When shopping for the perfect area rug, selecting the right rug size is incredibly important. It’s easy to become distracted by colour and design, but an incorrectly sized rug can bring numerous disadvantages. Opinions differ as to the exact rules of rug placement, so it is important to consider which most apply the characteristics of your room; it’s shape, size and configuration of furniture. Different sizes can impact a room in ways you may not expect, so plan out your space by marking with masking tape or newspaper before before committing to a purchase. 

Generally, the most common mistake homeowners make is to buy a rug that is too small for a space. Interior designer Julia Green of Greenhouse design says ‘A generous-sized rug will give the perception that your space is actually larger than what it is. Your eyes are always drawn out to the edge of rugs so if you want to work with the optical illusion of creating a more generous room, GO BIG.’ We believe nothing makes a home more inviting, comfortable and luxurious than large expanses of rug. Our rug size guide will provide you with expert rug decorating tips to help you find the perfect size of rug for every room.

Choosing a rug size for the Living Room 

For a living room, there three main options when it comes to rug placement. Although there are no right or wrong answers, keep in mind that the overall aim is to create a framed effect. A rug can be used to unite or separate areas of the room, create pathways and provide softness underfoot where you need it most.

Option 1- Place the rug just in front of sofas and chairs

If you’re limited by a small room or few suitable stock sizes, this is an option you may consider. However, be cautious with this, as you risk buying a rug that is too little and can become lost in the space.

Interior Designer Rebecca Wakefield says ‘a rug covering only the floor around a coffee table will make the space feel incohesive.’ This is because it can make the centre of the room appear isolated.

However, bring the rug all the way up to the legs of the furniture and this option can work. The crucial factor to consider is that peoples feet rest on the rug when seated on the sofa or chair.

Option 2- Place the rug just under the front legs of the sofa and chairs

If you’re not sure how far under the sofa to go, try a couple of different options out first, or take the advice of Rebecca Wakefield; ‘Rugs should extend at least halfway under sofas and 30cm either side of them; side tables need to sit either fully on or off to avoid a messy look.’

Option 3- Place the sofa and chairs completely on the rug

Adding a large rug to an expansive room is the perfect way to make the space more inviting. It absorbs sound and warmth, breaking up vast areas of bare floor space. For rooms where furniture sits away from the walls, letting the rug flow out from behind the furniture is the ultimate luxury. If space allows, separate the seating area from the rest of the room by leaving a bare walkway behind the furnishing. This will help direct foot traffic around the room.

Roger Oats of Roger Oats design notes the growing trend for more room filling designer rugs; ‘We’re being asked to make much larger rugs that cover more of the floor area, rather than just creating an island under a coffee table or in front of a sofa. These rugs are almost like carpeting, but offer the flexibility of being taken up for a seasonal change.’ A bigger rug can have many benefits, so if you have room of large proportions take advantage of it.

Read more about how to place a rug in a living room at http://www.elledecoration.co.uk/decorating/insider-guides/insider-guide-arrange-living-room/

Choosing a rug size for the Dining Room

The dining room is arguably the place you most want to avoid making a rug sizing mistake. Underestimating your dimensions can leave you with the irritating problem of constantly catching chairs on the edge of the rug. Measure carefully and choose a generous sized rug that will allow the dining room chairs to be comfortably tucked and untucked from the table whilst remaining completely on the rug.

Depending on the size of your chairs, a good rule is to leave a minimum of 50 cm between the table top edge and the edge of the rug. Regarding standard sizes, for a small six-person table, a 300x240 rug may be a possibility, but generally a 270x360 plus would be a more preferable option. If you have a huge dining room, extending the rug almost to the walls will give an opulent effect which is sure to impress.

Choosing a rug size For the Bedroom

Having a soft luxurious rug in the bedroom is an indulgence you can enjoy every morning and night. A larger size will provide extra comfort and will contribute to the feeling of calm in the room, so ideally select the largest size the room will take. Ensure you can walk all the way around the bed whilst keeping your feet on the rug. A standard size can be found to fit most rooms, so you are likely to find a suitable piece from stock

Option 1 – Place a rug under the bed extending outwards from the end and both sides

For the bedroom, a common solution is to place the rug almost up to the headboard wall or just in front of the bedside tables. Measure from here to a point at least 30cm from the end of the bed, and at least 60cm around the side. The rug should neatly frame the room, so extend as far out as looks pleasing to the eye.

If you’re looking for a designer rug from stock for a Queen-Sized bed, try a 240x170 or 300x240 rug. Or if you have a King-Sized bed, try a 300x240 or 360x270 rug.

Option 2- Place runners around the edge of the bed

Although this is perhaps a more complicated choice than option one, this is the most cost-effective way of placing rugs in your space, as no square-meterage is lost underneath the bed. Measure from just in front of the bedside cabinets to just before the end of the bed, to create a soft walkway either side. You may choose to have another runner or small rug at the end of the bed too. Runners are likely to have to be made to order as stock sizes are very limited.

There is also a third option, which many never consider. This is to have a U-shaped rug made to order to fit exactly around the edge of your bed. At Bazaar Velvet, this is something we’ve been requested to make in the past and our clients have been very happy with the result.

Conclusion