Everything You Need to Know About Stair Clips
At Stair Rods Direct, we are committed to providing expert information on all things stair and carpet accessories. Stair clips are currently experiencing something of a revival and can provide a flawless finish to your stair runners or fitted stair carpet.
Read our full guide on what exactly stair carpet clips are below, including their benefits. We’ve also included a handy guide on how to fit stair carpet clips and the styles that we offer.
What are stair clips?
Stair clips, also called stair clip grips or stair carpet clips, were a popular accessory in the Victorian era for securing carpet to staircases. Typically made of brass, chrome or other metal, Victorian stair clips were not only ornamental but entirely functional. However, modern fitting methods meant that antique stair clips fell out of fashion for a time.
But contemporary stair clips are now experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and it’s clear why as they offer an exquisite, traditional touch to any modern stair runner. Here at Stair Rods Direct, we are helping to revive this lavish style with our stair carpet clips to give you a distinctive, quality finish to your staircases and enhance your home’s interior design.
Stair clips are different to stair rods in that they don’t span the full width of the stair runner, but instead only clip around the sides of the runner, extending out just a couple of inches. The clips are bolted on to the stair treads around each end of the runner, providing a secure fit and stylish finishing effect.
Why are stair clips used?
There are a number of benefits to choosing stair clips:
- Quicker to install than than stair rods
The simpler design and smaller size of stair clips make their installation more of a straightforward process than full stair rods. There is no need to cut stair clips to length like there is for stair rods. We do provide a full guide on how to fit stair rods, too.
- Suited to smaller budgets
The smaller size of stair clips mean that they can also be cheaper, simply because there is not as much material.
- Pared-back but beautiful aesthetic
Stair carpet clips provide an authentically traditional elegance to any staircase but their smaller design means this is achieved with more subtlety than the full decorative look of stair rods.
What styles of stair clips are available?
Contemporary stair clips can come in a number of different designs, providing you with ample opportunity to find the right one to compliment the aesthetic you’re going for.
Any modern stair clips will almost always be made of metal in a traditional styling: for example, chrome stair clips are a popular option. Stair clips are always beautifully shaped and etched with elegant detailing, providing an antique styling that can really elevate a stair carpet runner.
At Stair Rods Direct, we are proud to offer stunning Victorian stair carpet clips, made with traditional manufacturing methods in the style of antique stair clips to ensure the highest quality and authenticity. Our solid brass stair carpet clips come in a range of elegant finishes including:
- Antique brass
- Black
- Chrome
- Pewter
- Polished brass
- Satin brass
- Satin nickel
View our full range of stair clips.
How to fit stair carpet clips
Fitting stair clips is thankfully an easy process. Here is our step-by-step guide to help you achieve a smooth, safe installation.
Before you begin:
- Note that you should fit your stair clips before you fit your stair runner. Identify the type of bracket you have as that will also help.
- Stair carpet clips are placed at the end of the stair runner, in the crease where the tread and the riser meet.
The materials you’ll need are:
- The stair carpet clips you’ve chosen
- A screwdriver and screws
- A tape measure
- A pencil to mark your measurements with
How to fit your stair carpet clips:
- The first step is to use your pencil to mark the width of your stair carpet runner. The best place to do this is at the back of the step, where the tread meets the riser.
- Measure how thick your runner is and then mark this on the riser, too. Remember to allow for underlay, which is an important safety addition to stair carpet runners.
- Now match up the bottom of your stair clip to the previous mark you made on the riser. Ensure the bottom is straight!
- Outline the base plate of the stair clip then turn the plate to locate its screw holes.
- Mark these holes as this is where you’ll be drilling the pilot holes.
- Now, you just need to drill the holes and attach the stair clips. Try not to press the drill too hard as it could split your staircase.
Find the perfect accessory to compliment your staircase today
If you want a subtle but beautiful way to compliment your stair carpet runner, stair clips are the perfect option. Elegant and traditional, they add a distinguished finish to any stair runner design. Browse through our options today and find the perfect style for your needs.
Stair Rods Direct is your one-stop shop for hallway and stair carpet accessories. We offer a large selection of fantastically made products that will maximise your home’s hallway design and add a touch of luxury, including a range of stair rods, door bars, carpet studs and much more. Our wide range of how-to guides also provide expert advice along with plenty of design inspiration.