Black reads as nearly neutral in a cheerful room, which is why the Kelim Chindi Runner in Black suits a kitchen or a kids' bedroom that already has plenty of colour. Fringed ends and thin stripes break up the dark ground without making it fussy.

Will black show every crumb on a kitchen runner?

Dust and crumbs show on any dark surface, but the flat weave helps: nothing sinks into a pile, so a quick shake does most of the work. Laid along the worktop, this kitchen runner takes the daily traffic between hob and sink, and the stripes carry the eye down its length. The same Chindi runner also comes in other colours, from Beige and Blue to Yellow and Green, and our striped rugs show more patterns like this one.

What is this cotton rug actually made from?

The surface is 100% recycled cotton, with a cotton back. Offcuts from textiles are cut into strips and woven on a hand loom in India, so the spread of shades differs slightly from one rug to the next. Cotton is a plant fibre from the seed hairs of the cotton plant and takes dye well, hence the deep black. It has been handwoven rather than knotted, so the weave is flat and easy to move around. Over underfloor heating it is no problem. It also works as a hallway runner for the same reason: the flat weave lies close to the floor. More plant-fibre pieces are collected in our cotton rugs, and when you are choosing a length, our guide to finding the right fit helps.

How do I look after the black Chindi runner?

Our advice on looking after your rug boils down to light vacuuming and a good shake outside. A non-slip pad, cut a little smaller than the runner, stops the light weave creeping across tiles. Cotton is soft and matt, and a flat weave does not scratch.