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What Are the Different Types of Hallway Carpet?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

Replacing or installing a hallway carpet starts with taking accurate measurements to ensure the homeowner purchases the right size carpets, regardless of what style or design he or she buys. Knowing the dimensions of the hallway will help narrow down the search for carpets quickly and make the process of installing the hallway carpet correctly much easier. Some carpets for the hallway are simple throw rugs that are not secured to the floor, while other hallway runners may run the entire length of the hallway and may require some method of securing the rug so it does not shift during use.

An entryway rug is a type of hallway carpet that sits at the entryway to a home. The carpet may be quite small, approximately the size of a door mat, or it may be much larger and extend into the foyer or hallway of the house. These carpets tend to get dirty quickly, so it is best not to invest in an especially expensive or valuable carpet for this area. People coming into the house have dirty shoes, which can grind dirt and grime into the carpet fibers, damaging them quickly. An inexpensive throw rug is best to act as a front hallway carpet that will see a lot of abuse.

Dirty shoes can grind dirt into carpet fibers.
Dirty shoes can grind dirt into carpet fibers.

Many hallway runners are made with a fiber design called a short pile twist. This means the fibers of the carpet are twisted around each other, and the pile, or height, of the fibers is quite low. The reason for choosing such a hallway carpet is because it will not wear quickly, and it will not show any obvious signs of wear as the fibers become compressed. Longer fibers that are not twisted will compact after a fair amount of use, and this wear and tear will show obviously in the carpet. The aesthetic of the carpet will be damaged, sometimes irreparably, while short pile carpets will not show such wear for many years, if at all.

Some carpets for the hallway are simple throw rugs that are not secured to the floor.
Some carpets for the hallway are simple throw rugs that are not secured to the floor.

A cotton hallway carpet, or other natural material, will often be much softer and comfortable than synthetics, and cotton in particular will have a very long life. These carpets do tend to be more expensive, however, and care will need to be taken to ensure the pile of the carpet does not get beaten down too quickly. Regular vacuuming and even shampooing may be necessary to extend the life of a cotton carpet.

Discussion Comments

Oceana

I have a gorgeous hallway runner carpet made of wool and cotton. It is black with red and orange bursts of fireworks scattered randomly upon it.

The wool pile is natural, so it is really soft and tightly woven. There is cotton canvas on the back of the runner to strengthen it, and I believe it keeps it from slipping, as well.

While the black portions of the rug do show dirt easily, the firework sections hide it well. I usually shampoo it once a month, regardless of where the dirt lies.

orangey03

My entryway is very small, so I only have a rectangular throw rug covering the floor there. The fibers are tightly woven, yet there are enough crevices and raised spots to capture dirt from shoes, which is the purpose of this rug.

It is not secured to the floor, so I can take it out and clean it any time it needs it. I use a rattan carpet beater to beat the dust out, and this seems to work even better than a vacuum cleaner. It’s tough to vacuum a rug, anyway, because parts of it keep getting sucked up and stuck in the hose.

Perdido

@shell4life - To each his own, I guess. I adore fluffy carpet, and the thicker it is, the more I like it.

I even have it in my hallway. It is so soft, and I look forward to taking off my shoes and walking on it after work. It comforts me, and I feel relaxed right away.

I’m sure it does hold more dirt than a short carpet, but it looks brand new every time I vacuum it. This sucks out a lot of the dirt and fluffs the fibers up, making it look even thicker.

shell4life

I like short pile carpet runners for hallways. They can’t hold as much dirt as big, fluffy carpets.

Also, they are nearly flat, so the transition between the carpet in the hallway and the hardwood floor in the living room is minimal. Personally, I would have had hardwood in the hallway, too, but I am renting this house, so I can’t rip up the carpet.

Short pile carpets help keep my allergies down, too. I used to live in a house with long fiber carpet, and my allergies were much worse, because dust would cling to it, and it was hard to clean.

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    • Dirty shoes can grind dirt into carpet fibers.
      By: bah69
      Dirty shoes can grind dirt into carpet fibers.
    • Some carpets for the hallway are simple throw rugs that are not secured to the floor.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Some carpets for the hallway are simple throw rugs that are not secured to the floor.
    • Knowing the dimensions of the hallway will help in installing the carpet correctly.
      By: Greg Pickens
      Knowing the dimensions of the hallway will help in installing the carpet correctly.
    • Many hallway runners are made with a fiber design called a short pile twist.
      By: Iriana Shiyan
      Many hallway runners are made with a fiber design called a short pile twist.