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Design Dilemma Flooring

how to “match” or not match herringbone floor next to a staircase

3 years ago

Hi all! I am having our floors redone and picked a white oiled oak herringbone floor for our main level and hallway. Our hallway is met by the entrance to our flat which is a staircase - landing and then another small staircase leading to the main floor.

Unfortunately I cannot get the same finish in normal plank to do our steps and landing (currently, we have carpet), and I was advised the herringbone wouldn’t work very well on the steps/landing so it’s better to do normal plank in something else. What I am worried about is, if I choose a different plank wood that doesn’t really match, it will look funny next to the herringbone. However, I have seen some cases where you just simply don’t try to match it and it does seem to be OK.

Options I am considering:

Should I just pull up the carpet and see what the wood is like underneath, consider topping up the paint and getting a low pile runner (because it’s a high traffic area if we do a runner we’d want it to be dark)
get unfinished oak and paint it a solid colour, then maybe we can do the herringbone on the landing - this option may be difficult to paint everything because it’s our only entryway so needs to dry
just get a neural invisible oiled oak so wouldn’t match exactly to the herringbone but, maybe that’s OK?

Attached is a photo of our hallway/entrance in question. Trying to think of a practical solution yet want it to look nice! Also don’t want to break the bank... ideally..

Thanks for any advice/tips!

Featured Answer

Sonia

3 years ago

There are some lovely herringbone patterned tweedy stair carpets which look very elegant and on a par with Architect’s examples which are lovely. Something like this

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Comments (7)

rinked
3 years ago
Same wood, wider plank. And looking what's underneath is always a good idea. Can always paint (solid color) what's there, if the carpet comes off well.
Julie Hopper
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately my dilemma is that they do not sell the same wood in a wider plank, so I’m having to try my best to “match” the same wood which is quite difficult! I may just see how the carpet comes off first.
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rinked
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Wood is a natural product, so doesn't need to be similar (ok, whitewash next to orange looks off). A floor is a floor and a staircase is a staircase. If it's the oak look you're after, give it a try. In my opinion even the carpet looks good with the oak, but I understand it has to go?
PRO
Architects
3 years ago
I completely agree, forget about herringbone on the stairs.

Consider:

a) Leaving or re carpeting your stairs as they are

b) Remove the carpet and paint the treads and risers with a durable floor paint. Dulux does one.

or my favoured option

c) remove the current carpet and replacing it with a runner (carpet that does not go to the edge). Think about a flat weave or a sisal look covering. Try not to go for actual sisal as this is slippery and can be problematic. You will have to consider if you want the edges turned or turned and bound. Before fitting the carpet you will have painted the exposed edges, if needed to match banisters etc. When it comes to the landings, the most expensive and nicest option is to have the runner made to fit but this is more binding or other finishing.

By the way I would not particularly recommend a highly contrasted binding, nor would I suggest a particularly wide one as I think it now looks both look a little dated. See attached lots of options that may get you thinking.

and more expense. The most cost effective option is to leave landings bare and either fully paint or sand and stain depending on adjacent floors.
PRO
Inner Space Flooring
2 years ago
As above, don't put herringbone wood on the steps. A herringbone carpet with match the larger wood areas much better.

If you really wanted to match the herringbone. You could use unfinished planks (either solid or engineered) and finish with a white oil. This will involve test patching, and still won't be exact because of the variation between the two woods.
PRO
Architects
2 years ago
Nice

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