Brown is a forgiving colour in a busy house, and this one leans warm rather than dark. The Kelim Chindi runner in brown sits happily beside oak, white cabinets or a pale painted wall, and it suits a kitchen.

• Recycled cotton, woven flat
• Handwoven in India
• Runner shape with fringes and stripes
• Suitable for underfloor heating

A cotton rug like this starts as strips of fabric cut from textile offcuts, which are woven on a hand loom. Because the strips differ, the spread of tones varies a little from one piece to the next. The back is cotton too, so the flat weave is light and easy to move. The stripes and fringed ends suit a long, narrow space, such as a kitchen runner in front of the worktop, a hallway runner or the strip beside a bed in a child's room. Light and flat, the brown runner has the easy feel of our Cotton Rugs and fits the narrow spots where kitchen rugs work hardest.

Keeping the brown runner tidy

Vacuum it lightly and give it a shake outdoors now and then. Flat cotton is thin, so a pad slightly smaller than the runner keeps it smooth on tiles and wood, as our rug care guide recommends. Blot spills fast.