Runner Rugs

Runners are the unsung heroes of rugs. Long perceived as the skinny, homely area rug you'd only find relegated to musty hallways, the runner these days gets laurels and spotlights for the huge helper it is all around the house. Here are some prime uses for runners:

• Make entryways more inviting: A runner adds patterns, colors, textures, and more to every entry. From front door to back to walk-in garage doorways, you'll get infusions of style plus usefulness with a runner, which doesn't have to be as long as a hallway but can be as short as your space requires.
• Go washable in dining rooms, kitchens, and pantries: When they simply need to be machine washed after taking on food messes of all kinds, kitchen runners are the magic weapons of today's domestic gods and goddesses.
• Bring deep comfort to tight spaces: Runner rugs come in various lengths and, as a result, easily bring the appeal and comfort of a floor covering to narrow spaces like beside beds, in front of craft or workbenches, and (formerly) awkward transition spaces in open-concept rooms.

Need a bit more help finding the runner that's right for you? We'll happily help you pick the right runner on our rug blog.

How can runner rugs be used outside?

Outdoor runner rugs are so convenient and helpful, and they are more stylish than traditional outdoor carpet or plain mats. Outdoor runner rugs are designed and manufactured specifically to spend their time out in the elements, but also are stylish and key foundational aspects to the decor of your patio, deck, and balcony. Place a long runner in front of the outdoor furniture on your front porch and you'll invite folks to sit and stay a spell. Use a short runner as a bigger, prettier doormat for welcoming your guests. And place a runner on your back patio in narrow spaces like frequently used walkways, in front of your (beloved) barbecue grill, and outside your sliding glass door, where the runner will trap dirt before it's tracked inside. Read our guide to picking rug sizes for ourdoor spaces for more helpful information and cool ideas.

What are stair runners, and how do you use them?

If you have an uncarpeted set of stairs and would like to lay down a beautiful runner in order to add visual appeal as well as the associated traction and padding of a runner, there are a number of important factors to consider. We cover these in our Expert's Guide to Everything Stair Runners, which includes deciding whether a stair runner is the right choice, picking the right size for your staircase, safely installing the runner yourself our deciding to hire a professional, and more. While installing a stair runner is more complex than simply rolling out a runner rug in your hallway or foyer, it is also such a great way to bring impressive design flair to your stairway. After all, you'll find runner rugs at Rugs USA in a wide variety of colors, patterns, materials, and styles. Imagine the life you could breathe into your stairs with a Persian, geometric, farmhouse, or other style of runner. We do recommend that you bear in mind the full length of the stairs (as though they were laid out flat) as well as a thin enough runner to easily be affixed to your stairway.