New project! What colour goes with red stairs??

8 months ago

Hi all,
Been a while since we finished our last house and then sold it back in November.
Finally moved in Friday to a new place.... Which is a 3 storey house which has our ground floor flat. Plus 3 other flats in which 2 have been holiday lets.
It's a massive project and so different to our last house, ha ha.
Anyway, we have this wonderful (note sarcasm) red flecked carpet which runs in the hallway main entrance to the top floor.
I imagine it will cost a small fortune to replace it (it's actually in v good condition and has darker flecks in) so I'm looking at making it less like a b&b looking hall by clever surrounding colours.
(I have emailed a company that dye carpets but I imagine this is either also super expensive but no idea what my carpet is made of so might not work).
- handrails are currently ugly varnished brown and this doesn't help. Thinking of using the FRENCHIC trim paint in an off black or charcoal grey? With a varnish over. To modernise it a bit.
Then I want to paint the lower section of the wall which has the nice period wallpaper (the house is edwardian) in a darker colour so it's not just big white walls. It's currently pale grey but I feel it needs a deeper hue and wondering about a really deep grey black here as well? Or a charcoal grey so not black but a medium grey to split the wall up?
What do you lovely people suggest?
Ps I don't like beige tones or yellows/creams. Wanting a modern feel to it if that's even possible with a red carpet 🙄

Featured Answer

Sarah U-S

8 months ago

If you have a look on Farrow and Ball and Little Greene websites, and find a close-ish match paint to the carpet, they both then suggest colour combinations that might work. Definitely worth a look!

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Comments (38)

User
8 months ago
I'd probably hold off for now until you've renovated the other rooms otherwise you'll find your newly decorated hallway and stairs getting damaged by not so careful tradesmen.
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
Hi Sarah!

Yes I'm planning ahead for the project.

We just have one shower room to redo upstairs but the rest is furniture and it's quite spacious.

I'm trying to work out if the red carpet can stay long term without looking too old fashioned to avoid spending a fortune on a new one.
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Sonia
8 months ago
I think charcoal grey will go nicely for bottom part of wall, but I think it all looks quite nice as it is and just needs dressing with art and mirrors. Very grand!
Eileen Nixon
8 months ago
Hope you have bought the whole house and not just ‘your’ flat. Unless you agreed with the landlord that you will renovate the whole area,I would leave well alone!
User
8 months ago
Red is an opulent colour and I think could be made to look modern with fresh white walls and a black handrail. Good luck with the new project.
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
Yes we bought the whole building - obviously couldn't paint the stairs if it was part owned 😂
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
Honestly the hall is very dingy and dates and probably my photos make it look nicer than it is! 🙈
Jonathan
8 months ago
last modified: 8 months ago
Perhaps you can find a wallpaper that makes the carpet colour look purposeful
Daisy England
8 months ago
If you can’t decide on a wall colour because of the colour of the carpet which is dated then l think you need to look at replacing it perhaps with a neutral mid or dark grey otherwise won’t you keep looking at it wondering if you did the right thing by keeping it.
PRO
Katie-Eleanor Art. (New account)
8 months ago
Thank you for initiating this discussion on the red stair carpet. If you're aiming for a modern ambiance, I would like to suggest a potential approach. Consider painting the walls a deep, rich green shade. This choice would introduce an element of darkness and contribute to a modern vibe within the space. THe contrasting effect between the dark green walls and the vibrant red carpet would allow the red to truly stand out and make a bold statment.

I hope this suggestion resonates with your vision for the space. Feel free to share your thoughts or ask any further questions.

Best regards,

Katie Eleanor
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
@Daisy - long term it's going, ha ha. But it's going to cost a lot of money I reckon due to the length of it. There are 3 sets of stairs and 2 hallways full of the stuff 🙈
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
@Katie thank you. Do you mean paint just the lower parts of the wall in the deeper colour?
PRO
Katie-Eleanor Art. (New account)
8 months ago
You could paint the whole walls or just the lower parts, either would look brilliant.
Picasso
8 months ago
I was going to suggest green too. I did it the other way round, painted the walls a glorious green and then struggled to find a carpet which worked in daylight and in artificial light. In the end I went for red carpet as a contrast and love it. You can be more dramatic in rooms/spaces you don’t spend a lot of time in whereas it might be a bit overwhelming in a sitting room for example — unless it was very large, of course.
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
Good idea! @Sarah U-S, thank you!
Betty Boo
8 months ago
I’m not convinced about the red/green combination (or red and black to be honest!) I suspect this may not be your forever home Tani H-S as you have renovated others in the past but unless you love the red carpet (?) is it worth basing the whole colour scheme around it. Perhaps Picasso can show us some photos?
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
@Betty Boo - indeed it won't be our forever home. Im not sure we will ever have one as I'm a bit of a nomad, ha ha.

However, this will be an investment so if we do decide to leave we will still likely rent it out for the income.

We are refreshing all the apts in the building and updating them and so I want the hallway - as first impressions - to be less 80's B&B. It's hard with all the textured wallpaper but at least the top part is stripey so less offensive! It's not to my taste at all as I like clean walls, deep colours etc.

But cost is a factor so we can't afford to replace the carpet in the next few years so I really want to make the most of it and modernise it as best as I can.

We might remove the section from the entry hall and put some patterned tile or vinyl down there with an entry rug to brighten that section up as its affordable and carpet in the hall with weather and mud is not ideal! Lol.
Betty Boo
8 months ago
Completely understand your thinking now Tani, thank you for going to the trouble of replying. Your idea of laying a vinyl in the hallway is a great idea, much more practical.
Having seen your previous renovations I’m sure you’ll do wonders with this place too. Wishing you all the best.
V CM
8 months ago
I used F&B India Yellow in my last house in a room with red accents. I loved it.
Juliet Docherty
8 months ago
Red is such a dominant colour, it works as an accent but it can appear overpowering. Personally I would replace it, but that is because I dislike strong coloured carpets.

However, if you like the dark look with strong colours then this blog might interest you.

https://www.theidlehandsblog.co.uk/my-striped-stair-runner-everything-you-need-to-know/
Picasso
8 months ago
I’ll have to hoover first before posting photos!
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
@Picasso - what do you mean? We have just moved in but I don't think the carpet has many bits on it - it's flecked though? 😕
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
@Colourhappy that striped one with the pink around it would be amazing 😂 😍 A runner effect would be incredible but I'm also a realist after living in my previous dark painted house and know that it's a full time job dusting and hoovering those painted floors LOL. I will have 3 apts to clean as well so going to have to stick to edge to edge carpet (be it striped or patterned which I like as it also hides a multitude of sins!).

I'm basically just needing help to paint around it in a modern colour scheme so we can live with it for a few years until we can afford to replace it. We have the whole building to do excluding our own place so it's not as important compared to the flats.

Im thinking more charcoal or inky blues - not sure about greens if I'm honest. But just on the bottom of the walls for now and the bannister handrail only.

What do you think colour wise?

Thank you
Tani H-S
Original Author
8 months ago
@Picasso - sorry I realise you meany you will have to hoover your room before posting pics 😂 I thought you meant I should have hoovered 🤣🤣

Think I need glasses! Lol.
Sonia
7 months ago
Just glanced round my sitting room and I have a red Persian rug and pale sage green walls. I think it works in a traditional way………
Juliet Docherty
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
Don't paint the walls black.

The only colour I would consider with this carpet would be a greige. A stone colour with some depth and warmth would complement the red. Darker at the bottom, lighter above.

Red and white is harsh, red and black even worse. Red and warm stone colours seems to be a good way of softening the harshness of red, but as mentioned before it's normally used as an accent colour and so in such a large dose is quite the statement.

I would keep the spindles pale and the handrail the colour it is. Replace the carpet with sisal or something striped and paint the walls a warm neutral. Classic and timeless and shouldn't date.
Eileen Nixon
7 months ago
Do people who comment ever read the initial query, she can’t afford to replace the carpet, see original enquiry, what can she do to stop it looking like an old B&B? Compare and contrast!
Juliet Docherty
7 months ago
'I would' replace the carpet. Trying to match things to something you don't like that is hard to get right is potentially a costly mistake. I think you would have to like something to a certian degree to keep it. A similar issue crops up with those tiled fireplaces from the thirties.
PRO
Attention2detail
7 months ago
Hi there, Congratulations on your new home! It sounds like you have a lot of exciting projects ahead of you.

I think you're right that the red carpet is a bit of a challenge, but I think it's definitely possible to make it look modern and stylish. Here are a few ideas:
- Paint the walls a dark grey or a very dark colour that will contact red. This will help to ground the red carpet and make it look more sophisticated.
- Paint the handrails a dark grey or black as well. This will create a cohesive look and make the space feel more modern.
- Add some pops of colour with artwork, accessories, and furniture. This will help to offset the boldness of the red carpet and create a more visually interesting space.
- If you're feeling really ambitious, you could even replace the carpet with a more modern option. But if you're on a budget, I think painting the walls and handrails is a great way to update the space without having to spend a lot of money.
Here are a few specific colors that I think would work well with the red carpet:
- Dark grey: This is a classic choice that will never go out of style. It's also a good option if you want to create a more dramatic look.
- Black: This is a bolder choice, but it can be very chic if done right. (Main wall)
- Charcoal grey: This is a more muted grey that is still stylish and modern.
- Navy blue: This is a great our colour lif you want to add a touch of colour lnto the space.
- Teal: This is another colourful option that would look great with the red carpet.
I hope these ideas help
Tani H-S
Original Author
7 months ago
Ah those lovely tiled fireplaces, ha ha

I'm trying hard to imagine anyone who likes those 🤣

It will get replaced at some point but not for a few years until we have reaped some ££ back to pay for it as we have the 4 flats to refurb and the carpet - although not to our taste, is in really good condition and not old. It's almost a modern carpet in some ways but just clashes with the colour scheme.
Sonia
7 months ago
Tani if you’re going to be a landlady then you need to keep the carpet, paint the walls with a washable paint and that’s it. Go neutral as I think a big contrast looks grim (as colourhappy says). Why spend a fortune re-carpeting to then have it possibly ruined?
Eileen Nixon
7 months ago
At last, some sense from Sonia
Tani H-S
Original Author
7 months ago
Thank you everyone!

Food for thought. I will have a play around with some colours and see what works in the grey/griege tones available.

The white is v start and the pale grey lower wall is OK but not much of a contrast with the white.

All the lovely pics seem to be runners and not full carpets which always look better, ha ha.

I will avoid black though! 😂
Picasso
7 months ago
Tani, you’re right. It’s me who needs to hoover!!
Pauline Luxford
7 months ago
Sonia, I love your Sage Green walls. I've been searching for this colour without success. Can I ask what this is please?
Sonia
7 months ago
Hi Pauline, it’s F&B Cromarty. My room is NE facing and yet it never feels too cool.
Pauline Luxford
7 months ago
Its absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for replying.

New project! What colour goes with red stairs??

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