Like buying an area rug for your living room or an outdoor rug for your patio, buying a runner rug for your home shouldn’t be a stressful or overwhelming task. Picking a runner rug, whether it’s Persian, Moroccan, shag, or any other design, shouldn’t be too hard, especially since first impressions are everything.
If you are in search of the perfect runner, doormat, or accent rug, it’s critical to consider several different design components, including your interior design, lifestyle needs, accessibility in your home, and color palette. Keep reading for an in-depth guide on buying a runner rug in the most effective and effortless way possible.
The Basics of Runner Rugs
Let’s start with the basics of runner rugs: what are they, where do they go in your home, and what you should be looking for in a runner rug. Simply put, a runner rug usually lives in higher-traffic areas of the home like your front entrance, kitchens, and hallways. Runners come in all shapes and sizes but generally have a longer length than they do width.
Not only that, but oftentimes runner rugs are designed to make an impression; they fit within a space that’s meant to be passed through, which always offers an opportunity to make a statement.
So, what should you be looking for in a runner rug? It depends on a few factors, including your interior design goals and lifestyle demands, to name a few. Let’s start with your design aesthetic: is your home light and breezy with lots of neutral tones?
Perhaps you’ve gone with an understated dark aesthetic or have a home filled with artwork. Whether you’re a minimalist, maximalist, or somewhere in-between, making sure you are clear on your interior design goals is important before selecting a runner rug — or any new addition to a room, for that matter — because it grants you the opportunity to amplify an existing aesthetic or transform it with a new statement.
Designing With Lifestyle in Mind
The second main component in purchasing a runner rug is consideration of your lifestyle. Busy parent? Pet owner? Multi-person home? All these factors contribute to what you might be seeking out functionally from a runner rug.
If you live an active lifestyle but aren’t willing to compromise your commitment to design, then you’re likely seeking out a rug that is not only designed well but made well, too. Take our spillproof machine washable rugs, for example. With a myriad of select designs, you’d never know that these rugs are as easy to install as they are to maintain. Ranging across bold florals, timeless neutrals, and discrete bohemian designs, Tumble rugs offer an aesthetic moment for every home.
Not only that, but with each rug being spillproof and machine washable, you no longer have to worry about guests forgetting to remove their shoes or pets coming in from the yard. Kids building a fort in the hallway and bringing snacks? Tumble’s spillproof rugs wick liquid away, making for easy clean-ups and easier washes.
A Runner for First Impressions
First impressions are everything, but when it comes to entryways, it isn’t always about doing the most. Sometimes, subtlety is all you need to achieve elegance and luxury. Consider what you and your guests will see when they enter your home. Build from the ground up and consider what kind of impression you want to make.
In a sense, a front hallway or entrance is a vignette of your home; are you a plant lover who prioritizes big, airy spaces with lots of natural light? Is your home filled with art or lots of children’s toys? Whatever your lifestyle or aesthetic priorities, your home entrance is an opportunity to establish who you are and what your home is built around.
A soft, handcrafted runner is the perfect way to make a statement about comfort, luxury, and utility. A soft rug, a well-placed texture, or a pop of color can go a long way. Atop your entrance runner, you can place a well-designed console table, a plant, or a low bench that invites guests into the home. Placing a runner at your home’s entrance is all about creating an inviting stage upon which everything else in the room can happen.
Passing Through: A Rug Runners for Hallways
Hallway runners can be an exciting opportunity to introduce a new color, texture, or combination of both into your living space. Always consider color as you’re planning out a hallway rug; does your hallway have its own distinct colorway, or is it a transition space from one room to the next?
You can never go wrong with a low-pileneutral runner rug in the hallways, offering some breathing space as you move from one room to the next. Alternatively, you can pick a multicolor option or a runner with animal print or bold colors like teal.
Another important element to be mindful of is the runner size; make sure that it covers an adequate amount of space from the front to the back of the hallway and that it fits snugly — but doesn’t overwhelm — the hallway space. Tumble’s runners come in two lengths, 7ft and 10ft.
In addition, since the hallway is a high-traffic area, make sure your runner is stain-resistant with easy care instructions. For an extra buffer against stains, put a rug pad under the runner area. For an extra buffer against movement, all of Tumble’s rugs come with a rug pad included.
Elevating Your Kitchen With a Runner
Finding the perfect runner for your kitchen is key, especially if you have a kitchen with an island or your kitchen doubles as a dining room. However, many people are hesitant to commit to a rug in the kitchen for fear of one main issue: accidents and spills that instantly destroy a hand-tufted masterpiece.
That’s why, out of any space in your home, prioritizing spillproof runner rugs is a must. Take our rugs, whose unique designs and artisan craftsmanship combine to create effortless luxury. You don’t have to worry about cooking with your children, midnight cereal, or an accident before your first sip of coffee. These spillproof rugs wick away any moisture that might spill onto it, making clean-up as easy as can be.
Not only that but there are no expensive trips to the dry cleaner necessary. Every Tumble rug is machine washable; all you have to do is remove it from its non-slip pad and toss it in the wash.
If you’re partial to snacktime with the kiddos on the kitchen floor, you can breathe easy knowing that in addition to being spillproof and machine washable, every Tumble rug is handcrafted with non-toxic materials.Plus, we have perfect options for outdoor runners to give your favorite outdoor area an extra touch.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re looking for a new rug for a grand entrance, a subtle transition between rooms, an accent piece for under your sofa, or to introduce more luxury into your kitchen space, it’s important to remember how bringing a rug into a space can change everything.
Regardless of your aesthetic, prioritize the balance between function and form; ensure that your home decor matches your lifestyle and that you’re selecting a runner that will make it easy to maintain everyday luxury.
Make sure to come back often to find new arrivals, bestsellers, and more tips on choosing the best rug for your home.
Sources:
Choosing and Styling Different Runner Rug Sizes | The Spruce
Why is physical activity so important for health and well-being? | American Heart Association