Choosing a runner for the hallway, entrance and kitchen
Choose a runner that leaves 10 to 15 cm of floor clear on both sides and at least 20 cm at the ends. So a hallway 100 cm wide takes an 80 cm runner. Most of our runners are 80 cm wide and 200, 250 or 300 cm long.
How wide should a runner be?
Measure the hallway from skirting board to skirting board and take off 20 to 30 cm. If the runner touches the walls, the edge curls up and you can no longer vacuum along the skirting boards.
| Hallway width | Runner | In our range |
|---|---|---|
| 80 to 90 cm | 60 cm wide | 60 × 180 cm (Kenzy) |
| 90 to 115 cm | 80 cm wide | 80 × 150 to 80 × 300 cm, most designs |
| 115 to 130 cm | 80 or 100 cm wide | 100 × 300 cm (Dubai Deluxe) |
| Wide or square entrance hall | Not a runner, but a hall rug | 120 × 170 cm, 140 × 200 cm or 160 cm round |
How long should a runner be?
Leave at least 20 cm of floor clear at both ends. With our lengths, that works out at 20 to 45 cm in practice. If a door swings over the runner, measure where the door stops and start the runner there. A flat runner of up to 8 mm usually fits under an interior door; a thicker one doesn't always.
| Hallway length | Runner |
|---|---|
| Up to 2.4 m | 80 × 150 cm |
| 2.4 to 2.9 m | 80 × 200 cm |
| 2.9 to 3.4 m | 80 × 250 cm |
| 3.4 to 3.8 m | 80 × 300 cm |
| 3.8 to 4.2 m | 80 × 340 cm (Brilliance only), or two runners |
| Longer than 4.2 m | Two runners end to end, with 30 to 40 cm of floor between them |
Which runner for the entrance hall?
A runner in the entrance hall gets sand, rain and wet shoes. So choose a low-pile or flat-woven synthetic rug that's easy to keep clean. Most runners have a jute backing, and jute can't take much water. If wet shoes or dog paws are a regular thing, go for Maestro: it has a synthetic backing that can get wet.
| What you're after | Series | Runner size |
|---|---|---|
| Can get wet, even by the back door | Maestro, sisal look with a synthetic backing | 80 × 150 and 80 × 200 cm |
| Flat and crisp, also 60 cm wide | Kenzy, flat-woven polypropylene | 60 × 180 and 80 × 250 cm |
| Machine washable | Sign and Loft Washable | 80 × 300 cm |
| Low and crisp, with a calm pattern | Stilo (8 mm), Creation (8 mm) | 80 × 300 cm |
| Warm, with the look of wool | Nepal (acrylic, 11 mm) | 80 × 300 cm |
| Classic or oriental | Studio, Dubai Deluxe | 80 × 300 and 100 × 300 cm |
An 80 × 300 cm runner weighs 3.4 kg in Loft Washable and 4.1 kg in Sign. So Loft Washable fits a washing machine of 7 kg or more, and Sign one of 9 kg or more. The washing guide explains how to wash it.
Put an ordinary doormat outside the front door. It stops the worst of the sand and water, so your runner lasts longer.
A runner in the kitchen
In front of the worktop, an 80 × 150 or 80 × 200 cm runner works well. Choose a rug that can cope with splashes: flat-woven polypropylene or a washable runner. Blot up grease and sauce and treat them with cornflour, as the cleaning guide describes. A high-pile runner doesn't belong in the kitchen.
Runners beside the bed
Would you rather not have a large rug under the bed? Then put a runner on each side. Take 60 × 180 cm if the space beside the bed is narrow and 80 × 150 cm if there's more room. Let the runner reach a little way under the bed, so you step onto the rug with both feet.
Stop your runner from sliding
People walk along a runner in the same direction all day, and hallways often have a smooth floor. None of our runners has an anti-slip backing.
A runner on the stairs?
We don't sell stair runners. An ordinary runner isn't made to fold over stair treads and won't stay on them. For stairs, you need a stair runner that's fixed to each tread.
Keeping a runner clean
- Vacuum the runner twice a week, or every other day if it gets a lot of foot traffic.
- Take it outside and beat it once a month.
- Turn it round 180 degrees every six months, so the other end lies by the front door. It then wears evenly.
- Don't leave wet shoes standing on the runner.
Frequently asked questions
How wide should a hallway runner be?
20 to 30 cm narrower than the hallway. In a hallway 100 cm wide, take an 80 cm runner.
What length of runner should I choose?
Leave at least 20 cm of floor clear at both ends. A hallway of 3.5 m suits an 80 × 300 cm runner.
What do I do with a hallway longer than 4.2 m?
Lay two runners in the same design end to end, with 30 to 40 cm between them. Our longest runner is 80 × 340 cm.
Which runners can go in the washing machine?
The Sign and Loft Washable runners in 80 × 300 cm. Loft Washable weighs 3.4 kg dry and fits a machine of 7 kg or more. Sign weighs 4.1 kg and needs a machine of 9 kg or more.
Which runner can handle wet shoes?
Maestro. It has a synthetic backing that can get wet. Most other runners have a jute backing, so let shoes drip dry on the doormat first.
How do I stop my runner from sliding?
Put an anti-slip rug pad underneath that's 2 to 5 cm smaller than the runner. On a hard floor, every runner needs one.
