How to Choose an Area Rug

If your furniture arrangement will be entirely on the living room rug, leave at least 6 inches of rug around the periphery. This arrangement is best for an open-concept space or any grouping of furniture that isn’t against a wall. In large living rooms, you can use two rugs to define two separate seating areas.

If you prefer the look of a living room rug that is slightly smaller than your furniture arrangement, choose a size that extends under the front set of legs on the sofas and chairs. This setup works well if your sofa is against a wall. Choose a size that allows for the front legs on every sofa and chair to be on the rug, while still leaving room to walk around the coffee table.

For smaller living rooms, a rug under the coffee table can play off the room’s scale and make it feel larger. Choose a rug size based on the interior dimensions of the furniture grouping and not the coffee table itself. Usually 5’ x 8’ or 4’ x 6’ rugs work well under coffee tables. Try to fill up as much negative space as possible without going under the front legs of the furniture. Use the shape of your coffee table as a guide, too — a rectangular rug for a rectangular coffee table or a round rug for a round coffee table.

Measure the length and width of your table, then add at least 4 feet to each. This should allow at least 2 feet for chairs to be pulled out without sliding off the dining room rug. Don’t forget to allow for extendable leaves if your table has them.

Use a rug to define a dining area in a large eat-in kitchen. An 8’ x 10’ dining room rug is often large enough for a small table and chairs. Still allow for 2 feet around the periphery for chairs to be pulled out without sliding off the rug.

Choose a dining room rug based on the shape of your dining table (round, oval, square or rectangular), but still go with a size large enough to keep chair legs from being pulled out onto the floor.

Use your bed as the focal point for rug placement. If you like the look of a large rug, choose one that covers the area of the bed and its accompanying furniture pieces like nightstands and benches, but does not include furniture along the walls like dressers.

If you prefer a smaller rug, place it under two-thirds of the bed, leaving the nightstands off the rug. You should still allow for at least 18 inches of rug on either side and foot of the bed. Generally, an 8’ x 10’ rug is good for a queen-sized bed, and a 9’ x 12’ rug is best for a king.

Two runners fit nicely on either side of a bed against a single wall. Choose a size that isn’t longer than the bed and is a bit wider than the nightstands. You can place the front legs of your nightstands on the rug, or leave them off entirely. If your bed is tucked into a corner, opt for a single runner on one side.

An 8’ x 10’ outdoor rug can easily help you create a defined space on a patio, deck or any larger outdoor area. It can be used to bring a cohesive look to furniture by resting the front legs of outdoor chairs or sectionals on it to tie everything together. It’s also perfect under an outdoor dining table that seats 6 to 8 people.

A 5’ x 8’ outdoor rug is a great choice for smaller outdoor spaces like balconies, smaller patios and other cozy seating areas. It works great under a bistro set or smaller table that seats 2 to 4 people, and adds warmth without taking up too much space. You can even layer it over a larger rug in bigger space to add contrast to your look.

An 8’ round outdoor rug works great in circular spaces as well as bringing visual interest to square or rectangular spaces. It fits great beneath a round outdoor dining table that seats 4 to 6 people and even works well in gazebos, pergolas and other areas.