When I had my stair runner installed, the carpet company said that attaching the carpet to the underneath of the lip was a more tradition look.

I think it's always secured, but sometimes with staples. It's just a designn preference -- I think the little rods are maybe a bit fancier?

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Also an option: tread pads. We put them in for our large puppy, but turns out the whole family loves them.

Set of 15 Skid-Resistant Carpet Stair Treads Black Ripple, 8"x27" · More Info

Good luck!

Thank you so much Val B and acm for your suggestions and feedback. I agree that both the stair rods and the tucking of fabric under the lip of the stairs looks like a more traditional style. Appreciate you also sending along the stair treads option as well. While functional, I'm a little worried that it would bit a little more casual than the rest of the house but I'll take a look in person. Thanks again.

This one has a how two on the sisal

http://elizabethstreetpost.com/our-sisal-stair-runner-before-after/

I love the black bound sisal herringbone:

most of the sisal runners I've seen look lie this

or you could do these anti slip treads

Thank you elcieg. i appreciate the advice on sisal. i had heard something similar so while I like the look, I’ll also keep my eye out for a wool blend that has a similar look and feel without a slick finish. I hadn’t considered the color either but you make a great point. i love neutrals so I’ll have to strike a balance with the right contrasting pattern..

Beth, thank you for the photos and the install link. i also like the black bound herringbone. The binding creates a lovely finish. We have contemplated a DIY as well so I’m getting an estimate from a pro to compare.

Thanks everyone for your generous advice. I think I have everything I need. Happy Holidays!

Don't know if your parents have any low vision issues as they age but if they do, be cognizant of that when you select a runner or stair treads.

Advice from the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Stairs. Changes in the floor surface are one of the greatest fears of the visually impaired. Stairs should have a handrail, be well illuminated, and have minimal glare. Put a contrasting strip on the leading edge of each step; without that, the stairs can look like a ramp to a person with low vision.

Stair treads naturally create a leading edge (nosing) as that part of the step is exposed and contrasts with the tread when using a tread that doesn't blend with the stair color. Certain patterned rugs e.g. horizontal or vertical stripes, obliterate the effect of a leading edge and make stairs very dangerous even for those without low vision.

You may also want to consider some kind of wireless motion sensor stair lighting. Lots of options out there.

We installed a sisal-look runner with black edging. Not slippery and has padding. It looks like natural sisal but it is a polypropylene, very soft and you'd never think it's not wool. Holds up great to lots of traffic in our beach house.

The installation is not a waterfall edge as you prefer, but a "Hollywood" or "French cap" installation. The carpeting is wrapped tightly over the tread and then secured to the underside of the nosing.

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The installation that tucks around the nosing and its secured tightly to it is called a "Hollywood" installation, or tight/tailored installation, and the installation that is attached only at the joint of the riser and back of the tread is called "Waterfall".

A lot of the decisions are really based on the carpet style. I would never install a Persian style runner in tight/tailored manner, or anything with much of a pile, but I would probably install a berber or sisal look that way.

I was posting at the same time as Diana and see I repeated some of her information.

I don't know how old your apaprents are but my husband is legally blind and when I ddi the stairs going to our walk out basment I did a LVP tread but a darker edge on the front of easch step to make it more visible maybe something like there would work they are non slip .

The only steps my dad ever slipped fell on in my house were the steps Without carpet.

We never slipped and fell on the steps in our house until after we took off the carpet. We are waiting until remodeling is done to put carpet back on, but in the meantime both of us have slipped and fallen on the wood stairs.

Palimpsest, Diana, Tozmot, Patricia, thank you. i am leaning so much from this discussion and as a result I am armed with more knowledge to aid in my discussion with the carpet consultant this week.

BTW, here is a link to the wool-look sisal we installed:

https://www.stantoncarpet.com/product/FIJI%20REMIX/SADDLE

Wasn't particularly expensive either.