There are no set guidelines when looking to finish off your home’s area rug, hall or stair runner. It simply comes down to personal preference. The advantage of creating a custom piece is you have options of material and how it’s done. Here are some of your best options.

For a higher end finish, often used is a cotton or linen binding complete with mitered corners and blind-stitched to give it a more tailored look. Suede, leather and fabric are also options that can be used.

A linen binding with mitered corners creates a higher end finish.

Another very popular finish is a serged edge. A serged edge looks like a thick fibre that is continuously wrapped around the edge of the carpet, resembling a hand-sewn, textured look that draws your eye to the outside of the carpet. The colour of a serged edge generally matches close to the field colour of the carpet.

This wool serged edge looks like a thick fibre that is continuously wrapped around the edge of the carpet.

Other options include a ¾” cotton tape or cotton overlay that is top stitched, or a 1 ¼” cotton tape that is blind-stitched or top-stitched.

A cotton blind-stitch overlay.

The least expensive method of finishing a carpet edge is using a nylon tape. The colour is matched close to the field colour of the carpet, so the edge is not noticeable.

The least expensive method of finishing a carpet edge is nylon tape.