Decorating your home can be an exciting and stressful time. Getting a rug is a great way to complete a room’s look. Think about which room you want to place your rug in, measuring the room and space, how the size can reflect your style, and planning the placement of the rug.
A beautiful rug may look great online, but might not be the perfect match once it’s on the carpet or floor of your home. You may need to move around some furniture to place it in the right spots. Below are some tips on how to pick the right rug size.
Consider which Room the Rug will Be In
What room are you placing your rug in? Knowing this will help determine the size you should purchase. You will also want to keep in mind certain rules based on the room. Even though larger rugs are more expensive, they often blend into rooms better than smaller rugs.
Living Room
You can place a rug under a sofa or in front of it. The length of the rug should at least be the same length as the couch.
If you have a small living room, place a rug in the center of the room, under the coffee table, with the furniture just outside the rug space. A 5’x7’ or 4’x6’ rug for a small living room will typically work best.
If furniture is against the wall, place the front two legs of the couches and chairs on the rug, with the coffee table at the center. A 6’x9’ or 8’x10’ rug will do in these spaces.
For a large living room, get a rug that is large enough to fit all the furniture on. An 11’x14’ or 9’x12’ rug size will work great in this space.
Dining Area
You want your dining room table and chairs to fit on the rug. All the legs of the table and chairs should be on the carpet. This rule should be followed for any shaped table and chairs in this space. No matter what size the table and chairs are, make sure the rug extends 24 to 36 inches outside the tablespace.
Bedroom
If you want to purchase a large rug for the bedroom, like 9’x12’, put the rug horizontally under the bed. The rug will show on both sides of the bed and at the foot. For a medium rug, such as 5’x8’, you can place the rug near the top of the bed with it exposed partially on both sides and the foot of the bed. You can also have runner rugs placed vertically beside a bed or under the bed, with only the sides exposed.
Foyer
Purchase a rug that matches the shape of your mudroom. Use the width of your front door to guide you in choosing the right rug size. Make sure the pile height is low enough to fit under the door.
Hallway
Choose a runner that can be placed in the middle of the hallway, covering at least 75% of the area. Most hallway runners are 2’x8’ long. If you have a longer hallway, you can always purchase more rugs to cover the length of your hallway.
Office
An office is a great place to show off your personality. For an office with a desk and two chairs, you can place a large rug, such as 9’x12’, perpendicularly under the desk and chairs. You can also place a rug behind the desk that runs parallel, such as a 5’x8’ rug.
Kitchen
Small rugs, 2’x3’, are popular in the kitchen. Place a rug this size in front of the sink. If you have a narrow kitchen or island, you can place a runner in these areas. A 3’x5’ or 2’x6’ rug would work well in this space.
Measure the Room and Space the Rug will Be In
Take measurements before you buy your area rug. This will help you avoid returning a rug that doesn’t fit your space. A large room will look great with a large rug in place. Make sure there is at least 18” of floor space showing. If you aren’t sure what this would look like, place a bed sheet where the rug would go to visualize the rug placement better.
Make it Work with the Floor Plan
Use a diagram or home design app where you can move around home decor for the best look without doing all the heavy lifting. You can also place painter’s tape on the floor where you plan on placing the rug. This is a great way to determine if the rug is a good fit for the room and will help you better visualize everything. Using Size to Reflect Your Style
Show your personal style in the size of rugs you choose for your space. Even though a larger rug can make a room bigger, you may prefer the look of a smaller rug. There are no definite rules when it comes to designing your home. If you find a size that fits your personal style, that’s the rug you should choose.
Plan the Placement of Your Rug
As a rule of thumb, decide if you want any furniture on the rug or the rug placed on the floor without touching any of the furniture. Long rugs should go along the length of the room. Small rugs, runners, and round rugs are great for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and kid’s rooms.
Make sure everything is spaced out properly. If the rug’s in the living room, where is the couch? If it’s up against the wall, you don’t want too much of the rug to get lost under the couch.
