5 budget-friendly DIY hall runner ideas

Hall runners and rugs are not only be aesthetically pleasing, they can also be a versatile solution to a multitude of problems.

They reduce wear and tear on hardwood floors, they can cover a slippery surface to prevent accidents and they can change the entire look of an entry way, which means you can give your hallway a makeover simply by changing the hall runner.

Unfortunately halls are usually quite long and runners can be very expensive, especially if you’re in the market for a runner or rug that is several metres long.

Getting the flooring right in your home can be a matter of combining a few approaches. Picture: realestate.com.au

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Thankfully there are some budget friendly alternatives for those who want to spruce up an entry way without spending a lot of money.

1. Paint

Although paint won’t protect the floor surface of your hall way, it will cover up less than attractive flooring and it’s an excellent way to add personality and colour to your entry way. Simply map out where you want your runner to be with masking tape, making sure the runner is equal distance from each of the walls.

You should use a hard-wearing paint that will withstand high foot traffic, so try acrylic-latex paint or an alternative your hardware store can suggest. Research your flooring materials and find out what kind of paint preparation you need to do. Apply two coats of your chosen paint and leave it to dry for 24 hours.

Tip: Consider your climate. Humid areas will require different paint than dryer places.

2. Crochet

If you’re handy with a hook (or know someone who is) you can crochet a hall runner to your exact measurements. Use string, thin rope, hemp rope or raw wool for yarn. It’s important to make sure you use a hard-wearing material that will cope with being walked on frequently.

Tip: Use bulky yarn and a large hook so the hall runner will work up quickly. A delicate yarn crocheted with a small hook will take far too long to crochet into a long rug. Twine is an ideal material as it’s hard wearing and will work fairly quickly into a decent sized rug.

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3. Contact paper

Contact paper is a brilliant flooring solution as you can get the look you want at a fraction of the cost. You can get contact paper that looks like wood panels, marbled tiles and even the surface of a fish pond so it looks like you’re walking on water.

Tip: Use heavy duty contact paper and make sure you apply it carefully so there’s no lifting or buckling and the edges. You can purchase industrial strength contact paper at hardware stores or online.

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4. Sew

If you aren’t a sewing expert, a hall runner is a great project to start with. Measure your hallway first and then take your measurements to a fabric store to purchase your fabric.

Try vinyl or a thick plastic-backed fabric. Hard wearing is the key here. Even denim or thick hyde would be ideal.

Tip: Purchase a no-slip carpet rug to keep your DIY hall runner in place. Carpet rugs are slightly sticky, thin mats that sit between the hall runner and the floor to keep it in place and to stop it from bunching up.

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