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Flooring Design Dilemma

Different carpet on stairs vs rooms

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

We have a small 1970's tri-level and replacing all the floors in the house. Carpet in the lower level family room, office and short flight of stairs. LVP on the main level living room and kitchen. Carpet again on 2nd flight of stairs to a landing and bedrooms. Stairs have to be carpeted due to Greyhounds who can't climb stairs with hard surfaces. It's too easy to make the house look choppy, so trying to get as much of a seamless look as possible. I've read that it's better to have a shorter pile carpet on the stairs than on the floors but I don't know how to mix/match different carpet piles when they will be right next to each other. Currently we have the same carpet throughout the house and the stairs do look horrible. I haven't found any carpet lines that offer the same carpet in different piles. I've thought about doing a bold pattern on the stairs only; I love that look! But again worried about chopping up the house. I have a couple of examples of the patterned stairs look that I will try to upload.

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PRO

JAN MOYER

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

You don't need a high pile anything on lower level or bedrooms. Pick ONE neutral carpet for both floors, and then something bolder/different for your stair.

If at all Possible? Even better is the LVP everywhere, use AREA RUGS..........and just runner or carpet the stair.

Higher piles have nothing to to with comfort or warmth, really. Climbing out of bed onto an area rug is just as comfortable as any edge to edge broadloom. Your will have more unity in the house, a larger feel, and for kids? An opportunity to use inexpensive area rugs as they grow, and decor changes over the years.

it's also a better long term solution. Bedrroom and closet carpet gets dirtier faster than anywhere else in your home. Why? It is where you spend more barefoot time, change clothes.......dust is largely human skin.

Bare feet are the enemy of broadloom. LEAVING FOOT OILS BEHIND, THE MAGNET FOR DUST AND A GUARANTEED GRUNGE TRAFFIC PATTERN. : )

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Comments (6)

Cara Cole
Original Author
3 years ago
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Thinking of my own boys (8 & 15)........the carpet would look much dirtier than hardwood or vinyl especially at an entrance. We are replacing our carpet stairs right now but are in the same boat as you. The carpet shows more dirt and is harder to vacuum the corners that hold LOTS of extra dirt BUT I worry if anyone falls down them the landing is softer. We are considering wood edges with tile inset through the middle......easy to clean and very pretty, but again the falling down factor (they are soooo rough). I think 'today' we are leaning towards a meduim color carpet but who knows tomorrow. Hmmm.....kids falling down or looking/being clean. Have you considered your wood look with a carpet runner? Good luck
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We did all the same carpet upstairs as well, @Alison - which includes the small den as you come up stairs and two bedrooms, with a “virtual hallway” (also therefore carpeted as den is adjacent to it without a wall) that runs as a spine with den, guest bath (tiled), and laundry room (tiled) off sides, and bedroom at each end. We also have carpet on our stair treads. Like with the bedrooms, we prefer carpet on stairs for many personal reasons (over hardwood, runners, etc) @shari13 - me too! I got to do that for my childhood bedroom my parents built in basement when I was 11/12 - it was great fun and helped it feel like *my* room :) Especially after having nightmarish carpet in our prior home - the pattern reminded me of skulls! @palimpest - I agree that different carpet can look rather grand where it suits! Your carpet sounds amazing! I hope one day you post photos. We did pay a bit to upgrade ours but sounds no where near as luxurious as yours. I really don’t find carpet to be that much upkeep some portray it as. The choice of carpet matters, and I also don’t wear shoes in house, but I find I have to sweep (or vacuum) a hard floor - and chase dust bunnies, etc - no less often than vacuum carpet (I have a long haired cat and am long hair myself, our long hair don’t care if it falls on carpet or hardwood!) And I’d rather vaccum carpet than sweep to be honest (I will usually vacuum hard floors instead so I still end up vacuuming!)
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Cara Cole
Original Author
3 years ago
I'll look for lower pile that can work throughout, and thank you for helping bolster my idea for bolder design on the stairs. And yes we would love LVP throughout but unfortunately it's not in the budget. We currently have rugs over the carpet in a couple of rooms because an elderly dog had torn up pieces! My favorite part about rugs is the ability to take them to the backyard on a hot summer day and wash & clean them myself... No wondering what junk is stuck underneath in the padding!
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
I would work with the colour carpet you like throughout the house...and then work in a bold stair runner/carpet that COORDINATES with the main house carpet. Then you can have them cut and bind DIFFERENT sized area rugs in the STAIR PATTERN. This will offer you continuity AND give you the area rugs that you like.

Anytime you can DUPLICATE a colour or pattern or the material itself, you have a 'design' concept on your hands. Yah. It can be that simple.

Pay the extra few dollars to have them cut and bind multiple area rugs for you. It will be the feature that you love the most about your new carpets.
PRO
JAN MOYER
3 years ago
"My favorite part about rugs is the ability to take them to the backyard on a hot summer day and wash & clean them myself... No wondering what junk is stuck underneath in the padding!"

You answered your own question. Save money, and WAIT for the LVP upstairs. Carpet is a waste of the dollars. A RUG ATOP a carpet can ruin the carpet beneath, , SAVE AND WAIT.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
IMO all LVP for the whole house id the way to go then the stairs can have a runner if you want but I like just no carpet everyhere. Area rugs yes wall to wall carpet never.

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