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A stair runner is a length of carpet installed in the center of the staircase, either on top of or in between hard materials installed on the staircase. The carpet doesn’t cover the entire length of the steps, making stair runners an aesthetic choice. Thankfully, if you want hard materials on your stairs to show through, a stair runner will make it safer, as the primary area you walk on will be less slippery thanks to the carpet. 

Whether you install flooring before or after kitchen cabinets depends primarily on the type of flooring you are using. For materials like hardwood, tile, and sheet flooring, the best practice is to install the flooring first. This ensures the cabinets are installed at the correct height and on a stable surface. However, you should not install cabinets on top of floating floors, such as laminate or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). These types of flooring need room to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Placing heavy cabinets on top can restrict this movement, potentially causing the floor to buckle and making the cabinets unstable. For floating floors, install the cabinets first and then lay the flooring up to them. Other reasons to consider installing cabinets before the flooring include saving money on materials (since you won't need flooring under the cabinets) and avoiding potential damage to your new floor during cabinet installation. Additionally, installing cabinets directly on the subfloor might prevent voiding your flooring's warranty.

The life expectancy of your laminate flooring is 10 to 30 years, depending on how well you maintain it. Unlike hardwood flooring, you cannot refinish laminate to prolong its lifespan. So while laminate is more budget-friendly, it does not last as long as hardwood. You can increase the lifespan of your floor by maintaining a regular cleaning schedule, using the right cleaning products, and wiping up spills promptly.

Hardwood offers the highest ROI at around 75%. Engineered hardwood, tile, reclaimed wood, and laminate also increase a home’s value but with lower ROIs. Lighter tiles tend to increase a home’s value slightly more than darker tiles. Taking the ROI into account when you choose flooring can increase your home value and allow you to recoup some or all of the cost to install it.