How to Use Runner Rugs in Your Home

We’ve all seen the scene in movies where a glamorous main character waltzes down a hallway or staircase adorned with a gorgeous carpet runner. runner rugs are a great way to protect your floors and enhance your home’s aesthetic design.

Choose a low-pile or flat-woven runner rug for easy maintenance and cleaning, or opt for a high- or medium-pile rug to add texture to the space. Hallways and entryways are ideal spaces for a runner, because they help guests feel welcome and soften their footsteps.

Hallway

Hallways can be a drab, cold area of the home but a brightly colored runner rug can quickly turn this space around. Not only does it bring warmth, texture and color into the hallway but it also makes it more welcoming and helps to reduce noise.

Choose a hallway runner rug with a pattern that works well with your décor. For example, a striped runner rug could help to elongate the appearance of a narrow hallway while a geometrically patterned runner would work better with contemporary design.

A runner rug should also be large enough to cover the parts of the hallway that receive most foot traffic. This will help to protect the runner from wear and tear caused by constant walking, dragging of furniture and other items. Choose a runner rug that is made from sustainable or natural fibres for maximum longevity and to minimise moisture build-up. This is especially important if your hallway has an entrance to your living space as it can help to stop unwanted dirt, bacteria and mud from entering the rest of your home.

Foyer

Foyers, entranceways, and lobbies are an important space that serves as the transition from outside into your well-thought-out home. They’re the first thing guests see when they arrive and the decor you choose can set a tone for the entire space.

Runner rugs are an excellent choice for entryways as they’re durable enough to stand up to traffic and can be easily cleaned if needed. They can also add a nice pop of color to the foyer. Look for a rug that complements your door and matches other accent pieces in the room, such as a wreath or a decorative pillow on a chair.

A great way to make a positive impression on visitors is to create a designated area where they can leave their shoes and coats. This can be as simple as hooks for coats, a shoe rack or a storage nook that’s hidden behind doors. This will keep the space clean and free of clutter.

Living Room

One of the best places to use a runner rug in your home is in the living room. It can help to set the mood for your guests before they enter your home by offering them a warm welcome. Especially in entrances like foyers where the flooring is often cold and uninviting, adding a colorful runner rug will help to brighten up the space and make your guests feel at ease as soon as they walk through the door.

Another great way to use a runner rug in the living room is by placing it under a sofa or side table. When doing this, it’s important to keep in mind that you want to leave a little bit of floor space visible under the furniture for balance and harmony. It’s also a good idea to select a darker rug, since light colors tend to show dirt more quickly.

Runner rugs can also be used in bedrooms or home offices to visually separate spaces that have open floor plans. This can be accomplished by selecting a rug that features a neutral color or pattern to match the existing decor in the room.

Kitchen

Runner rugs are the perfect size and shape for long, narrow bits of uncovered flooring. They help soften the hard lines commonly found in kitchens, adding color and character to a room that can be challenging to keep clean.

Consider putting one in front of the sink, between cabinets, or in a narrow space near the stove. It’ll make it easy to step in and out of your cooking area, while protecting your floors from spills and spaghetti tangles.

Choose a rug with your preferred design style in mind. Bohemian styles can look great with a multi-color or striped runner rug, while contemporary homes work well with a simple herringbone pattern. If your kitchen is more farmhouse or rustic, a neutral-colored sisal or jute flatweave rug would fit in nicely. It will also be more durable than other options and able to stand up to the dirt that often tracks into the home from outside.