There is no ‘right’ answer for this one. Depending on the width of your runner, larger scale patterns may not show enough repeat. There is a chance you can lose the pattern altogether. Smaller patterns tend to read as textures. Customers are sometimes concerned smaller patterns will be dizzying or distracting on stairs, but it often works the opposite! With stairs that have many pie shaped steps or landings, it’s important to be clear how the pattern will sit on the stairs. Here is an image of a simple pattern that can be complicated with all of the pie steps.