Despite their slender profiles, the best runner rugs can still transform a space from confused to curated. While they don’t have quite the anchoring effect of an area rug, they can still breathe life into the spaces that need it most (see: entryways, hallways, all-white kitchens in need of resuscitation). Beyond creating impact in your entryway or hallway, runners serve an entirely practical purpose: catching and/or disguising debris in your high-traffic areas. That’s nothing the Dyson can’t tackle when you have a minute, but it helps to have a design piece that goes the distance (even if the distance is just the four feet leading to the back deck) as a dirt trap and decor.
Our Top Picks
Our picks lean Scandi and Turkish, often flatweave, but we’ve also included some contemporary favorites that are high-pile, machine-washable, and include anon-slip backing. Natural jute makes an appearance, of course, as does a shaggy rug from celebrity-favorite retailer Nordic Knots. Read on for options that suit your foyer, hallway, kitchen, living room, and anywhere else that might need a strip of texture.
Best Overall
LA design duo Pierce & Ward made a collection with West Elm so good, it earned a standalone article and a dedicated chair review from us. They’re masters of combining midcentury styles with bohemian instincts to create pieces that feel both contemporary and referential, like this runner inspired by Scandinavian textiles. The greens at play in this piece are grounded and welcoming, the perfect segue into the rest of your very cozy, curated home.
Best Washable
Ruggable also takes notes from Scandinavian interiors with this hallway runner that features the Nordic cross on an ecru backdrop. For the slender area that needs something but not a statement, exactly, this piece fills the space without drawing attention to itself. Ash veneer and pottery in pale hues would complement this style. Additionally, since this piece is machine washable with a nonslip backing, its waterproof barrier doesn’t sacrifice its plushness.
Best Kilim Style
This flatweave handwoven kilim draws on Turkish motifs to create something simple, colorful, and playful. You can order this piece in whatever size suits your space exactly, with upwards of 20 dimensions made-to-order. Consider this as a comforting piece under a long farmhouse table, or laying through a terra-cotta-tiled kitchen floor for a rustic look.
Best Jute Runner
Jute gets the job done. It’s a low-impact design choice, but it instantly relates an artisanal aesthetic, granting even tight spaces a feeling beyond claustrophobia. Commerce market director Kate McGregor is a longtime fan of this jute style from Revival on account of its 100% natural material and its lack of shedding (it’s also notably not itchy in the slightest, a rarity for real jute). As an added bonus, the fibers are hand-sorted by color for a subtle and brindled look, and jute famously makes a great outdoor rug, if you’re in the market. Don’t forget the rug pad at checkout.
Best Investment
The stripes here are calling to us. Beni makes some of the most traditional made-to-order rugs on the market, and this Moroccan runner is no exception. Each rug is entirely handwoven and “washed in mountain air” according to its description. The deep neutral palette is inspired by a namesake 1963 work by Joself Albers, if you want to get technical about it, but at its core, it’s quite simply a standout wool runner (a notably durable fabric) that adds texture and dimension to any space crying for emphasis.
A Perfect Budget-Friendly Neutral
Need a runner, like, now? Five staple variations from Joon Loloi will arrive in two days with Prime shipping, and stay with you for a very long time afterward, thanks to a durable handwoven wool. In taupe, rose, and a fir green, these shades maintain neutrality while still delivering a considered look. The geometric detail gives them a little extra design forte. That perfect vintage rug will reveal itself to you when it’s time, but in the interim, a $134 investment is a good place to start.
More AD-Approved
If you’ve ever culled an AD home tour, you’ve spotted a Nordic Knots rug. Just 10 years into business, and they’ve become a household name for celebrities who have decorated their dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and every other space with these high-quality pieces in wool, linen, and jute. If you have a color in mind, they have it already made. Their catalog spans each and every runner size imaginable, so you can find the perfect rug even for those pesky, strange, angular spaces (colonial homeowners know…).
Jake Arnold bestows his warm minimalism on this low-pile wool rug from Lulu and Georgia. A botanical lattice-style pattern creates something baroque without overdoing the ornamentation. Pair it, as Lulu and Georgia has, with marbles and deep greens for something sumptuous and stylish.
A final favorite is this high-pile shag rug from Revival, whose latticed strip takes this from a neutral to something more artistic. Measuring 3 x 10 feet, it comfortably covers a long stretch—we’re thinking it’s perfect for a grand hall runner that needs something both soft and lively. With a 1.5" shag, the pets will especially love this one.
