipped on our bare stairs once while carrying our newborn. He was wearing socks.

Once we had a runner installed we didn't have any more slips.

We don't wear shoes in our house, and are barefoot 7 to 8 months out of the year. So socks for 4 to 5 months, when the weather is cold.

I love wood on the sides, but at least a carpet runner. I slipped on wood stairs pregnant once...not pleasant! I've never slipped with or without socks on carpeted stairs.

Carpet retailers agree: a runner is essential for safety, style, comfort and silence.

I love my bare wood stairs, but then I always have on shoes in the house. I have slipped on carpet with shoes in other people's houses. So, it really depends on what is on ones feet.

I've injured myself on bare wood.

I have also slipped on carpeted stairs but the result wasn't as painful.

Bare.

Mr. Mike, since y'all are both barefoot and socks people, then I'd totally do the bare wood for the warmer 7-8 months, and then haul out the runners and stair rods for the colder 4-5 months. :-)

Installing bare always gives you the option to have the runner/rod combo all year long, if you decide you don't like the wood... But installing carpet leaves you stuck. Ripping up the carpet is always technically an option, but usually carpeted stairs aren't as nicely done, once you remove it.

We're socks people. In our previous house we had wood stairs with carpet runner. In the 14 years in that house no one ever slipped. We are in a rental house now with bare wood stairs. Both my son and daughter have slipped down the stairs. In new house we will be going with wood stairs with runner down the middle.

Wood stairs with a runner. Not the least expensive option because a runner will need to be fit to your stair case but it's the safest, warmest, and most beautiful option. Go with a tight, dense, short nylon carpet for best performance in foot traffic. Here's a few we have done lately for inspiration:

Good luck!

If you typically run around your house shod, or barefoot, I personally don't think it matters. I do run around my home in socks... feet keep warm and aren't constrained by shoes after I get home to relax. Socks SLIP on uncarpeted stairs. So, this should be a consideration. If anyone in your home is prone to be in socks on stair surfaces - I'd recommend carpet.

I love the look of bare (and what we are doing on our staircases)...you can always add a runner if needed.

I broke around 30 bones in my foot falling on carpeted steps in a past rental home ( and no, I didn't sue our landlord). The problem with carpeting is with even a relatively thin carpet, the edges are rounded and more pliable, making a slip more likely. Then, where tread meets riser, the fold in the carpet is also bulky, further reducing the steppable area of the tread.

While I prefer wood, I would be leery of waxed wood steps. Same for tile, marble or other stone – I get the heeby-jeebies taking the steps in my favorite library, beautiful as they are.

I would think the safest bet would be a non-carpeted, non-slip surface, especially if you have kids, elderly family members, or klutzes like me.

I broke around 30 bones in my foot falling on carpeted steps in a past rental home

Pretty sure that's some sort of record, considering a human foot (including ankle) only has 26 bones... lol

I have a split foyer house, so stairs going up and down. We replaced carpeted stairs in both directions with hardwood. The stairs up were put in 15 years ago; the downstairs steps 2 years ago. No one in our sock-wearing-all-year family has slipped on the stairs. More importantly, they are a breeze to clean, and look lovely.

I prefer wood with carpet runner. I think full wood looks better than full carpet though. I've lived with all - full wood still makes me nervous even though I've slipped on all 3 haha

Bet you didn't know this would be such a hot topic!

As all of the responses have shown you, everyone has a different opinion.

I've had carpeted and I've had wood - and I slipped on both just about equally as much. It's the socks vs. bare foot thing. Honestly, the most secure I EVER feel on stairs is bare wood with sweaty feet - Good lord, I feel like a gecko then. :)

If money isn't the primary concern, my opinion is that bare wood with a beautiful runner is the most attractive option. It's also the most expensive too though, because that's how life works. ;)

imstillchloecat,

You are correct – there are 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. My doctor may well have said 30 breaks – it was some time ago. No matter how you parse it or Google it, my foot was quite thoroughly shattered. The Guinness Book of World Records has yet to call, however.

We've had all wood for 20 years. No slippage and we don't wear shoes in the house. I will note that our stairs are not steep like i have seen in many new homes. They seem to be pushing the envelope on stair safety to gain more square footage. Perhaps that is causing more issues with slipping? shorter runs, larger rises?

Note: I'm just a klutz!

Blues ann, you could have broken some bones in more than one place!

My parents have two sets of stairs. I avoid the bare stairs because I find them slippery, much prefer the carpeted stairs.

Ours are currently bare and the new ones will also be bare. We're not really carpet people anyhow. Just a few area rugs.

We did hardwood stairs, and the kids (in socks) did slip a few times. I went back and did another coat of poly with a non-slip additive. I even coated our landings, which are engineered wood. Worked like a charm, and you don't even notice the texture by looking at it. Found it on Amazon.

Bare wood floors and stairs are gorgeous. After going airborne once i wear rubber soled mocasins with sheepskin/sherpa inside So lux

I had a new oak staircase installed a few years ago. I read all kinds or articles on safety of carpeted versus non carpeted stairs. Statistics show carpeted stairs have more accidents. I chose to have no carpet on my stairs. This issue is a personal choice.

"Carpet retailers agree: a runner is essential for safety, style, comfort and silence."

They also sell carpet.