I really feel prefer it’s a distinctly British design quirk to have some enjoyable whenever you’re designing your stairs, particularly when you love shade. I’ve seen painted stairs, stencilled stairs, and stairs with unbelievable stair runners doing the arduous work, all to make this utilitarian a part of the house a bit extra enjoyable.
Rainbow variations of stair runners aren’t a brand new concept, however they’ve typically been achieved utilizing bespoke means, asking carpet firms to piece collectively completely different colours, or by taking over an advanced DIY. Well, it is 2025 and colourful, characterful design reigns supreme — and a brand new concept like this Ombré Rainbow Stair Runner from Dunelm (that is gone viral, no much less) makes the entire mission so much simpler.
If there’s one pattern that is outlined the final 5 years, it is colourful maximalism. Those stark, millennial grey houses of the 2010s are nicely and really within the rearview. And of their place? Vibrant areas brimming with persona and pleasure. It’s hardly stunning, then, that this rainbow-hued stair runner has caught our consideration — proof that daring shade and self-expression have formally taken middle stage in residence design.
With a phenomenal chromatic ombré mix (a pattern we reported on earlier this yr at Livingetc), this full-spectrum staircase runner concept delivers the proper dose of dopamine to brighten the dullest winter days. And whereas this particular model has sadly (however maybe not unsurprisingly) offered out since I first got here throughout it, to assist, I’ve discovered some various ombré rugs to buy within the meantime.
Dunelm
Ombré Rainbow Stair Runner
Conjure up photos of rainbow rugs in your head, they usually’re most likely garishly vivid and gaudy. Well, not this one. Thanks to the blended fibers and the gradient ombré impact, the colourful tones mix seamlessly into each other, leading to refined adjustments that make the rug really feel extra refined. It’s a splendidly distinctive technique to embrace the ombré pattern in your personal residence.
Great care has clearly been taken within the design, too, with every shade block the proper width to correspond to a regular stair riser so that every step boasts a phenomenal new shade. It’s additionally been woven from premium luxurious chenille, that means it gives a tender, luxurious texture underfoot in addition to a phenomenal tonal show.
And it is available in two sizes, relying in your steps: 60cm x 600cm and 60cm x 800cm.
Honestly, if Dunelm’s stair runner hadn’t loved its semi-viral social media second, I dare say it most likely would not be on my radar. Fortunately, it has been catapulted to fame after Ruby Summers shared a photograph of her staircase. Her submit has since obtained virtually 10,000 likes (and counting), with many customers keen to buy the exact same runner for their very own residence.
As you might have guessed, Ruby is a lover of all issues shade. You can just about take into account her the poster woman for dopamine decor. “I’ve made it my life mission to be sure that, since I can’t management all issues in life, bringing pleasure and happiness into our house is a should,” she tells me. “The stairs are the very first thing you see whenever you get up and the very last thing you see earlier than going to mattress, so I wished one thing that will make you smile and provides a way of calm, in addition to not being too vivid.”
Dunelm’s tonal stair runner is the proper addition to creator, Ruby Summers’ chromatic residence.
(Image credit score: Ruby Summers)
Feeling impressed? Here are six different chromatic ombré rugs I’m loving that promise to fill your own home with shade (and are nonetheless out there to buy proper now).
Rainbow tones aren’t for everybody. If you’re keen on the concept of a gradient rug however choose to stay to at least one shade palette, attempt the Hotellrum Rug from IKEA. Shifting from a deep emerald inexperienced via teal and sea inexperienced to white, it boasts lovely cool tones that completely complement heat impartial partitions.
Ruggable
Spectrum Rainbow Rug
Styled thoughtfully, rainbow shades is usually a stylish and uplifting technique to enhance with shade. If you desire a rug that is just like Dunelm’s however with brighter, pastel tones, do that possibility from Ruggable. Its saccharine hues give it a extra playful edge, making it good for a playroom or a cheery entryway.
Metro Lane
Ausbon Ombre Red Area Rug
Some ombré rugs look extra like summary artistic endeavors than ground coverings, and this Wayfair design is certainly one of them. Its dreamy gradient of violet, pink, and plaster pink flows in tender, uneven waves, harking back to watercolor brushstrokes. It’s like a comforting sundown… which you could stroll throughout.
John Lewis
Multi Ombre Rug
Bring your colourful lounge concepts to life with this space rug from John Lewis. Its smaller blocks of shade create a refined, progressive gradient, introducing surprising hues. Green melts into pink, then mauve, and again once more, with a band of yellow at one finish for a contemporary, playful twist.
Designers Guild
Capisoli Teal Standard Rug
Prefer wealthy, moody tones to a full spectrum of shade? Try this ombré rug from The Designers Guild. A commencement of shade from wealthy, deep teal to chill, blue-gray makes for a complicated ground masking, with texture and depth dropped at life with handwoven fibers. It’s additionally out there in a lighter blue colorway for a softer, airier look.
Ruggable
Slate Blue Rug dough
The finest rugs do not simply supply heat and luxury underfoot; they assist to anchor your whole house. Rugs are an effective way to introduce foundational colours for the remainder of your room’s palette. If you need to ease into this pattern, this model is an efficient manner — I envision white partitions, steely mild blue as a secondary shade, and navy as an accent.
Whether you are a dedicated maximalist or a fan of subtler neutrals, Dunelm’s Rainbow Stair Runner is a playful technique to make an announcement with out overwhelming a room you spend loads of time in.
As winter approaches, I’m looking for new methods to inject vibrancy and pleasure into my residence, and tonal ombré rugs like these ones really feel like the proper answer — colourful, inexpensive, and simple to swap out when spring arrives. Once you have discovered your new ground cowl, all that is left to do is brush up on the knowledgeable recommendation for adorning with rugs for a heat, cozy house that feels effortlessly inviting.