Deep red, a dense oriental pattern and a long, narrow shape: the Akhche Runner in red is the sort of rug that makes a hallway look planned. The design is traditional and busy in a good way, so even a plain white wall behind it feels warmer.

This wool rug is knotted by hand in Afghanistan. Pile and backing are both wool, with the pile 100% wool. Because each knot is tied individually, the red varies a little from one part of the rug to the next. That is the handwork showing, not a flaw. The red can also look a little lighter or darker depending on which way you view the pile, which gives the surface some life. That play of light is typical of hand-knotted wool rugs, and the red runner shows it clearly.

Its low pile keeps the pattern crisp and feels easy underfoot. It sits happily over underfloor heating, so a cold tiled hall or a bedroom floor with heating underneath is fine.

The runner shape is made for a hallway, a landing or the gap beside a bed, where it catches your feet first thing in the morning. Leave a little bare floor at each end so doors can swing freely. In a bedroom, a pair of them either side of the bed looks neat. Its busy pattern follows the tradition of oriental rugs, and the same design also comes in another shape in red.

Because it is wool, our cleaning advice is simple: blot spills with a light cloth from the outside in, and leave the spot to dry fully. A slip-resistant pad cut slightly smaller than the runner stops it creeping across smooth floors, and it also keeps the corners from lifting.