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4 Tips on Choosing the Right Runner to Add a Decorative Touch to Your Hallway

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Whether they highlight the entrance to your home or decorate the stretch of floor that leads to your bedroom, the right hall runner 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. 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.

Thick or thin?

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.

Keeping Hall Runners 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.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.

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