What actually hides dirt
| Colour | Hides dirt? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-tone multi-colour | Best | Flecks and heathers disguise everything |
| Mid grey / greige | Very good | Modern and forgiving |
| Deep colour | Good | Hides marks, shows lint and pet hair |
| Pale cream / oatmeal | Poor | Beautiful and high maintenance |
| Pure black | Poor | Shows dust and every fibre |
Working with your treads
- Dark stained treads: a lighter runner lifts the staircase and makes the steps readable.
- Pale oak or painted white treads: almost anything works; deeper tones give the most drama.
- Worn or patched treads: a wider runner and a mid-tone colour hides the most.
- Painted risers: pick a runner tone that relates to the riser colour, not fights it.
Know your numbers in 30 seconds
Enter your step count, tread depth and riser height — the stair runner calculator gives you the exact length to order, in metres and feet, with waste included.
Open the stair runner calculatorColour and the feel of a hallway
A pale runner with a generous reveal makes a narrow hall feel wider and brighter. A deep, saturated runner with a narrow reveal makes a large hall feel cosier and more considered. Neither is wrong; decide which problem you are solving before you pick a swatch.
Always view samples on the stairs
Staircase light changes dramatically from top to bottom, and a colour that looks warm in the hall can look grey on the top landing. Tape samples to three steps and look at them morning and evening before deciding.
Dye lots
Order every metre you might ever need in one go, including the landing and any spare. Dye lots vary between production runs, and a replacement piece bought two years later will almost certainly read as slightly off.
Safe defaults
If you want a decision that will still look right in ten years: a mid-tone wool in a warm neutral with a subtle texture, 3–4in reveal, natural or brass hardware. It suits almost every house and it does not fight anything else in the hallway.
Whatever you decide, get the numbers first: the stair runner calculator doubles as a stair runner length calculator, adding nosing wrap, landings, winders, pattern repeat and waste so you order the right length the first time.
Frequently asked questions
What colour stair runner hides dirt best?
Mid-tone flecked or heathered colours hide dirt best, followed by mid greys and greiges. Pale creams and pure blacks are the hardest to keep looking clean.
Should the runner be lighter or darker than the stairs?
Contrast in either direction reads better than a near match. Lighter runners on dark treads lift the staircase; darker runners on pale treads look grounded and graphic.
Know your numbers in 30 seconds
Enter your step count, tread depth and riser height — the stair runner calculator gives you the exact length to order, in metres and feet, with waste included.
Cost your colour choice