First, treat your purchase of carpet runners for stairs just as if you were carpeting your entire home. Even though you are only putting this carpet on a small part of your home, this part is very highly trodden and is also very visible (most of the time). As such, you need to make sure you make the best decision possible, as a bad carpet runner for stairs stands out much more than a poor piece of regular carpet would.
This means that you need to take care in your purchase. Make sure you ask for samples of cuttings so you know exactly what you are getting. Take that sample home and ‘test’ it to see how it looks on your stairs and if it matches the surroundings. Nothing is worse then getting home and realizing that what you just bought looks horrible in your home.
Remember that when carpet bends it has a tendency to show the backing (more prevalent with certain color combinations of carpet), and some carpet can snag very easily, making it not as perfect for some stair carpets. When you have your sample of the carpet runner test both of these issues to find out if your piece is what you want.
Second, decide which type of stair runner carpets you want. Most runners are made by machines now days, and are usually either 100 percent wool, or they are a combination of 80% wool and 20% nylon. However, you can still find custom, hand-made stair carpet runners both online and in boutique stores that are of excellent quality and will last a lifetime and look beautiful in your home.
Third, make sure you also purchase a good stair carpet rod. Such a rod should add to the carpet runner, not detract from it. It should also be sturdy and do a good job of holding the carpet in place. This is very important, as it can prevent many unnecessary injuries in an area that can be very dangerous.
Fourth, when it doubt, seek a professional, that is what they are there for. A good carpet pro will help you with all of your questions. However, go prepared wit has much knowledge as possible so you are able to determine if he really know what he is talking about or if he is just trying to sell you something.