Need help with flooring choice for split level stairways

7 years ago

We have a split level house. When we had the house built only the upstairs was finished and a door was placed at the bottom of the stairs going down. So the stairs were all carpeted with the same color matching the upstairs living room. A few years later we finished the basement. The upstairs carpet was a builder's basic grade and is in need of desperate replacement. The downstairs was a much higher quality and I expect replacement is at minimum 5-10 years off. The landing has some very low quality sheet vinyl and is also under consideration for replacement. I definitely will be having carpet in the upstairs living room (probably a similar shade to what is there as I really like color and have no use for neutrals). Ideally it will be a very plushy carpet but I don't know if that is a good choice for stairs. Any suggestions for what flooring I should choose for stairs and or landing to tie things together a bit more? The only catch is I really really really dislike the look of wood floors.

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Comments (4)

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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I know you're not excited about hardwood, but I think it will elevate the look of your house quite a bit. Do you have the budget to put in hardwood floors that match your stair railing? If so, that's what I would do.
cjzimmer
Original Author
7 years ago
At this point we haven't set a budget, the plan is to figure out what we want and then save up the money to make it happen. My husband would be thrilled with a wood floor but I truly have no desire for that type of floor. Wood is completely unappealing to me.
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acm
7 years ago
Just wood stairs and landing -- it will go with any carpet changes you make, and it will wear much better on stairs than any textile. I too would match the built-in railing.

I can't imagine a reasonable second choice. You could do a tile or a tile-look vinyl on the landing, but where does that leave you on the stairs? You seem to like wood everywhere else (trim, bookcases, etc.), I can't see why you would object to using it as a unifying finish here. I guess match the carpet from the basement, and then coordinate your new upstairs carpet with that choice?
Darzy
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
For your situation and desires, I'd suggest replacing all of the carpet in the living room, stairs and landing with mediocre quality carpet (with a good quality pad) in a beautiful color you love. That way, you'll have the color and cohesive design you want (it's best to have the same flooring throughout). It will be fine to have the basement level a different carpet as it's "separated" from the rest of the house. Something like this?