The right size rug is essential to creating a room that looks well thought out and well decorated. Our complete guide to area rug sizing will help you determine the right rug for your space.
Whether it's the focal point of the room or a neutral base to highlight your decor, choosing the right area rug will bring harmony to your interior design. A properly sized area rug can breathe life into a room and unify your furniture and decor. Before you start shopping for rugs, take a moment to assess the size of your room. This will help ensure that the rug is neither too big nor too small for your intended space. Plan ahead and take measurements to help you narrow down your choices before you start sifting through styles and colors.
The first step in determining your style goals is to decide what the focal point of the room will be. For example, you may be styling a sitting area, or maybe you're looking for the right rug to fit a small kitchen. Once you choose the focal point, consider the colors, patterns, and style of furniture you have in the designated space to help you coordinate your rug selection. If the room is large, you may want to layer rugs with different patterns and sizes to help create contrast. Ultimately, a rug is there to unify your furniture.
An important rule when using a large rug is to maintain a border space of bare floor all the way around it. Take your room borders into consideration when measuring a large rug for a room. Traditionally, it's recommended that you leave at least an 18-inch border of space from rug to wall on each side of the rug to keep the look symmetrical, or 8 inches of space if the room is smaller.
Consider foot traffic and location when choosing a rug material. For high-traffic areas, look for materials that are easy to clean and will stand up to stains and general wear, like bamboo or wool. Next, think about your furniture to determine the right rug shape and style. The shape of the room and style of your furniture will help you narrow down your rug choices.
To help visualize how a rug will look in your space, use masking tape to create a border on the floor where the rug will lie. When measuring your room, give yourself a 2-inch margin of error to avoid picking a rug that is too big or too small for the intended space. Once you have the tape placed exactly where you want the rug to go, you can then measure the length and width of the area. Use those dimensions to help you choose a rug size that is closest to your desired measurements.
Area rugs are a great way to center your living room furniture. As a general rule, your area rug should be about the size of the area where the furniture sits. Rather than placing a rug at the center of a room, use the setup of your furniture to determine the best placement. If you're working with floating furniture, which is furniture that is not placed against a wall, orient the rug with the shape of the room to help create visual flow and make the room appear larger.
Create a unified look in your living room with an area rug large enough to accommodate all of your furniture. The key to styling your seating area on top of a large rug is to maintain at least a few inches of rug space beyond where your furniture sits. This helps organize the seating area and create distinction in the room.
You can still create a cohesive look without the cost of a room-size area rug. If your furniture configuration doesn't allow for all of your furniture to be placed on the rug, tuck the rug just under the front legs of your furniture to keep your seating area unified.
While not usually recommended, sometimes a smaller rug can be a budget-friendly option and still add style and comfort to your living room. If you're working with a small living space, consider a smaller rug that floats in the center of your seating area. So long as the rug is properly centered among your furniture, it will look intentional and well-styled.
Area rugs are an easy, stylish way to warm up your dining room and protect your flooring. Here are a few tips to consider when choosing the right dining room rug size. First, it's important to keep in mind that whatever rug you choose should extend at least 24 inches beyond the chairs to accommodate guests moving in and out from the table. When in doubt, go for the larger rug. Aside from size, shape is also an important factor when shopping for the right rug for your dining space. Consider the shape of your dining table to help determine the right rug shape for your room.
Rectangular dining tables look best over rectangular rugs. If there is a generous amount of space between the rug and your other dining room furniture, like a buffet or bar cart, then consider sizing up to get the most floor coverage possible under your dining chairs.
Square dining tables are commonly paired with square or rectangular rugs to reinforce the overall silhouette of the table and room. However, if you're looking for a more playful design, you can pair a square table with an oversized round rug for a bold look.
Similar to square tables, round dining tables can be complemented by both round and square area rugs. A round rug works with the shape of your dining table to create a cohesive visual statement. If you want to create a look that's unexpected, opt for a square rug.
The shape of your dining room can help determine the shape of your rug. If you're working with a square dining room for instance, then a square rug will emphasize the shape of the room and enhance the look of your space, regardless of the shape of your dining table.
Your bedroom is no exception when it comes to styling your home with rugs. Area rugs can provide a soft cushion underfoot and create a central focus for your room. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing the right size rug for your bedroom. Your budget will help you narrow down the options, but the layout of your furniture should primarily influence the rug size you'll choose.
If you're working with a large master bedroom, consider an area rug large enough to fit your bed and both nightstands. For a larger room, an 8' x 10' area rug is the perfect size to accommodate a queen-size bed and end tables.
If you have attractive flooring but want to add more comfort to your bedroom, then tuck a 6' x 9' foot rug under the bed just up to the nightstands to provide soft cushioning where it matters most. Smaller rugs are more cost effective and won't completely hide your beautiful flooring.
One great budget-friendly way to achieve the comfort of a bedroom rug is to place runner rugs on either side of the bed. Runners and 2' x 3' rugs will give you the soft underfoot feel when getting in and out of bed for a fraction of the cost of a full-size area rug.
If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, then you probably aren't looking for a rug to provide comfort – but you can still get the style and panache of an area rug by placing it just under the foot of the bed. This technique can give you space in front of the bed to create a seating arrangement with accent chairs or a bench, adding more functionality to your bedroom. Look for a 5' x 8' rug to achieve this contemporary look.
Don't forget about your hallways and entryways when choosing rugs for your home. Entryway rugs help create a welcoming ambiance when guests pass through your front door. Not only are they a practical option for protecting floors from tracked-in dirt, but they're an immediate introduction to your home's style. For high-traffic areas like hallways, runner rugs offer protection while maintaining your style story throughout the space.
Runner rugs in hallways help guide the eye and create a clear path from one room to the next. Use runners to keep your style flowing throughout your home by placing them in high traffic areas. Not only will runner rugs look beautiful, but they'll also protect your floors from excessive wear and tear.
Round rugs are great for smaller spaces where foot traffic is high. Use round rugs in smaller entryways to add warmth to the space, or place one in your kitchen to add style and comfort underfoot during daily routines.
