Thanks Patrina. It does look nice but if we do go with a carpet runner this wouldn’t be possible.

We have a couple of little battery operated sensor lights near our staircase. They give enough light to see but only come on when they sense movement. They then go off after a couple of minutes. Perhaps you could do something but through your mains rather than battery.

I think decide if you want to put in the carpet runner first... unless you want a temporary fix in the mean time, in which case the battery operated ones on the side of the wall may work well?

I think if you put in the carpet runner then it'll make it really clear where the steps are, and negate the problem.... or are you wanting some sort of lighting regardless?

I would have an led spotlight above those two steps. If that’s not possible then an inset LED light in the wall opposite the bottom steps.

Thank you for all your comments. I agree we need to decide whether we put carpet runner or not. I would like one but husband not keen so not a quick answer to that!
The motion sensor is a good idea, although I am not sure how this would work as we come down the stairs before we reach the lamp.
No space above stairs for spotlights but insert LED in wall opposite may work well.
Do you know Jonathan if I had one of these actually on the stair wall behind the bottom stairs this would work or would the light not diffuse this area correctly? Thanks

Do you need lights? About fifteen years ago I looked around some three-storey award winning town-houses built near here. They were the best part of £1m back then. They had walnut stairs that had walls both sides so not much light. I stood at the top and it was difficult to see the individual steps. But the walnut looked stunning.

Some years later when I replaced my own stairs I went for solid walnut but to improve visibility had a stainless-steel strip recessed into the front of each step. It makes it obvious where the steps are. Something like that might be cheaper than lighting as well.

Thanks Andrew I hadn’t thought of that. Walnut staircase sounds fantastic. Do you have any photos with the metal strip?

We stayed in a house on holiday with lights in the wall.

Not the best picture I'm afraid but it illustrates what I mean about strips that indicate the stair edges.

Thanks for the photo LTS. And Andrew thanks for sharing your photo. Have to say the strips do look very nice against the walnut, definitely another option for me to consider.

Cheap solution may be a (small) floor mat (like a door mat) at the bottom of the stairs.