How to Choose Hallway Rugs

If you ever conducted a study to see which area of your home saw the most foot traffic, the top place on the list would more than likely be the hallway.  For that reason, there are natural area rugs that are sized just for use in hallways.  These rugs will protect both your wood floors and carpet if you have it, from being constantly worn.  These rugs are called runners.  They can also work to provide a barrier from sound while protecting bare feet from freezing cold floors.  Aside from all of that, they can also make a big impact in style for such a small space.  However, before you go running out to get one, stop and think about which one will work the best in the space.

Here are some helpful hints that will assist you in choosing the right rug for your hallway.

·        Measure twice.  Although runners have a pretty typical rectangular shape, they do come in a variety of widths and lengths so that they will work in hallways of various sizes.  To get the right length for a hallway runner, measure the hallway leaving four inches from the walls.  Most of the time a runner will be around 2 feet in width.  If you have a very small hallway, you might opt for an accent rug instead.  The lengths of runners can be anywhere from 6 to 15 feet. 

·       Think about function.  How can a runner improve the issues that you are having with your hall.  You may think that your hall is too dark.  You can brighten it up with a jute rug in a light color.  If you think that the floor looks too busy you might want to go with a darker colored rug to disguise any dirt.

·         It doesn’t matter if your home is old and full of charm or if you have a brand new construction, a runner in the hallway will be able to fit your style while it can also accentuate certain features in your home.  Runners can also be chosen based on the type of floor that they will be on.  Say you have marble or tile floors, a contemporary runner might be best here while wood floors might look better with a more traditional runner such as one that is  floral themed or braided.

  

      Which material? Different materials in these rugs mean that they can be used outdoors or indoors.  If you are looking for an interior rug, think about wool rugs.  If the runner will be used outdoors, you might want to look for a rug made from an organic materials such as jute or seagrass.

Following these tips will help you in selecting the ideal rug for your hallway and don’t forget to get a rug pad for under it.