The most durable carpets for stairs & high traffic areas

What type of carpet is the most durable?

High-traffic areas, such as your stairs, will benefit from more durable materials and when it comes to finding the best solution, you have several fabrics that are up to the job.

The sturdiest carpet material is polyamide or synthetic nylon. As they’re typically low pile, they won’t mat down and can handle a substantial amount of foot traffic whilst maintaining a good look.

Polypropylene is also a great material choice as it’s highly stain-resistant, fade-resistant and easy to clean. It’s also very budget-friendly.

If you’re after something a little softer, equally long-lasting and more premium, then wool is also a great choice (though often more expensive). 

What is the best colour carpet for stairs?

This completely depends on your personal preference. You may wish for something neutral that will blend in effortlessly to countless colour schemes or you may want to give your stairs a spruce with a pattern or bold colour. It will also be worth considering whether you live in a shoes on or shoes off household. If it’s likely you’ll be running up and down the stairs in your shoes, opting for a darker, easy to clean, coloured carpet, such as a brown or dark grey would be a more sensible choice.

Whereas if you typically wander around your home barefoot or in slippers, a lighter colour would do just nicely.

The most popular colour carpet for stairs is actually greige – a beautiful blend of grey and beige. This versatile, on-trend colour is loved as it complements a myriad of design styles.

Though saying that, if it’s constructed from the incredibly stain-resistant polypropylene, you won’t have to limit your colour choices. 

Discover the latest trends in stair carpets by reading our article, Top 3 trending stair carpet design & ideas.

What is the hardest wearing carpet for stairs?

As your carpet takes a lot of footfall during the day, it’s important you invest in hard-wearing flooring to withstand the daily wear and tear. 

There are different carpet types available and the main ones you want to look out for are a level loop or a multi-level loop.

A level loop is a type of loop pile in which all of the loops of the carpet are made the same size, creating a smooth and even surface.

Whereas a multi-level loop carpet has a distinct appearance and the loop piles are of varying heights to create a multi-dimensional look.

They’re both great choices for stairs for a handful of reasons: they bounce back, their retention is better and footprints don’t get imprinted.

However, it’s worth noting if you have pets then it’s best to rule out loop piles as their claws can get caught and the carpet can easily snag.

Your next best option is the popular tight twist pile carpet.