Do you really need a long rug in your hallway? Not necessarily. Bare floors are fine for getting from A to B.

But a runner can make the journey more comfortable — and more stylish.

“It’s softer underfoot, it helps with noise, and it can be that finishing touch,” said Elizabeth Lawrence, a partner at Bunny Williams Interior Design, in New York. “They’re one of my favorite things.”

Finding the right one, though, can be challenging.

“It’s usually the last thing people think about,” Ms. Lawrence said. “So it’s about finding something that works with everything else that’s already been decided, and a specific size.”