ALL ABOUT RUNNERS
There’s more to choosing and fitting a runner than meets the eye, so we break down what you should know before you get busy buying.
Cut down the Clatter of footsteps on the stairs by fitting a good underlay beneath the runner. For a wool runner, a quality underlay with a felt top and a bottom layer of rubber crumb will help with insulation and sound-proofing. In the hallway, a low-profile polypropylene mesh will stop the runner rucking up or slipping. Ask your supplier for advice on the correct underlay for natural flooring.
there’s a runner to suit narrow stairs to expansive hallways. Widths of 60cm or 70cm are common, but designs can also be made to order, with options for altering the border, stripes or colours. A good fitter will ensure that any stripes line up on stairs that turn, and can overlap or mitre the runner on a half landing.
a stair runner will be fitted in place using gripper rods, and can be completed with metal stair rods, which come in a huge range of finishes. A country alternative is a wooden strip, providing a more organic look. You may also want to consider Victorian stair clips that sit either side of the stairs.
Coir, made from the husks of coconut shells, can stand up to hard wear in a hall. The coarse, highly textured fibre is usually an earthy brown colour, but is sometimes bleached to a paler shade. Jute is often woven in herringbone designs to create a flat, silky finish. Sisal, the hardest wearing of the naturals, can be dyed in a wide range of colours.