Where should I place a corridor rug?

These narrow formats suit hallways, corridors, and extended landings where linear floor space requires softening. They also function effectively in long kitchens or beside bedroom furniture. Ensure adequate clearance for doors to swing freely over the pile height before positioning the runner in tight passages.

How do I care for an old wool runner?

Regular gentle vacuuming without a rotating brush roll prevents dust accumulation within the wool pile. Professional cleaning suited to antique textiles maintains the integrity of the natural dyes. Place a suitable underlay beneath the textile to prevent sliding on hard floors and to reduce friction against the foundation.

What is the difference between an Ushak and a Kazak runner?

Ushak runners originating from Turkey typically feature softer colour palettes and large-scale floral or geometric motifs. They often utilise relaxed knotting structures across expansive room-size or long runner formats. Kazak runners from the Caucasus display bolder primary colours, stark geometric medallions, and sharper rectilinear patterns woven with denser wool piles.

How can I tell the age of a runner?

Dating relies upon examining the natural dye palette, wool consistency, and structural characteristics such as hand-spun fibres and weaver irregularities. Nineteenth-century pieces often display organic dye shifts and asymmetric tribal motifs. Twentieth-century examples tend toward more standardised sizing and synthetic or semi-synthetic dye additions alongside machine-spun wool.