Need opinions, please!

So we have a staircase. As you know. We had the treads refinished when all the hardwood floors were redone, and literally my first time walking down them…I fell. All the way down. And I am not the only one who has fallen down, because these suckers are SLICK. 

We have had them covered up with protective paper stuff for ages now, but we are obviously (yay!) getting closer to ripping paper up to start cleaning in here. And we are facing a dilemma. This is where I need your help. 

Because of the slipperiness of the stairs, we are considering putting stair tread rug things on them, or putting a runner up the length of the stairs. Some things to consider: 

• The baseboard is gray. 
• The risers of the stairs will be ballet white (same as the walls).
•  The banister is original dark hardwood. 
• The treads of the stairs are the same lighter, cherry-ish color as the hardwood floors. 
• And there is no carpet in the house other than the bonus room above the garage (i.e. nowhere near the stairs). We will have rugs through the house. 

So here are a few views of the stairs, currently covered with ugly dirty paper & blue painters tape (so use your imagination a little bit)

from downstairs entry up to landing

90 degree turn at landing and up the rest of the stairs

a view from the upstaurs back down to the landing

So. What do you prefer?

Option 1:

Runner up the stairs

I snagged this picture from Dear Lillie’s Instagram feed (you should follow her blog, btw). We wouldn’t necessarily go with a print this big, but it gives a good visual. Again, ours has a landing and a turn, which also makes a runner a little more complicated. But I like this option because it’s a more finished look and we could have a little fun with the pattern. 

Option 2:

Stair tread rugs

This is just an image I snagged from Google. We would (hopefully obviously) look for something prettier than these, but you get the idea. The appeal of this option is that it lets more of the stairs show, and is also a little bit more temporary than a big runner. 

Option 3:

Leave them rugless. I like this option because it shows off the natural wood. But I also don’t exactly feel like falling down the stairs is the best way to start my morning on a daily basis. 

this shows the treads refinished

So. What’s your vote?? Which option do you think is best for us?? And regardless, if you have a favorite place to get rugs, tell me please!!