Interior designers across the country are calling for homeowners to abandon one of the most outdated design trends of the past few decades: fully carpeted stairs. As we enter 2025, design professionals are advocating for more stylish and contemporary alternatives that provide the same safety benefits without compromising on aesthetics. The consensus among experts is clear – carpeted stairs are a relic of the 1990s that need to stay in the past.

Two prominent interior designers have shared their strong opinions on this polarizing design choice. Sarah Pickard, an award-winning interior designer and founder of Pickard Design Studio, along with Andrea Sinkin Jaffe, a second-generation interior designer and founder of Andrea Sinkin Design, both agree that fully carpeted stairs represent lazy design choices that fail to maximize a home's potential.

"Fully carpeted stairs are totally dated, but [bare] stairs are a slipping hazard for adults, seniors, children, and animals," explains Sinkin Jaffe. "Having a soft runner down to mitigate noise and slipping risk is not only a necessity, but it is a beautiful chic way to make your home feel quite finished." This perspective highlights the primary concern with completely removing carpet – maintaining safety while achieving better style.

Stair runners have emerged as the most popular alternative to full carpeting, though they do require more effort and planning to execute properly. Unlike full carpeting, runners leave the sides of stair treads and faces exposed, necessitating additional finishing work such as staining the wood or painting the exposed areas. The selection process for quality runners also demands careful consideration, as some staircases may require custom sizing.

Sinkin Jaffe offers specific guidance for choosing the right stair runner. First, homeowners should select patterns that look appealing both running vertically up the face of the stairs and lying flat on the actual tread. Second, fabrics with tighter loops or shorter cut pile work best, as pet paws can easily snag materials with longer loops. Finally, since stair runners endure significant wear and tear, it's crucial to choose fabrics that can be easily cleaned and maintained over time.

For those seeking alternatives beyond runners, several other anti-slip treatments exist. Pickard recommends scoring patterns directly into hardwood to create natural tread, or investigating slip-resistant materials and finishes that can be applied to existing stairs. Anti-slip sprays offer an easy application process and remain virtually invisible to the naked eye while providing enhanced safety. Homeowners on a budget who want to add color can paint step faces in bold hues for visual interest without the expense of runners.

Many homeowners inherit fully carpeted stairs when purchasing homes, and removing them isn't always practical or cost-effective. Refinishing or replacing stair treads represents a major renovation project that may not be worthwhile depending on what lies beneath the existing carpet. Sinkin Jaffe acknowledges she would still use carpet in basement applications if the stairs don't already have finished, stained treads.

For those working with existing carpeted stairs, several styling strategies can modernize the look. Pickard suggests updating to high-quality materials: "Wool, custom-made carpeting, or a tufted, beautifully designed carpeting can work in some cases. The key is to not let the carpeting be an afterthought, but an intentional design that fits into the home's aesthetic." This approach transforms carpet from a default choice into a deliberate design element.

Drawing attention away from carpeted stairs can be accomplished through strategic wall treatments and focal points. Gallery walls or unique wall treatments like wallpaper and picture molding pull the eye upward, minimizing focus on the stairs themselves. Creating design moments on stair landings provides another distraction technique – large landings can accommodate floor plants or plants on small stools, while strategic artwork hung directly above landings creates conversation pieces that command attention.

The movement away from fully carpeted stairs reflects broader trends toward cleaner, more intentional interior design choices. As homeowners increasingly seek ways to modernize their spaces, stairs present significant opportunities for style improvements that don't require complete renovations. Whether through runners, alternative treatments, or strategic styling of existing carpet, the options for updating this formerly overlooked design element continue to expand as we move further into 2025.