Carpet on stairs when the rest of the house will be porcelain tile

Cathy L
by Cathy L
We just purchased a beach home that we will completely remodel. We are planning on replacing all the flooring upstairs and down with a wood grain porcelain tile. We are updating the stairs/banister. My contractor said it is not recommended to put tile on the stairway. I'm just wanting your opinion as to if it will look cohesive if I use a natural sisal carpet or wool pattern up the middle of the stairs and paint the wood portion of the stairs white? All the baseboards along with the brick fireplaces will be white as well. It will be the only carpeted area in the home. Thank you for any input. These stairs are keeping me awake at night! ~ Cathy
Current stairs
This is one of the options for carpeting. Wool carpet with chevron pattern. Cream/grey to go with grey tone tile.
  7 answers
  • I think it will look fine. It's a neutral color carpet that will blend right in!

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Dec 29, 2017

    I agree I think it will look nice too!

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Dec 29, 2017

    Even though I am a big fan of painted wood, I think you might regret painting the stairs. The paint will chip and the white will show dust and dirt. Since your other floors appear to be wood, I think the sisal with the wood on each side will look great.

    • See 2 previous
    • Cathy L Cathy L on Dec 29, 2017

      The photo is the house now. We will be replacing all the floors with grey tone wood grain porcelain tile. So don't want to mix "woods"

  • Liz Sanders Duren Liz Sanders Duren on Dec 29, 2017

    I would paint, not carpet. Having had both types of stairs, non carpeted is far easier to keep clean. I prefer a quick sweep and /or wipe versus lugging a vacuum up and down the stairs. Carpet also hangs on to allergens and dirt.

    • Cathy L Cathy L on Dec 29, 2017

      I have had both as well. Currently have laminate on my stairs. (Haven't moved to the news home yet) I agree with the vacuuming but it's only my husband and I as new "empty nesters" Stairs are just a pain period! I wanted a single level but the ocean views from this home are stunning. Guess I'll have to live with stairs a bit longer ;)

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Dec 29, 2017

    That does change things. Maybe sand and stain them gray instead of painting them. It will hold up better and still let the wood grain show through.

  • Cathy L Cathy L on Sep 30, 2019

    It's been a work in progress but this is what we went with. Vinyl plank flooring and white oak stained gray on the stairs. We also added wainscot. It's been over a year and is holding up well with three dogs running up and down the stairs.