How To Install a Staircase Runner- The Fast Way

Staircase runners are my M.O. Yep, I love them. I’ve now become and DIY runner installation expert as I have installed 6 runners of all sorts over the last few year. My favourite material to work with has been the Annie Selke, Dash & Albert Rugs. They are easy to maneuver and more manageable for the DIY install. Recently I installed the Capri Soumak Rug on my attic staircase. At first I was a little hesitant. The runner is made of Wool and Jute which makes for a thick and heavy material. But it ended up being my most professional installation yet. Not only did the staples blend in seamlessly with the fabric, but the heavy texture creates added sound barrier, which mean those little feet running up and down the stairs don’t travel through our home!
If you are wondering how to install a staircase runner in your home, check out my tutorial video for easy to follow steps!

[@dianab3005]

The little puppy cameo 😆 such a cutie. Thanks for the great DIY!

[@jillrichardson4609]

This is a great video, I love how you installed your runner. I'm inspired! Thanks!!

[@MsRVAIL32]

It looks great! Just about to lay my runner down today and appreciate all the great tips! Will definitely use the waterfall method!

[@StevePhillips]

Nice work, you make it more simple than the experts do. And, do a great job. Cut doggy. He is funny...

[@kimberlyrockman7590]

Super helpful video! Thank you!

[@georgiatrudell7787]

Love this rug!

[@LeslieArnelleTV]

great tips . thank you!

[@lorefreedom6386]

Nice job, looks great and love your fur baby too ❤️

[@HEYMOMHEY]

Thank you! 😊

[@77chrisg]

Gave a thumbs up just because of Tuck!

[@formbyjim]

Great job

[@timhamilton2304]

Great job! Thank you for the video! What size staples did you use?

[@sarahpugh749]

Hi, greetings from the UK! Love your inspiring, imaginative videos. I am definitely going to attempt a stair runner. Please could you tell me about the amazing city scape wall mural on the stairs in this video, I have never seen anything like it! Thank you for sharing.

[@HEYMOMHEY]

Hi Sarah! This wall mural is from anewall and I believe it is Paris street scape, I hope you find it and are able to instal it in your own home! Xo

[@ILIV4DALE]

omg tuck what a cutie ❤❤

[@chelysgarage1457]

What you do when your runner doesn’t have finished edges?

[@Frimpeezzy]

Can I easily do this on a a carpet

[@daniellenash6434]

What staple gun did you use? Where can I get one

[@ambergold2120]

@DIYMOM what brand of staple gun did you use and where did you get it from? My husband got one from Home Depot and it does hold the runners in place because the staples break whenever he tries to staples down the runner to the stairs

[@rebekahhiggs5828]

This is a Ryobi staple gun. You also need to make sure your staples are long enough that they grab the runner and the wood.

[@marleemargulies4295]

Thanks for a great tutorial. I need to lay a runner on our stairs going to the 3rd floor because our dog is too scared to come down on the wood! I did have two questions: 1. How do you measure to figure out what size runner you need to buy? 2. When you meet in the middle, I'm a bit confused. So you finish the runner coming from the top so that it's flush with the edge where it meets the step. Then, when you are joining the piece coming up from the bottom, how do you know where to cut... I understand the pattern match, but what if the pattern doesn't match with where you are on the rug when you meet the middle? So if you get to the middle, match the pattern, but there's an overlap or not enough to match. Do you just make sure you have enough excess to work with? (hope this makes sense)

[@fanshowvids]

Hey marlee. You measure the step and the riser, for each step. Add them all up and get the amount of feet required for a runner, then you need to buy that much for your runner. If you need 20 feet and your runners are 8 feet. You will need 3 runners. Pick a pattern that repeats often or something simple and plain for your first diy attempt so you don’t make your job too difficult. If you have extra runner material then You can start the new runner and end the old runner in a spot that makes sense for lining up the pattern. Hope that helps

[@marleemargulies4295]

@@fanshowvids Thank you! This helps a lot.

[@marleemargulies4295]

@@fanshowvids Thank you. That helps!

[@CP-ok1gv]

What size staples

[@marionmorrison3273]

Great job, I could not help but to admire your wall mural. Who did this...was it you????

[@HEYMOMHEY]

Yes I did hang that wall mural. It’s from anewall

[@simplyem.]

How has the rug held up over time? Can I do this on laminate stairs?

[@HEYMOMHEY]

Yes it has held up great! And you could try it on laminate stairs I don’t see why not? Might be extra slippery so don’t forget the under pad!

[@kristenbarber4814]

So, I am working up to doing this on our new house. I was planning on a flat weave rug but using carpet tape to put down carpet padding on each step under the rug. Thoughts? Also, I only have an electric stapler, no air compressor or battery. Should this work? Thanks!

[@HEYMOMHEY]

Yes you can do i with all those things, definitely tape down the carpet pads and any stapler will work, just more labour when it is hand held, but I have done a few that way

[@Frimpeezzy]

Did you use regular nails ?

[@HEYMOMHEY]

Staple gun and carpet staples at least 3/4 inch

[@paulcrowley5145]

@@HEYMOMHEY Can you tell me what the "crown" measurement was of the staples you used? That measurement is, as I understand it, basically the width of the staple -- the distance between the two prongs.

[@whtpwr]

DIY MOM, I hope those were staples in the gun and not brads. Good video. Thanks

[@bilalhassan5379]

what is name of this gun

[@HEYMOMHEY]

it's a battery operated staple gun by Ryobi

[@chelysgarage1457]

Sorry at the ends of the runner

[@lisman99]

This would appear to be a brad gun, not a stapler?

[@miguelrivera787]

As a career facilities manager anything added to carpeted stairs is a trip hazard !

[@empressah888]

Where’s that poor dogs tail??

[@asfdsafvdv5254]

as a professional carpet installer can say looks good from I-35. Honestly, so much wrong with this installation. However, for DIY, and don't have to answer to customer may be OK.

[@RyanReskyTrumpeter]

Explain what’s wrong then...

[@stevehamman4465]

@@RyanReskyTrumpeter , this is not bad for a diy. If she would have started from the bottom step and went up when she ran out of carpet ,cut flush with the riser , then cut the next run to match the pattern starting again. I have all the proper tools for this but you can rent from Home Depot a little install box! Comes with a kicker,stair tool. Also I would suggest renting a Duo Fast electric upholstery stapler from them also. When stapling wiggle the stapler so the staples get between the fibers and don't leave a dimple! I'm being critical here sooo !! She has done these enough that if I showed her once ,she would get it.

[@frstamndmntrghts]

I fast forwarded through your video only because I thought the paint job on the stairs was tacky and the correct way to install stair runner is to start at the bottom, I get that you saved paint by not painting the whole step but your cut ins are terrible I was hoping to see you fix those at the end but no such luck, I really hate to see women do 1/2 assed do it yourself videos it's why we can't get jobs as handywomen!

[@chrissy212e]

What a friendly response 🤨