Hallway Rug Design Tips: How To Place A Rug In A Hallway

Elevate your entryway into a stylish, comforting pathway with a beautiful woollen hallway rug. Runner rugs, as they are also known, not only help to create a grand entrance into your home, but they also serve a practical purpose by protecting your carpeted and wooden floors from scuff marks, scratches and continual use. Hallway rugs can also help dampen acoustics and minimise footstep noise by softening your hard flooring.

But how do you place a hallway rug in the right way? Here are some practical tips on how to place a hallway rug, as well as answers to common questions about sizing and colours. So, at the end of this blog, you can confidently shop for the hallway runner rug of your dreams.

Here's what we've covered:

Should I Put a wool rug in my hallway? - Yes! Here are 5 Reasons Why

#1 Wool is a proven high-performance fibre that can handle a lot of foot traffic.

#2 It's a fantastic thermal insulator that will keep your hallway warm in winter and cool in summer - it can save you 8-13% on heating and cooling costs*!
*MCNEIL (2016). The Thermal Properties Of Wool Carpets.
Agresearch Technical Bulletin.

#3 Wool is easy to clean because it's naturally stain and soil resistant - just see how simple it is to clean with our Complete Guide On How To Clean A Wool Rug.

Hallway Rug Sizes: How Large Or Long Should A Runner Rug Be?

Pictured here is our Lisburn hallway rug in the shade ‘Venise’ with fabric edging.


Standard hallway runners are usually around 80-100cm wide and 182cm to 426cm long and should ideally match the shape of your hallway. Select a rug that fits within the length of your hallway so it doesn't extend into other rooms.

This is why it's important to first measure the length of your hallway before shopping for a runner rug.

But, if you don't want to stick to the standard sizes, you can always opt for a custom-made wool rug specially designed for you by Bremworth. You can build your own hallway rug by choosing the size as well as the style, colour, shape & edging that's best suited to your interior.

Customise a designer wool rug for your hallway.

Runner Rug Placement Tips: How To Place A Hallway Rug Effortlessly

Placed correctly, a beautiful wool hallway rug can set the tone for your entryway by creating a visual impact and defining the way into your home.

The best way to place your runner rug is to centre it in your hallway with equal flooring showing on either side. Furniture, like the console table or bench, should stand flanking the sides of the hallway runner, not on top of it. You can play with the length depending on the size of your entranceway or hallway.

Here's a visual guide to help you out:

Where should a hallway runner start?

The best place to start is either at the entrance of your hallway or at least from the edge of the door frame, so when someone enters the hallway, they are stepping onto the runner. Leave at least a few inches of floor space between the rug and any walls. You'll want to easily open and close doors without disrupting the rug's position.

Hallway Rug Colours: What Colour Rug Can Make A Space Look Bigger?

Light-coloured rugs have the power to make a space look bigger, as you can see in this example of our Samurai rug in the shade 'Pyua'

According to Bremworth Product Consultant Lily Ng, "Darker colours can make a room appear smaller, whereas when you use lighter-toned colours, it creates a sense of spaciousness and the appearance of a bigger room. So, go for more lighter tones such as grey, cream, beige and white". 

Should my entryway rug match my living room rug?

Unless you're aiming for a monochromatic look, there should be a contrast between your hallway and living room rug by way of texture, material and colour. The two rugs should complement each other but not be identical.

For example, if you have a dark-coloured rug in the living room, choose something lighter and brighter for the hallway. And vice versa - if your living room is carpeted with a light-coloured wool rug, try opting for a darker tone in the entryway.

Featured: Your Ultimate Living Room Rug Placement Guide

Final Thoughts: How To Place A Rug In The Hallway

And that's a wrap-up of how to place a rug in the hallway. In brief:

      • Wool hallway rugs can handle foot traffic, insulate your home, and are easy to clean.
      • Standard hallway runner rugs are usually 80-100cm wide and 182-426cm long, but custom sizes are available online from Bremworth
      • Start your hallway runner rug at the entrance or edge of the door frame, leaving a few inches of floor space between the rug and walls
      • Centre your hallway runner rug with equal flooring on either side and position furniture flanking the sides, not on top of the rug
      • Light-coloured rugs can make a space look bigger, while darker colours can make a room appear smaller
      • Hallway and living room rugs should complement each other but not be identical in texture, material, and colour.

If you still have questions, why not book a complimentary rug consultation with one of our designers, who'll help you pick the right-sized rug for your hallway and give more advice on how to fit it in your space?


Ready to start looking at rugs? Explore our hallway rugs and runners here.