Stairway to Heaven: How To Design Your Perfect Runner
Founder of Holmes Bespoke, Laylah Holmes shares her top 6 tips for creating ‘runner heaven’
A stair runner is often one of the first things you see when you enter a home. Runners are a great opportunity to create a stylish interiors statement - be that a bold or colourful look that ties in some of your other interior style cues or an elegant and timeless aesthetic that acts as a backdrop. A bespoke runner can really pull the hallway space together.
Designing the perfect stair runner involves thoughtful consideration of material, pattern, colour, width, padding, and installation. Whether you prefer a classic, contemporary, or eclectic look, the right stair runner can transform your stairs into a stunning centre piece.
TIPS
Number one
Pattern and Colour - The pattern and colour of your stair runner can dramatically impact the look and feel of your space.
Stripes can elongate your stairs and create a sense of movement. Geometric patterns add a contemporary touch, whilst a more pared back luxury finish can lend a classic elegance.
Colours can really make a statement too - light colours can make a staircase feel more open and airy, while darker colours add a sense of cosiness and even drama. Runners are also the perfect place to experiment with pops of colours to tie schemes together - think contrast edging to zing against the paint work and the main rug colour. It’s these little touches that really make a bespoke runner a real show stopper! Our Olivia runner is a popular choice for delivering this look.
Number two
Width - An important detail to consider with runners is their width, particularly on stairs; the wider the runner, the wider the stairs appear. Think about it as an optical illusion, you want to create as much visual space as possible. The ultimate distance between the wall or balustrade and the runner in a townhouse for example, should be approx 5cm to keep the stairs looking at their best.
Number three
Balance and Connection - I believe the spaces you choose to decorate within your home should talk to each other and contribute to a feeling of overall balance and homeliness. Some rooms or spaces, such as that empty hallway or staircase, serve a more practical function; taking you from one room to the next… but that doesn’t mean they have to feel drab. A runner can create a full and interesting aspect to any space and leave a lasting impression. When we design runners we often create a mood board of other elements within the home so we can tie this into the design process and it can be brought to life in the colour, warmth and texture of your bespoke stair runner.
Number 4
Material - It is always important to choose a material that best suits the function of the space. Wool for example is non-slip, durable and easy to clean so it works perfectly in a heavy footfall area like the stairs - we have a selection of wool runners including the striking Louis, the playful Candy and contemporary Stitch. We are also big fans of a stair runner in a neutral hue made with a natural fibre like jute or sisal to add texture, comfort and a timeless appeal. Our Jamie runner is handwoven from sustainable P.E.T. recycled yarn, inspired by the natural beauty of jute and sisal that creates an organic look with a smooth, soft texture, that is also immensely practical. And our Emma runner is a versatile flatweave rug with a beautiful hand stitched border detail that can be made in natural linen, jute or wool.
Number five
Professional fitting - Good quality underlay is essential for comfort, noise reduction, and extending a runner’s lifespan with the ideal thickness between 6-8mm. Safety is also paramount when installing a staircase runner and we offer a professional carpet fitting service to ensure the runner is securely and correctly fitted.
Number six
Last but not least…. Go bespoke. At Holmes Bespoke we can create a custom-made runner that’s totally tailored to your style and space. We love to collaborate with interior designers to create luxury runners to meet the individual specifications of a scheme. A Holmes Bespoke rug, carpet or runner often starts with a piece of inspiration and we work together to match the colours, textures and the finishes to create something truly individual and made for your home. Accessorising your runner with stair rods or stair clips is the perfect way to finish the space and we offer wide range of customisable accessories in numerous finishes
A little bit about us…
How we work
We work collaboratively with interior designers and project leaders to create truly unique design solutions; offering a bespoke design service, a vast range of fully customisable rugs, runners, fitted carpets, wall hanging tapestries and home accessories along with a vast range of ‘ready to order’ collections.
About us
Led by Laylah Holmes, from her West London HQ, Holmes Bespoke is committed to building long lasting relationships, fostering a creative and enjoyable design experience whilst delivering exceptional quality every time.
Designed in house, we draws on the knowledge and expertise of our skilled artisans, whose centuries-old techniques ensure that each design is entirely one of a kind, crafted by hand to last a lifetime.
The Bespoke Design Process
We ensure a perfect shade match to ensure the chosen colours fit perfectly with your scheme, we help to determine the shape and size that best suits the space and work with you to select from an array of premium fibres, textures and techniques.
Our design team will draw artwork of your rug, allowing you to envisage how it will look within the space, we will then work with you to choose an area to sample and our skilled artisans will knot, weave or loop a bespoke sample so that you & your client can feel the quality and texture of the final piece.
Sampling can take up to 4 to 6 weeks, our samples are one-of-a-kind and they are made by hand using the same precision and skill as the final rug.
Artwork and samples are presented to you for sign off and it is then that the production of your bespoke rug or carpet can begin.
The production of your piece can take anything from 8 weeks to 14 weeks, however we usually deliver at around week 12. Each rug is entirely hand made from the dying of the yarn, the weaving, knotting or tufting through to the final finishing, carving or shearing.
We endeavour to use sustainable materials and ensure that our rugs are made from completely natural fibres, including wool, bamboo, jute, cotton, linen and hemp.
