Rug Guides: Buying, Sizing & Care Tips

Long hallways, galley kitchens and skinny living rooms need a different approach than a regular room. Here's how to measure around doors and vents, pick colors that open up a narrow space, and when a gallery-size rug beats a standard runner.

How wide and how long should a hallway or stair runner be? Here's how we measure, the standard runner sizes and where each one works, and why hand-knotted wool with a busy pattern holds up best in high-traffic spaces.