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diy home projects

DIY Stair Runner with Corner Turn

February 21, 2023DIY Woodworking

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

This staircase makeover is almost done! The last step in the process is adding a DIY stair runner to the now wooden steps. I call this a DIY runner because this tutorial will show you how to join two runners together to make a mitered corner for a staircase landing. This really gives this a nice finished effect.

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

How to create a DIY Stair Runner

My staircase has a right turn with a small landing in the middle of it. I knew that once I had removed the carpet from these stairs and stained the pine treads I would want a runner rug down the middle of the staircase.

The turn was proving to be a problem when shopping for a runner. I could have put two separate runners on each section of the stairs and then a standalone rug on the landing, but I thought one cohesive runner would look better, and it turned out to be really easy. Here’s how:

Purchase two runner rugs

Measure your staircase length and width, then find a runner that you like. This was difficult for me because given my staircase width which was only 36″ at the narrowest point, I didn’t want a runner wider than 2′ so that the wood would still show on the sides of the runner.

I ended up finding this runner from Amazon and it’s perfect. I wanted a flatweave rug for a low profile, and wanted it to be washable so that I could easily use my carpet spot cleaner on it without issue.

Once you have all of your measurements and your carpets ordered, it’s time to cut and join the two runners together to make an l-turn.

Cut and join the runners to make a turn

Overlap the runner ends to create a 90 degree turn, or an L turn.

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

Mark where the runners overlap one another at the inside corner of the turn.

Cut diagonally from that inside overlap point to the outside top corner of the rug.

Now each runner will have a diagonal cut at the end, that when matched up create an L turn.

Using carpet joining tape, place a section of tape under the seam and press down so that the runners are now joined together. That’s it! Time to install your DIY stair runner onto your stairs now.

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

How to install carpet runner on stairs

Your DIY stair runner is ready to be attached to the staircase. I like to add carpet tape and a carpet pad under the runner on each tread.

I do this by cutting a runner pad to fit under the runner on each tread and then layering with carpet tape (this is different from the carpet joining tape we used to join the seams above).

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

The layering on each tread goes:

carpet tape > rug pad > carpet tape > runner

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

So, on each tread add a strip of carpet tape, then the section of rug pad, then another strip of carpet tape. Additionally I placed a strip of carpet tape on the riser above the tread as well.

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

Use a staple gun to install the DIY stair runner

Place the runner on the stairs and do a ‘dry run’ to make sure that all looks good, lines up, and is long enough before you begin stapling.

Tip: make spacer blocks out of scrap wood to place on each side of the runner, this will ensure your placement stays the same and lined up on each tread.

I started with the landing to make sure that was square and where I wanted it to sit on the landing. Staple along the edges with a staple gun.

Continue working up or down, stapling the runner under the bullnose overhang of the stair tread, and then along the back of the stair tread.

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.
This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

This placement of staples will ensure a nice secure fit of the runner, but there won’t be any staples right where foot traffic will be.

Continue stapling, pulling tight as you go. Once you get to the end of the staircase, simply cut the runner off at the end and staple in place. You can burn the end of the rug with a lighter to keep the ends from fraying.

This DIY stair runner tutorial will explain how to take two runner rugs and join a cut diagonal seam to make a corner turn for a landing.

Add any trim at the base of the staircase and your DIY stair runner with a turn is installed! This is a much more cost effective way to add a runner to a staircase with a turn than purchasing a custom stair runner.

Related Posts

How to remove carpet from stairs

Painting and Staining Pine Stair Treads

DIY Stair Risers on a Budget

Game Room Makeover: Fall One Room Challenge 2021 (Week 1)

September 30, 2021DIY Home Decor, DIY Woodworking, One Room Challenge

I’m so excited to participate in the Fall One Room Challenge for 2021! I’ll be doing a game room makeover (and it will be ready just in time for Christmas). Included will be some much needed storage and organization and a handful of fun DIY projects.

This game room makeover is part of the One Room Challenge. It will include DIY building projects, wall treatment, and more! #oneroomchallenge #BHGORC #gameroommakeover #diyprojects

What’s the One Room Challenge?

The One Room Challenge happens twice a year in the Spring and the Fall, and is an online event where design influencers makeover entire rooms and document their progress on their blogs or on Instagram.

I’ll be participating here on my blog with weekly updates and projects throughout the 8 weeks, as well as in posting on my Instagram account. (If you aren’t following me on IG, head over and follow because I post almost daily on stories with tutorial and walk throughs of various projects).

I encourage you to check out the One Room Challenge site and browse the blog there as well, you will find so much inspiration from fellow designers and DIYers!

Game Room Makeover Plan and Budget

I know you’re probably ready to know what the space currently looks like and what my plan is! I can’t wait to add some functionality to this space.

This room was actually the location of my very first DIY project in this house, I made DIY Built-in Shelving for board games and baskets of kids toys.

However, the other side of the room is the video game and art display area, and it’s a disaster. I’m ready to tackle it and make the whole room complete!

Game Room Before

I feel like I need a disclaimer for this picture, I didn’t clean up the space because I wanted to show you how it looks on a ‘normal’ day. This will give you a sense of why I’m building the space that I am planning.

When planning out a project I make a bulleted list of what the space is used for, exactly what is currently being stored there, etc. This way, in my planning I can incorporate all of these into the build.

I know, it’s bad.

In taking inventory of this space, I need:

  • sufficient counter space for easy charging of consoles and controllers for video games
  • bins for video games
  • seating
  • art storage
  • artwork display
  • desk seating

And here is the wall opposite this one where I did the built in shelving.

Let’s make these two walls match a bit better!

New Game Room Makeover Design

I’m so excited about this new game room makeover design, it will add storage and functionality and will be really streamlined (and cool).

My kids are currently 6, 8 and 10 and my hope is that the design will carry them through the next handful of years of entertaining friends and hanging out together.

Game Room Design Mockup

This game room makeover is part of the One Room Challenge. It will include DIY building projects, wall treatment, and more!

The new plan will include a wall to wall built in for desk space and storage, along with artwork display and a ‘brick’ wall.

There will be a handful of DIY projects to tackle here to make this space pretty on a budget. Included will be:

  • DIY built in media console and desk
  • faux brick wall
  • DIY picture frame shelving
  • DIY faux marble countertop
  • (possibly an interior french door makeover)

I hope you join along the next 8 weeks to see the transformation of this room!

Game Room Makeover Budget

I’ll be honest I don’t love talking about money, but, I do know that part of hoping to inspire you to try DIY projects in your own home is giving you an idea of what things cost (and showing you how you can make a big impact on a budget).

So, here is the rough breakdown, and yes, I almost always go over budget so I know budget for extras that I don’t know about yet, ha!

  • unfinished wall cabinets = $310
  • faux brick panels = $115
  • joint compound/liquid nails/etc = $30
  • hardware = $20
  • plywood = $60
  • paint/epoxy/supplies = $50

Total = $585 (rounding up to $600 for small extras)

I’ll be doing this project over 8 weeks as part of the one room challenge, so this helps me break down the budget to spread to out over time as well!

Considering that if I had to have a 12′ console built for this space it would cost much more than that alone, this will be a budget friendly way to renovate this space!

This game room makeover is part of the One Room Challenge. It will include DIY building projects, wall treatment, and more!

Check out all of the posts in this series for progress

  • Week 1: Game Room Makeover Plans and Mood Board (current post)
  • Week 2: Make a Faux Brick Wall
  • Week 3: DIY Built in Gaming Console from Stock Cabinets
  • Week 4: DIY Faux Marble Countertop with Epoxy
  • Week 5: DIY Picture Frame Shelves
  • Week 6: DIY Neon LED Light Sign
  • Week 7: DIY Couch with Stool Seating
  • Week 8: DIY Indoor Climbing Wall
  • Final Game Room Reveal

How to Paint a Brass Fireplace: Quick and Easy

September 23, 2021DIY Home Decor

When we first moved into this house, one of the first DIY home projects that I knew would be quick and easy, but give me a big bang for my buck was painting the outdated, brass fireplace.

Check out how to paint a brass fireplace below, I promise you, it’s super easy. My number one recommendation with this project is to get the right spray paint. You are definitely going to want a high heat tolerant paint if painting a functional fireplace.

This quick and easy DIY tutorial will show you how to paint a brass fireplace. This will update your home immediately! #paintedfireplace #diyhomeprojects #DIYpaintprojects

How to Paint a Brass Fireplace

There are only a few materials for this easy project that you will need, again, pay attention to the type of spray paint you use!

Materials needed:

  • painters tape
  • brown craft paper
  • matte high heat spray paint (I used Rustoleum High Heat Automotive Paint)
  • razor blade (optional)

Grab what you need from Amazon!

What to do:

This quick and easy DIY tutorial will show you how to paint a brass fireplace. This will update your home immediately! #paintedfireplace #diyhomeprojects #DIYpaintprojects

Step 1. Prep the fireplace. I know this seems time consuming but trust me, you are not going to want to get spray paint on your surrounding materials, especially if they are porous like stone or brick. The glass will be more forgiving (see why below).

Thoroughly wash the brass with soap and water to cleanse of any residue and let dry completely.

Prep the space by cutting brown craft paper to size of the glass panels and then large sections to cover the material on the outside of the fireplace.

Tape the paper in place keeping the edge of the tape along the edges of the brass fireplace.

This quick and easy DIY tutorial will show you how to paint a brass fireplace. This will update your home immediately! #paintedfireplace #diyhomeprojects #DIYpaintprojects

Step 2. Use your high heat spray paint to completely cover the brass fireplace.

*Tip: when using spray paint, make short light ‘strokes’ with the sprayer across the surface. This will keep the paint from pooling, resulting in drip marks down your fireplace.

Repeat this process resulting in two coats of the high heat spray paint.

Step 3. Once dry (it will dry quickly) remove all of the tape and the paper from the area. If any spray paint gets on the glass panes, simply take a razor blade and scrape the paint off, it’s like magic!

This quick and easy DIY tutorial will show you how to paint a brass fireplace. This will update your home immediately! #paintedfireplace #diyhomeprojects #DIYpaintprojects

Enjoy your newly painted brass fireplace

You will be amazed at just how much this simple DIY can really modernize and transform your space!

This quick and easy DIY tutorial will show you how to paint a brass fireplace. This will update your home immediately! #paintedfireplace #diyhomeprojects #DIYpaintprojects

Don’t get me wrong, I love a well-placed gold accent in most of my projects, like when I painted this DIY Wall Sconce from a Table Lamp gold, but the brass fireplace is not one of my favorite looks. A classic matte black however looks really updated and sleek. Enjoy your painted fireplace!

More Simple DIYs for your Home:

  • DIY Closet Shelves: Hall Closet Organization on a Budget
  • DIY Tiered Tray for Home Decor
  • Stock Cabinets for Built ins: What they are and where to get them

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Find inspiration for DIY home projects and crafts on a budget! You can usually find me with either a hot glue gun or a can of spray paint in hand 🙂

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Recent Posts

  • 7 Easy DIY Fall Centerpieces
  • Fall House Decoration to Add Warmth
  • DIY Stair Runner with Corner Turn
  • DIY Stair Risers on a Budget
  • Painting and Staining Pine Stair Treads

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Sometimes, you just have to go for it. 🔨 🪚🪛
The number one question I got asked about this pro The number one question I got asked about this project was where this runner was from so I thought it deserved it’s own post: ✔️RUNNER DETAILS
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❇️ it’s from Amazon…and it’s washable 🤯 you can find the link in my bio > shop my pictures OR by checking out my ‘stair runner’ highlight for the direct link
❇️ I bought two 2x12 runners and then cut the ends at a 45° angle and joined the seams with carpet joining tape for the turn (step by step in ‘stair runner’ highlight)
❇️ I have a rug pad cut into strips and attached with carpet tape to each tread under the runner, and the runner is attached with a staple gun- all of these also linked in my @liketoknow.it which can be found in my bio under shop my pictures
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Any other questions I can answer??
Before >>>> After! Are you team carpet or team woo Before >>>> After! Are you team carpet or team wood?? This staircase makeover took a few days but it was quite the budget friendly makeover and I’m happy with the outcome! #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #staircasedesign #staircasemakeover
So tell me…are you team carpet or wood stairs?? So tell me…are you team carpet or wood stairs?? #staircasedesign #staircaserenovation #woodstairs
Adding this runner to the staircase really gave it Adding this runner to the staircase really gave it a nice finishing touch. See how I tackled the right turn in the staircase by cutting and joining the two runners. Find this runner linked in my @liketoknow.it
Here’s what the middle of this #staircasemakeove Here’s what the middle of this #staircasemakeover looks like! The treads are stained and we are making some DIY risers to give it a clean look. Lastly, they need trim and some final touches and they’ll be done! #staircasedesign #diyhomedecor #diyprojects
I really wanted to try to stain these pine treads I really wanted to try to stain these pine treads before just painting them black but my stain just wasn’t coming out right. I tried an idea and ran with it and I’m loving the look of this paint/gel stain combo! This is a progress reel…so let’s see if this plan sticks! Stay tuned :) #staircasedesign #gelstainstairs
I’ve been wanting to rip this carpet up for a wh I’ve been wanting to rip this carpet up for a while now….today is the day I decided I can’t wait any longer. I have more involved plans for this staircase so for now I’ll be doing a budget-friendly update here! Stay tuned to see how it turns out 🙃 #staircasedesign #diyhomedecor #diyprojects #staircaserenovation
I love the look of garland on a mirror, I think it I love the look of garland on a mirror, I think it adds a nice touch to my holiday decor! These @command hooks and clips are perfect for making this a nice easy project that packs a punch! #holidaydecor #christmasdecor #diyhomedecor
I thought I would try something new on my front po I thought I would try something new on my front porch this year because there are just too many holidays to decorate for in a row here. I got this prelit garland from #zulily to use as a base for my porch decor for these next few holidays. I kinda like how it turned out! Plus, I can light it up at night :) #ad #frontporchdecor #falloween #holidaydecor
The board and batten entryway is done! Well…stil The board and batten entryway is done! Well…still the last 5% to do but that’s how my projects go ;) What do you think about the color?? It’s Pashmina by @benjaminmoore #diyhomedecor #boardandbatten #diyblogger
This board and batten entryway is almost done! Che This board and batten entryway is almost done! Check out some tips and tool for paint prep, and painting! #boardandbatten #moderntraditional #modernfarmhouse
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