Nowadays, the demand for hotel accommodation continues to rise. As a result, hotel owners invest heavily in room design and in improving guest amenities. One detail you’ll almost always notice when staying at a hotel is the narrow piece of fabric placed across the bed. So what is it actually used for?

Bedroom Decoration

The first and most obvious purpose — and what most people assume — is decoration. Choosing a bed runner that matches the color of the pillows helps create a focal point on the bed. Since most hotels use white bed linens, the contrasting runner adds visual interest while still maintaining a cohesive and harmonious look for both the bed and the room as a whole.

A Place for Personal Items to Prevent Germ Spread

Just like placing food on the bed, many guests have the habit of putting everything — clothes, handbags, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, face towels, and other personal items — directly on the bed as soon as they enter the hotel room. This may seem harmless, but it isn’t. All of these items can carry bacteria and dirt, which can easily transfer onto the clean white bed sheets you’ll later sleep on. In this case, the bed runner can be used as a protective layer underneath your personal belongings.

Placing Food

Many people enjoy relaxing on the bed while snacking on their favorite foods during a vacation. To avoid staining the bedding, food is often placed on the bed runner. Because this fabric is usually darker in color, it is easier to clean than white sheets or duvets if spills occur.

A Place to Rest Your Feet

Some guests like to flop onto the bed as soon as they return to the room — before taking off their socks, or even while still wearing shoes, or when their feet haven’t been washed yet. In such situations, the bed runner serves as a temporary footrest, helping keep the white sheets clean.

A Protective Layer for Intimate Moments

To prevent awkward stains on the sheets and blankets, the bed runner can also act as a protective layer for couples during intimate moments.