How to Style a Hallway or Awkward Space with Rugs and Kilims
Hallways, entrances, landings and those slightly awkward spaces around the house can be surprisingly difficult to furnish. They may be too narrow for much furniture, too small for a full-sized rug, or simply feel like spaces that have been overlooked.
A rug or kilim can make a remarkable difference. It can bring colour and warmth to a plain hallway, define an entrance, soften a narrow landing or turn an otherwise unused corner into a purposeful part of the home.
And you don't necessarily need a large rug. In many of these spaces, a runner or smaller handwoven rug is exactly what works best.
Start with the space, not the rug
It is tempting to fall in love with a rug and then try to work out where it might fit. In awkward spaces, it usually works better to start with the dimensions and practicalities of the area.
Measure the length and width of the space, but also look at the things around it. Where do doors open? Is there a radiator? Are there steps or changes in floor level? Will people be walking directly across the rug, or mainly past it?
In a hallway, for example, you don't necessarily need to cover the entire length. A runner that leaves some floor visible at either end can look more considered than one that is forced into every available centimetre.
As a general guide, leaving around 10 to 15cm of floor visible along the sides of a hallway runner can help it feel properly proportioned, although the right amount will depend on the width of the space.
If you're unsure, try marking the proposed dimensions on the floor with masking tape. It is a simple way to see how much space the rug will actually occupy before you start moving furniture around.
Hallways: make the most of a long, narrow space
Hallways are one of the most obvious places for a runner, but they are also one of the areas where choosing the right rug matters most.
A long, narrow rug naturally emphasises the length of a corridor, drawing the eye through the space. This can be particularly effective in a period property, where a hallway may have beautiful original flooring but can otherwise feel a little bare.
A patterned runner can also give a plain hallway a focal point without taking up any additional space. Geometric kilims work particularly well here, as do traditional handwoven rugs with repeated patterns that create a sense of movement along the length of the hallway.
Colour is worth considering too. A darker or more richly patterned rug can be practical in a busy entrance, while a more muted piece can sit quietly alongside painted walls, original woodwork or patterned wallpaper.
The important thing is not necessarily to match the rug exactly to the rest of the hallway. Instead, look for colours that pick up on something already there, perhaps the paintwork, a front door, a piece of furniture or artwork.
Why kilims work particularly well in awkward spaces
A kilim is a flatwoven rug, rather than a piled rug, and that difference can make it especially useful in narrow or awkward areas.
The lower profile means there is less to catch beneath doors, while the lighter construction makes kilims relatively easy to move when you need to access the floor underneath.
This makes them particularly useful in hallways and entrances, but they can also work beautifully on landings, in front of a sideboard or console, beside a bed or in a narrow gap between pieces of furniture.
Maimaneh kilims, for example, are available in a particularly useful range of sizes, from smaller pieces that work almost like decorative mats through to long runners. Their strong geometric patterns mean that even a relatively small piece can bring plenty of colour and character to a space.
Explore kilims at The Nomads Tent
Don't overlook small rugs
A common misconception is that a rug needs to be large to have an impact.
In fact, a smaller handwoven rug can be a much more useful choice in certain parts of a home.
Try one:
- Inside a front or back door
- In front of a console or sideboard
- At the bottom of a staircase
- Beside a bed
- In a small study or reading corner
- In front of a fireplace
- Beneath a small bench or chair
- In a narrow space between furniture
- In a kitchen or utility room where a little warmth and colour is needed
A small rug can also help give a purpose to an otherwise slightly lost area. A chair that looks as though it has simply been pushed into an empty corner can feel much more intentional when paired with a small rug underneath it.
This is particularly useful in older houses, where rooms don't always conform to the neat proportions of modern floorplans.
Awkward corners can be an opportunity
Not every rug needs to sit in the middle of a room.
One of the advantages of smaller rugs and kilims is that you can use them to create little moments within a larger space.
Perhaps there is a small area at the end of a hallway that currently feels empty. A small rug beneath a chair, with a piece of artwork above it, can turn it into a little reading or display area.
A landing can benefit from a runner that links the bedrooms together, while a small rug at the top or bottom of the stairs can make the transition between spaces feel more deliberate.
Even a narrow stretch of floor beside a kitchen island or in front of a dresser can be transformed with the right-sized piece.
The trick is to think of the rug as helping to define an area, rather than simply filling empty floor space.
Think about pattern and scale
Awkward spaces are often a good place to be a little bolder with pattern.
A hallway, for example, doesn't usually contain as much furniture as a sitting room, so a patterned runner can become the main visual feature without competing with sofas, tables and other large pieces.
If the surrounding space is fairly plain, you can afford to choose something with strong colour or pattern. If you already have patterned wallpaper, colourful artwork or lots of furniture, a more restrained rug may create a better balance.
The scale of the pattern matters too. A small rug with a large, widely spaced design can have a very different effect from one covered in smaller, intricate details.
With handwoven rugs and kilims, there is also often a slight irregularity in the design or shape. Rather than looking perfectly uniform, these variations are part of what gives them their character.
Consider the traffic
Hallways and entrances are hardworking parts of the home. They see muddy shoes, wet coats, children, pets and plenty of daily footfall.
That doesn't mean you have to avoid using a beautiful rug there. It simply means it is worth choosing a piece that suits the amount of use it will receive.
Flatweave kilims can be particularly practical in busy areas. Their relatively low profile makes them easy to live with, while their patterns can add considerable visual interest.
A handwoven wool rug can also be a good choice for a high-traffic space. The important thing is to consider the construction, condition and location of the individual rug rather than assuming that one type is suitable for every situation.
And because hallways close to external doors tend to collect more dirt and grit, regular care matters. Grit can work its way into the fibres and contribute to wear over time.
Don't forget the doors
This sounds obvious, but it is one of the easiest things to overlook when choosing a hallway rug.
Before buying, check the clearance beneath doors that open onto the rug. A thicker pile can be beautiful underfoot, but it may not be practical if the door catches on it every time it opens.
This is another reason a flatweave kilim can be such a good solution for a narrow hallway or entrance.
Underlay matters
Once you've found the right rug, don't overlook what goes underneath it.
A rug that moves around beneath your feet is frustrating, particularly in a hallway or entrance. The right underlay helps keep a rug in position, reduces movement and wear, and can make it more comfortable underfoot.
The type of underlay you need depends on the floor beneath the rug. The Nomads Tent supplies different options for hard floors and fitted carpets, and can advise on the most suitable choice for your particular rug and floor.
See The Nomads Tent's rug underlay options
Sometimes the smallest rug is the right rug
There is a tendency to think about rugs in terms of filling a room, but some of the most effective uses are much smaller.
A narrow runner can bring colour to a hallway without overwhelming it. A small kilim can give a forgotten corner a purpose. A little rug beside a bed can add warmth and texture without committing to a much larger piece.
These smaller spaces are also an opportunity to choose something a little different from the rugs elsewhere in your home. You might introduce a stronger pattern, a brighter colour or a textile with a completely different character.
It doesn't all have to match.
In fact, a home tends to feel more interesting when the rugs and textiles work together without looking as though they were bought as a set.
Choosing a rug for an awkward space
If you're trying to work out what would work in a hallway, landing or difficult corner, start with three things:
Measure the space.
Think about width, length, door clearances and where people actually walk.
Consider the construction.
A flatweave kilim may be more practical where clearance is limited, while a deeper pile can bring extra softness and warmth where there is more room.
Look at the colours already there.
You don't need to match everything. Pick out one or two colours from the surrounding space and use the rug to reinforce them, or deliberately introduce a contrasting shade.
Most importantly, don't assume that an awkward space needs to be left empty simply because standard-sized furniture or rugs don't quite work there. A carefully chosen runner or small handwoven rug can turn an overlooked stretch of floor into one of the more characterful parts of a home.
Find a rug for your space
At The Nomads Tent, our collection includes handwoven rugs, kilims and runners in a wide variety of sizes, colours and patterns. If you're struggling to find something for a particularly narrow hallway, small entrance or awkward corner, bring us your measurements or photographs and we'll be happy to help you work out what might suit.
You can browse the collection online or visit our gallery in Marchmont, Edinburgh, where you can see the rugs and kilims properly in person.
