Choosing the perfect rug to complete your space can be overwhelming with all the patterns, colors, and styles available today. However, our Ultimate Rug Guide can help make this process a whole lot easier. We know some spaces can be trickier than others when it comes to finding the perfect rug, especially in the hallways of your home. Read on to learn how to outfit your hallways with the perfect runner rugs, creating an elegant and inviting space.
What is a Runner?
Runner rugs are a go-to for many interior designers looking to fill long, narrow spaces. These types of rugs are great for giving the illusion of elongating a particular area. Simply put, runners allow you to transform those long narrow spaces in your home that you’re not quite sure what to do with.
The Most Common Purposes of a Runner
- Aesthetic Transformation: Runner rugs are a great option when looking to transform a space. They effortlessly enhance the decor and overall aesthetic of those narrow empty spaces of a home.
- Protecting the Flooring in High Traffic Areas: Not only do runners transform a space by bringing texture and decor to empty areas, but they can help to protect the flooring in high-traffic zones. It is easy for floors in high-traffic areas to get damaged from wear and tear. For example, runners are often entryway rugs because so many feet walk across your home’s entry. Placing a durable rug in those areas is an effective way to manage this common problem, and a washable rug means you can easily clean your runners too.
- Guiding Guests Towards Designated Areas: Along with protecting floors and creating an aesthetic transformation, a high-quality runner rug can be used to guide guests towards designated areas. A well-placed runner rug tricks the mind into thinking a certain destination awaits at the end. A runner rug is a must-have rug, providing elegance, art, and guidance to any home.
The Most Common Places to Have a Runner
The Kitchen:
Runner rugs can be used in a variety of spaces in a home. One commonplace to find a runner rug is in the kitchen. Rugs in the kitchen have become very trendy as of late. Placing a runner rug between the cabinets and the island will transform any kitchen in a snap. Discover more about kitchen runner rugs.
The Staircase
Placing a runner rug on the staircase is another common practice. A high-quality runner rug can add class and luxury to a beautiful hardwood staircase. Do remember the runner rug needs to be affixed to the staircase for safety to minimize the risk of falling on slippery hardwood stairs.
In Open Floor Plans
Nearly every open floor plan can benefit from a runner rug. Large open floor plans are not separated by a wall or partition. Having a nice runner rug can help to define different spaces and guide visitors around the home.
In the Hallway
One of the most common places to have a runner rug is in the hallway. Hallway runners are great to place in the long narrow corridors that lead to other rooms in your house. With a long hallway runner, you can transform a boring entryway into a dramatic and elegant entrance to welcome guests. Runner rugs work well in transforming a variety of spaces.
These are the most common places to find runner rugs. However, let your imagination run wild when it comes to runners! You may find a runner to be exactly what you were subconsciously dreaming of as a bedside rug along one (or both!) sides of your bed. And larger entryways are made more welcoming with runners.
Does My Hallway Need a Runner Rug?
Runner rugs transform spaces, but does my hallway really need one? The answer is simple: yes! Hallways can be dark and dreary. They also receive a ton of foot traffic over time. Hallway runners can brighten up these areas of the home, transforming them into warm and inviting spaces. Long hallway runners can also protect your floors from the common wear and tear they receive after lots of foot traffic. Ultimately, every hallway could benefit from a luxurious and durable hallway runner.
How Do You Place a Runner in a Hallway?
Finding the perfect hallway runner for your space is easier than you might think. While you will have tons of patterns, textures, and colors to choose from, the two most important aspects to know when choosing a runner rug are how long it should be and how much of the hallway it should cover. Once you’ve figured out these two elements, you can get to work finding the perfect hallway runner for your space.
How Long Should a Runner Be in a Hallway?
Standard hallway runners measure between two and three feet wide and run between 6 and 14 feet long. It is ideal to choose a runner that matches the shape of the hallway. Keep in mind that it is also best that the length of the runner never extends into the space of another room.
Always measure the length of your hallway before purchasing your new runner. These measurements will help you in selecting the perfect hallway runner for your space. For more guidance on how to choose a hallway runner, check out our story The Long and the Short of It: Your Guide to Buying the Right Runner.
How Much of a Hallway Should a Runner Cover?
While length is important with hallway runners, so is the rug’s width. Regardless of whether you chose long hallway runners or something smaller, it’s best to always make sure the runner is in the center of the hallway. The hallway runner should help define the path of the hallway, but it should never cover the entire space.
It is a good practice to leave at least four to six inches of space on all sides of the runner. You never want your hallway runner to touch the walls of the hallway. For further instruction on how to choose the perfect rug size, read Rug Size: Our Guide to Getting It Right.
Hallway Runner Style Options
After taking measurements to figure out what size of runner rug you need, you get to move on to the real fun: choosing your runner rug style! Hallway runners come in almost every pattern and texture you can imagine. You can make a bold statement with the style you select for your hallway runner. Some common style options to consider are:
- Fiber type
- Color scheme
- Pattern aesthetic
Now It’s Time to Choose the Perfect Hallway Runner
Hopefully, you now have all the knowledge needed to pick out the perfect hallway runner for your space. With endless options of fiber type, color options, and aesthetic patterns to choose from, finding the perfect runner rug for your space will be a fun adventure.
Make sure to take your time and shop around to find the best hallway runner for your space. The right runner rug can truly transform any space!
