Choosing the Right Rug to Fit your Room

So you have an idea of the color and style of area rug you’d like for a room. Your next decision could be trickier – what size rug do you need?

Sizing is just as important in choosing a new rug as the color and style. A perfectly sized rug can work to complement both the décor in the room as well as the furniture arrangement. However, a rug that is too large or too small for a space can have the opposite effect. Learning to size the area can be a great help in choosing the right size and shape for your rug.

First, grab a tape measure. Depending on the size of the room, it may seem easy to judge the rug you need, but it’s often better to do the legwork of measuring the area you want to cover with the rug.

Living rooms and great rooms

Most living room rugs and great room rugs will measure 8’x 11’ or 5’x 8’, depending on the size of the room and your furniture arrangement. A sofa and chair grouping can comfortably surround a 5’x 8’ area rug. Or you can place your furniture directly on top of a larger rug, with a border of flooring around the edges. Whatever size you choose, treat your rug like a work of art and give it a frame by making sure the borders of flooring on opposite sides of the rug are equal. For room-size rugs, try to allow at least 1 to 2 feet of flooring between the rug and the wall. Do not choose an area rug so large that it touches the baseboards.

If your room is large enough, you can place more than one area rug to define different functions of the room. For example, one 8’x 11’ rug can anchor the entertainment area of the room, and a 5’x 8’ rug can portion off an intimate seating area at the other end of the room.

Dining rooms

Most dining room rugs should measure at least 8'x 11'. The most important aspect to consider is the measurements of your table. Since the rug will be placed underneath, you will want at least 4 feet extra in the length and width. This will allow you to move the chairs evenly without falling off the edge of your rug. Other furniture, like a buffet or china cabinet, should not be on the rug.

Entryways, hallways

The entryway and hallways are also great places to put rugs to complete your home’s decor. A rectangular, round or oval rug adds great interest to an entryway. Hallways generally take rectangular rugs. Some hallways are very long and require runners: rugs that are much longer than they are wide. Most runners are between 2.5 to 3 feet wide and 6 to 20 feet long, and in some cases are even longer.

Kitchens, bathrooms

For the kitchen and bathroom, most people only need scatter rugs to complete these spaces. Scatter rugs are available in a variety of shapes and smaller sizes. Rooms like these can handle more than one rug and smaller ones depending on where they will be placed. The most common places to put rugs in these rooms are in front of the sinks, and near the bath or shower. This will help to accentuate the room without being overpowering.

Different rug shapes

There are many different rug shapes to choose from that are available in both larger and smaller sizes. We offer round, rectangular, oval, and more to meet the requirements of your space. Choosing the right shapes can make a big difference in the effectiveness of the rug, so it is important to think about the shape of the room and area the rug will be placed in order to determine which is best.

The size of a rug can greatly enhance or deter from a room’s impact, but you don’t need to panic. It’s not all that difficult to find the rug you like in the size you need.