How To Choose the Right Runner Rug For Your Hallway

Whether it highlights the entrance to your home or decorates the stretch of floor that leads to your bedroom, a hallway runner rug can be a piece of art. Buy a beautiful runner, and it will become the hero of your hallway, says Bob Cadry, of fine rug retailer Cadrys Rugs. But how to pick the right hall runner? Here are four tips to keep in mind when picking the right hall runner and some ways to keep it clean.

Measure your hallway.

Dimensions come first when you’re looking for a hall runner. Don’t forget to factor in door clearance and any furniture you need to accommodate when you’re measuring up. Think, too, about how much floor you wish to have showing at either side of your rug. For a three foot-wide hall, Bob recommends a runner that is 2.5 to three feet wide.

Decide on thickness.

The ideal weave density of your runner depends on whether your floors are timber, stone or tile, or carpeted. A flat-woven kilim runner may, for example, not sit well on a wall-to-wall carpeted floor.

Choose your style.

Many homes open directly onto a hallway, so it’s important this area sets the mood. If the architecture is formal, perhaps a runner with a traditional design will work. If it’s more contemporary, you could go for something bolder. “Look at hallways in an adventurous light and use color and design in a way you may not have the opportunity to elsewhere in the home,” says Bob.

How do you keep a hall runner clean?

There is a lot of foot traffic on hall runners, and they need regular cleaning to keep in top shape. Handknotted wool rugs are extremely hard-wearing and can be professionally cleaned, vacuumed or even beaten. On a tightly woven runner, the dust will sit on the surface so a weekly vacuum will do.

Top Tips for Hall Runners:

• Rugs on hard surfaces should always have a non-slip rubber pad beneath. Bob recommends non-slip rubber padding be placed under the entire runner, not just at the edges.
• In a showroom, ensure you’re happy with the feel of a runner on your fingertips and beneath your feet — take your shoes off and walk on it.
• Rotate your runner to even out wear and sun exposure.
• “A hallway is often an isolated space, so decorate it in a way that will put a smile on your face. You are, after all, buying art for your floor!” says Bob.

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.