Oriental Runner Rugs

Oriental rugs in runner format

Long, narrow rugs have always been part of the oriental rug tradition: in Persian living rooms, they traditionally lay along the long sides of the large main rug. Today they lead through hallways and entrance halls, lie beside the bed or in front of the kitchen units. Here you will see only runners in the oriental style; you will find modern runners under Runner Rugs.

Bidjar, Qaraja, Ziegler and Baluch

Bidjar runners are the most common. Bidjar rugs are considered particularly dense and firmly knotted, which makes them well suited to busy hallways. Qaraja, Hosseinabad and Hamadan rugs from north-western and western Persia feature bold village patterns. For nomadic and geometric patterns, there are Baluch rugs as well as Yalameh, Turkaman, Ghashghai and Kazak runners. Ziegler runners from Afghanistan and Pakistan show generous floral motifs. Fine city patterns come with Tabriz runners in 50 Raj, Nain rugs in 6La, 9La and 12La and Moud runners; these are joined by runners from the Kashmir Silk series.

Material, fineness and age

Almost all runners in this selection are hand-knotted, some handwoven, including old Kilims. The pile is mostly new wool, partly Kurk wool; some runners contain silk. The knot density ranges from under 100,000 to well over one million knots per square metre. Alongside new runners, you will find older pieces aged 25 to 50 years and semi-antique ones aged 50 to 75 years. Most come from Persia, a large proportion from Afghanistan, and a few from Pakistan and India.

Lengths from under 2 to over 4 metres

Most runners are two to three metres long. Shorter pieces of up to two metres and runners of three to four metres are also common; for very long corridors, there are a few pieces over four metres.

Frequently asked questions about oriental runner rugs

How do I measure the hallway for a runner?

Measure the length and width of the hallway and leave some space on each side: visible floor all around looks calmer, and doors swing freely over the rug. Also take radiators and door stops into account.

How do I stop the runner from slipping?

On smooth floors such as parquet, tiles or laminate, a suitable anti-slip rug underlay keeps the runner in place.

Is an oriental runner suitable for the kitchen?

Yes. In front of the kitchen units, a runner lies exactly where you stand the most. A dark, densely patterned runner, such as a Bidjar or Hamadan, shows signs of use less than a light one. If it ever needs a thorough wash, our rug cleaning service will take care of it.