Red is the first thing you notice here, a deep, slightly worn shade laid over a classic Bidjar design with a framed centre and a busy border. The Bidjar runner is a good fit for anyone who likes Oriental Rugs but wants the pattern long and narrow.

The pile and the backing are both 100% wool, knotted by hand in India. Because it is knotted rather than woven in one piece, the fringes at each end are simply the ends of the warp threads. Wool is hard to set alight and does not melt. With pile and backing both wool, it is a hand-knotted wool rug with a bit of history in its look.

As a wool rug it has a short, dense surface, so it feels firm and neat underfoot. That makes it a handy hallway runner, and it works just as well in the bedroom, where it can sit alongside the bed. The red runner is also fine over underfloor heating.

Handmade pieces vary a little from rug to rug, so small differences in the shade of red are part of the charm. The runner is offered in several sizes, and finding the right fit is easier if you tape out the space first. Cream versions of the Bidjar are also available if red feels too bold.

Looking after it is straightforward. A stray thread should be trimmed with scissors, never pulled. Where a chair or a bed leg has left a dent, dampen the spot lightly and the wool usually springs back, a trick our rug care page also describes. Every so often, take it outside, beat it gently from the back and let it air.