Runner rugs can transform a space in a quiet way. Whether you have a long hallway to feature or a need to soften the path from bedroom to bathroom, runner rugs can find a place in your home. Additionally, a kitchen can feature a runner rug to add a touch of intentional design to the cooking area.
Runner rugs is slightly different from the rest of the rug family due to the way in which people typically use runner rugs in homes. Using the wrong type of runner rug for your hallway will result in a hallway that you will eventually look at and consider an afterthought. However, using the perfect type of runner rug for your home will transform your entire home into a finished product that you are proud to showcase to your friends and family.
The best way to choose the perfect runner rug for your home is to understand that not all runner rugs is alike. Each type of runner rug features a unique personality with its own defining features. Some manufacturers specifically create runner rugs to absorb sound within the home while others create rugs to cushion the feet of the individuals who passes through that rug every morning on their journey to the kitchen to make their morning beverage of choice.
Once you understand each of the different types of runner rugs that are available in the market today, you will no longer be taking trips into the rug store with uncertainty as to which rug will best suit the life that you live in your home. There are several things to know about each of the rug types that is available.
Different Types of Runner Rugs to Consider
1. Wool Runner Rugs
Wool runner rugs are some of the most popular types of rugs in existence due to the benefits that the wool fiber provides for rugs.
The fibers of wool rugs feature tiny scales that allow the rug to catch the dirt in the rug instead of allowing the dirt to live within the fibers of the rug. With wool rugs, the fibers will naturaly regulate the temperature within the rug so that in the winter the rug will feel warm under the bare feet of the inhabitants of the home but in the summer the rug will feel cool to the bare feet. Additionally, wool takes dye very well and produces deep rich color that stand the test of time.
Although wool runner rugs may cost more up front of any other rug material, the durability of wool will ensure that it will last for several decade in your home. However, wool will felt if it gets wet and is not allowed to dry. Therefore, it is best to avoid using wool runner rugs in your mudroom unless you have a proper mat to place in front of your entry door.
2. Cotton Runner Rugs
Cotton runner rugs are some of the most popular rug types for those who live in a more casual home. Cotton runner rugs are lightweight and you can easily clean them in the washing machine to remove the dirt that accumulates from the feet that pass over the rug on a regular basis. Additionally, cotton runner rugs are ideal for kitchens or for those who has young children in the home since these rugs can take the abuse that the areas receive.
Additionally, those who prefer flatwoven cotton runner rugs will find that these types of rugs will create few trip hazards for the individuals who live in the home. The braided versions of cotton rug will hide the prints that the bare feet of the inhabitants of the home leave behind. Cotton rugs will breathe and will not trap the odors that accumulate from the inhabitants of the home.
However, cotton rugs will wear more faster than wool rugs so you may have to rotate the rugs or purchase new runner rugs every few years to keep them looking there best. The affordability of cotton rugs allows for them to be purchased and rotated often in the home.
3. Jute Runner Rugs
Jute runner rugs are ideal for those who want to add an earthy tone to their home.
Additionally, the fibers that are grown from the jute plant are naturally grippy so the rug will not slide on hardwood floor. The texture of the rug will disguise the dirt that lands on the rug. The color of the rug is a golden-tan color that works well with both white walls and deeper paint colors in the home.
However, jute rugs dont like moisture. If they get to stay too damp in the home, they will stain and eventually rot. Therefore, you should place jute rugs in the drier area of the home.
Using a small vacuum with the brush attachment will help to avoid shedding the jute fibers during the first few months of use of the rug.
4. Sisal Runner Rugs
Sisal runner rugs are ideal for those with a budget for rugs that are a little more durable yet want the same look as the natural fiber rugs. Sisal rugs are made from the leaves of the agave plant.
Sisal is stronger than jute and more water-resistant. Sisal rugs have a rough texture that will scrape the dirt off of the feet of the individuals who use the rug. Additionally, sisal rugs come in a variety of neutral tone that work well with the colors on the walls of the room.
However, sisal rugs may feel stiff underfoot when walked upon barefoot so they are not the best rug for a hallway that features barefoot walking unless a soft pad is added under the sisal runner rug. However, their durability makes sisal rugs a great pick for rugs that will feature in your rug shopping list.
5. Vintage Persian Runner Rugs
Vintage Persian runner rugs are the most coveted rugs in existence.
These hand-knotted rugs from Persia feature intricate designs in the rug that draw the eye down the hallway. The wool used in vintage Persian rugs is among the finest and the most dense which creates a luxurius rug with high shock absorption to minimize the sound of shoes hitting the floor. Vintage Persian rugs feature rich colors such as deep reds and golds which have been worn and faded over time to create softer colors that work in both traditional and eclectic interiors.
Additionally, no two vintage Persian runner rugs is alike creating an element of character that no machine-made rug will ever feature. The main downside to vintage Persian runner rugs is the cost of the rug and how it must be periodically cleaned to maintain the rug. However, many individuals place great value on these rugs and are willing to put in the effort to maintain them.
6. Turkish Kilim Runner Rugs
Turkish kilim runner rugs feature bold tribal designs that have stood the test of time and remain popular to this day. These rugs are made from wool or wool and cotton blends and are much lighter than most other rug types. This lightness of the rug allows the rug to easily be layered over the hardwood floors of the home or simply rolled up and stored when not in use.
The tribe designs of the rug do not compete with the other rugs in the home in terms of visual noise and the flat weave of the rug does not hide the dirt that lands on the rug but does not trap the dirt within the rug either. These Turkish rugs are perfect for homes with both old and new furnitures so that the rug acts as a bridge between the two eras of the furnishings in the home.
7. Synthetic Runner Rugs
Synthetic runner rugs have improved over time and offer value for those with high traffic area in their homes.
Most synthetic rug fibers will mimic the look of wool rugs and will stand up to the wear and tear that high traffic areas receive. Additionally, most synthetic runner rugs feature built-in stain resistance so that common spills like red wine or muddy dog paws can be removed using only soap and water. Additionally, synthetic runner rugs are more affordable than natural fiber rugs so you can easily change them with the changing of the seasons or with the growth of the children in the home.
Most synthetic runner rugs lack the character of natural fiber rugs but have come close over time so that the gap between synthetic rugs and natural rugs is greatly reduced. Synthetic runner rugs are perfect for mudrooms, rentals or anyone looking to purchase a rug that solves problems instead of creating drama in the livig area.
8. Leather Runner Rugs
Leather runner rugs are a unique rug type and one of the most unusual runner rugs in existence.
The strips of leather are woven together to create a runner rug that features a unique patina over time. The leather will naturally repel water and stains like fabric will do so these rugs are perfect for the entryway of the home. Additionally, most leather rugs emit a subtle scent that many people find very appealing in their home.
However, leather runner rugs are very heavy so be sure to measure the rug prior to purchasing it for your home. Additionally, you may need to condition the leather rug periodically to prevent it from cracking in dry climates. However, the way the light plays on the rug will create the notion that the hallway in which you place the leather runner rug was intentionally designed by the owner of the home.
After reading the information on the various types of runner rugs, it will be hard for you to walk into a friend’s home without thinking about the type of runner rug that is featured in each area of there home. Each of these rug types has its benefits and is suited to certain homes so that each rug performs its function to the inhabitants of that home. The best runner rug will transform each area of the home while tying each part of the home together in a way that creates the notion that the individual who owns that home intentionally designed each area of the home.
Tonight, go walk down the hallway in your home and run your toes over the rug that is located in your hallway. Think of the type of runner rug that will make you smile the next time you walk through that hallway. There are a variety of rug types on the market today so that is one of the reasons for the availability of each rug type.
By knowing the features of each rug, you can select the perfect rug for your home so that each member of your family and your home will thank you for your selection of the perfect type of runner rug for your home tonight.
