Let’s face it! Hallways can look bland and boring if you leave them undecorated. Yet, they’re the first thing your guests (and most importantly, you) will see when entering your home. It should showcase your personality, be beautiful and stand up to the demands of everyday footfall.

One surefire way to upgrade your hallway is to update the floor you and your family walk on each day. However, we understand that redoing your flooring is a pain! But what if we told you that you could brighten your hallway without ripping up your current flooring?

Add a hallway runner to your landing, entranceway or hall to transform it from drab and dull to attractive and stylish!

To help inspire you, we’ve put together 20 hallway flooring ideas you can accomplish without changing your hard floors! We will also answer your rug runner FAQs to help you achieve the best look for your hallway flooring.

Table of Contents

• Hallway flooring ideas
• Hallway flooring FAQs

Hallway Flooring Ideas

Here are some of our favourite (non-fuss) hallway flooring options to inspire your next decorating project!

1. Statement Hallway Runners

Create instant ‘WOW factor’ as you enter your home with a statement entrance rug runner. For example, our Tequila Sunrise Terracotta Rug Runner features a rich orange color and bold flowing pattern to leave your guests in awe. Flip this hallway runner over for a reversible look, offering an equally gorgeous statement piece.

2. Entranceway Rugs

Of course, not all hallways are long and thin. If you have a larger or a box-shaped entryway, why not use an area rug to welcome your guests? A stunning soft furnishing addition will add a warm and cosy feel to your home’s entrance.

3. Stripes

Stripes – a classic runner rug pattern that can add color, interest and dimension to your hallway. Create a tonal look with this block-stripped hallway runner, the Long Island White/ Grey Rug Runner. Or, add the illusion of length to your hallway with vertical stripes like the Broad 10 Black Rug Runner, which draws your eye inside your home.

4. Continue up the Stairs with a Stair Runner

Why stop in the hallway? Continue your gorgeous carpeting up the stairs for a stylish matching look. Stair runners will also protect your stairs from rigorous footfall and create a welcoming entrance. They’re an excellent hallway flooring idea for homes with a staircase. Check out the benefits of our stair runner underlay and gripper packs for more information.

5. Add a Pop of Color

Introduce a pop of color within your home with the Montana Terracotta Rug Runner. Its modern design shows how a splash of color can effortlessly transform and lift a space. Keeping the walls and floor neutral makes this rug runner’s geometric patterns and colors stand out.

6. Textured Rug Runners

If your hallway receives a high footfall, you’ll want to protect the floor with a sturdy and durable runner rug. The Aztec L. Brown Rug Runner features a textured weave that is hard-wearing yet attractive.

7. Multiple Runner Rugs

Use multiple runner rugs if you have an L-shaped hallway or want to break up the space. If your hallway turns a corner, lay two runner rugs along either stretch. Or, get creative in your long hallway by using two short runners instead of one to break up the space.

8. Traditional Glamour

Traditional glamour is the perfect hallway carpet idea to add a touch of Fifth Avenue splendour to your home. Think of the entrance to a high-end department store or a historic five-star hotel.

The Baroque Black Rug Runner is the perfect combination of tradition and glamour if you enjoy the look of traditional flooring styles but want to keep things modern. The romantic swirls are reminiscent of a time gone by and help you incorporate classic design into your home. However, the baroque swirls are imposed onto black shades to infuse modernity into this soft furnishing. Pair this hallway flooring idea with a sumptuous interior, like rich wood, glossy floors and plenty of lighting.

9. Black and White Rug Runners

You can’t go wrong with classic black and white. Modern hallway carpet ideas often rely on a neutral palette. However, a black floor runner is a great way to give the space some edge. Pair this with predominantly white walls and ceiling to draw the eye upwards, preventing the room from feeling dark. If you like dramatic interior design, our Key Black Rug Runner adds drama and glamour to your hallway.

10. Pretty in Red

This beautiful hallway flooring design is a testament to the fact rich color is the way forward. Pair the Tribal Red Rug Runner with cream walls, floors and décor to ensure the red runner and other pops of red catch the eye. Here, your entrance rug runner becomes your hallway’s focal point.

11. Monochrome Rug Runners

Monochrome doesn’t have to be black and white. Whatever color palette you have in your home, you can choose flooring options to match your modern monochrome look. Whether you prefer beige or rich colors, you can shop by color at Runrug to find the perfect hallway runner.

12. Scandi-chic

If your interior vibe is a Scandi-inspired look that exudes calmness and nature, wooden flooring will be your go-to in the hallway. Whether you have natural wood or laminate wood flooring, protect this surface with these Scandi-inspired hallway flooring ideas that will soothe you as soon as you walk through the door.

13. Period Property Rug Runners

Fill your period property with time-honoured traditional patterns. Or, if you want to emulate the Victorian look, it’s easy to capture the elegance of period properties with the right flooring. Use the Persian Red Rug Runner as a focal point to open up a narrow space, as was typical when and where the style originated. All our Persian-style hallway carpet ideas possess different characteristics and visual interests to enhance period properties.

14. Rustic Rug Runners

If you’re trying to create a cosy farmhouse or cottage with an open fire and the smell of a home-cooked meal, pair your stone or other flooring with the Couture Ivory/Copper Rug Runner to enhance your rustic style. The muted pattern and colors look established, perfect for creating an authentic aesthetic.

15. Modern Rug Runners

You’ll find plenty of modern runner rugs to browse if you have a contemporary interior and want to protect your flooring. The Cuba Libre Black Rug Runner is highly fashionable. Maybe you recognise large diamond patterns on rugs if you enjoy researching interior design trends. Select this runner rug for your hallway flooring to keep your home up-to-date.

16. Eclectic Hallway Carpet Ideas

Life is too short to be boring. If you love to fill your home with color and patterns, eclectic flooring options are perfect for your hallway flooring. The Baby Guinness Black Rug Runner provides a bold, visually stimulating pattern for homes that want to stand out from the crowd.

17. Boho Rug Runners

If you love all things boho - we’re talking desert-chic, a mellow, warm color pallet and hippy decor – then we have the perfect hallway runner idea for you. The Native Brown Rug Runner provides a delightful, natural pattern in an earthy color palette – the perfect accompaniment for your cacti, rustic wood, terracotta pots and macrame interior decor.

18. Animal Print Runners

Does animal print ever go out of fashion? We think not! If you love the patterns of the savannah or need eye-catching hallway flooring ideas and inspiration, our Zebra Print Rug Runner will steal the show.

19. Minimalist Hallway Runners

Runrug.com has minimalistic flooring options if you prefer to keep things clean and simple but want to add a comfy runner rug to your hallway. The Plain Cream Rug Runner will effortlessly blend into your modern interior design while providing a soft footing and floor protection. They’re also versatile modern hallway carpet ideas that complement patterned wallpaper.

20. Floral Runner Rugs

And finally, we’ve come to the last of our hallway flooring ideas. We can’t miss out on classic and modern floral designs if you want to mirror the outdoors inside your home. This Scroll Grey Rug Runner is a swirling vine with modern leaves designed to complement a contemporary property. However, opt for the Antika Green Rug Runner if you want something more classic.

Rug Runner Flooring FAQs

What are the Main Benefits of Rug Runners?

As well as introducing your personal taste into your home’s entranceway, rug runners are non-permanent, inexpensive and functional. They feel soft when walked on and are available in a range of different materials.

How to Place a Runner in an L-shaped Hallway

The best way to enhance your hallway flooring if you have an L-shaped floor plan, is to use two rug runners and lay them 90 degrees against each other. To ensure you get the best measurements with enough border showing, simply measure one stretch of the hallway, leaving an even 10-15cm border on every size.

Then, when you measure for the second runner rug, only leave room for a border on three sides, excluding the end next to the other runner rug. Leave the same sized border between the two rugs for a professional runner look.

The first entrance rug runner should end before the wall, while the other will stop as it reaches the first runner rug, so the whole hallway is covered, and no rugs will overlap.

Should a Runner Rug Cover the Entire Hallway Floor?

No! Always leave a 10-15cm gap around every side of the hallway runner rug to achieve the best effect. Remember to include door swings and hallway furniture in your measurement calculation. Ideally, doors and furniture shouldn’t sit on or interfere with any short or long runners for hallways.

What Size Should a Runner Rug be for a Hallway?

Hallway runner rugs are available from runrug.com in many widths and custom lengths to meet the needs of most hallway shapes and sizes. Therefore, you should measure your unique hallway to find the best runner rug size.

Always remember to accommodate your hallway furniture and doors. For more information on buying the best runner rug size, discover how to find the perfect size runner rug for your hallway in our complete guide.

How Should a Runner Look in a Hallway?

Runner rugs should be perfectly centred with an even border around every edge. You should also leave room for any hallway furniture, as it can look cluttered if furniture sits on the runner. Allow space where your door opens to avoid your runner rug interfering with the door.

Hallway Flooring Ideas at Runrug

We hope you’ve found some hallway flooring inspiration in this collection, including the answers to your hallway runner questions. However, if you haven’t found the perfect hallway flooring option yet, browse our hallway runner rugs collection to discover one that sets the tone for your interior decor. We’re confident our hallway runner ideas will transform your family’s shared space for the better.

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