My Tunbridge Wells

Your insider guide to the best of Tunbridge Wells

Carpet vs oak stairs – which is best for my home?

If you’re looking to revitalise your hallway and stairs soon, you may be finding it difficult to choose between carpet and oak stairs. This can’t be helped, as both are delightful for different reasons! However, if you need some guidance on coming to a decision, keep reading this blog to find out whether carpet or oak stairs are best for your house.

The benefits of carpet staircases

Carpeted stairs are an incredibly popular choice in many homes across Britain for a multitude of reasons. The carpet installed either fully or partially covers the parts of a staircase that make up the steps, known as the risers, and the treads.

So, what’s so special about carpeted treads?

Carpets are stylish

By incorporating a carpet into your staircase design, like the designs from www.carpettilewholesale.co.uk, you gain a simply stunning and decorative style feature in its own right. If you’re looking for something contemporary and luxurious, you can’t go wrong with a coffee-coloured deep-pile textured carpet.

Or, if you want to make your hallway feel much more spacious, horizontal striped carpets are great at creating the impression of length, so your staircase feels much longer than it may be.

They provide comfort underfoot

Carpet is incredibly soft and provides cushioning beneath your feet – which is exceptionally beneficial when barefoot. Thicker carpets and carpet underlays offer the most comfort, as they absorb the most impact from your steps!

Plus, your feet stay warm and cosy thanks to carpets’ poor conduction abilities – they won’t absorb your natural heat the same way hard floors do.

Carpeted treads offer sound absorption

Keep your home a much quieter and neighbour-considerate place by choosing carpet on your stairs. A staircase decorated with carpet is excellent at reducing the sounds of creaking floorboards and absorbing any impact sounds made by footsteps.

What’s more, carpets and some underlays can effectively absorb airborne noises, such as loud voices and television sounds – ideal for staircases located in social areas of the home.

Are there any downsides to carpet stairs?

As with all decor choices, there are a few points to consider when it comes to carpeted stairs. Firstly, they are not the easiest to clean, especially if a stain becomes ingrained in their fibres.

Furthermore, depending on the quality of the carpet, it could potentially have a shorter lifespan than hard-floor stairs, which tend to be more durable.

The advantages of oak staircases

Oak stair parts have been used in homes for hundreds of years, and their appeal hasn’t wavered over time for good reason – so, what are the benefits of oak staircases?

Oak stair parts are aesthetically versatile

Oak is a hardwood that offers a timeless finish and looks beautiful across a wide range of home decors and styles. From modern and chic homes to more quirky and colourful themes, oak staircase parts allow flexibility when it comes to your home aesthetic.

Want to repaint your landing and hallway? With oak treads, you don’t have to worry that your flooring won’t match the colour scheme you’re dreaming of.

Oak staircases are easier to clean

In the event of spillages, stains and muddy footprints, hardwood stair parts are mostly very easy to clean – you can simply wipe away the mess using wood-appropriate cleaning products.

What’s more, unlike carpets, dirt won’t become ingrained into the surface of your stairs, increasing their lifespan, maintaining their appearance and requiring a less costly cleaning process.

Oak stair parts are highly durable

Oak is an exceptionally strong material, which means that it maintains its pristine appearance well, even on high foot traffic areas like staircases. Scuffs and wear are much less likely with oak stairs, helping to boost their longevity and ensure they last for many years to come.

Are there drawbacks to oak stairs?

Whilst oak stair parts boast many advantages, there are a few considerations to think about. For example, walking up and down hard flooring creates more noise than a carpeted staircase, which could become irritating.

Also, as oak is harder than carpet, if a trip were to occur on your stairs, it wouldn’t offer as much cushioning to soften falls.

Why not compromise with a carpet runner?

If you simply can’t decide whether you want carpeted or oak steps, you could always meet in the middle and opt for an oak staircase, complete with a stylish carpet runner to jazz up your interior space.

Carpet runners come in various designs and shades, so you’re sure to find one that matches your home perfectly.