A rug is the heart of every room but picking the right one can be tricky – it’s a proverbial make-it-or-break-it situation. The pattern, color and texture is what we usually focus on but the size and shape are equally important in building the desired décor. Here we present a set of universal rules for choosing the perfect rug size. If you follow them, your rug will not only adorn the space but also optically organize it without disrupting the proportions. With us, you are going to make it!
The General Rule
Obviously, every interior is different, so you have to let the space dictate the size of your rug but there still is a general rule to follow – leave at least six inches between the end of the rug and the walls (or counters in the case of kitchens). In busy transition rooms like entryways and hallways, leave all furniture legs off rugs.
Be careful not to decide on a rug that is too small – interior designers warn that this is one of the biggest decorating mistakes, as it makes a room look awkward, instead of enriching it. “I’m a firm believer that the rug is a unifying element that pulls a room together and should anchor the furniture pieces,” interior designer Stefani Stein recently told MyDomaine.
“Sometimes finding the perfect rug in the perfect size can be tricky, and going custom isn’t always an option. So if the rug of your dreams isn’t quite the right scale, try layering. Just be careful to avoid textural overload.” And remember – measure twice! Better safe, than sorry, right?
The Living Room
In the living room, a rug will help you introduce comfort and separate individual areas. The first option is to have all furniture legs on the rug. In this arrangement, the rug should extend at least six inches beyond each piece of furniture. The standard rug size for this would be 9-by-12-foot or larger.
If your room is small, consider putting only front legs of furniture on the rug, especially if your sofa is up against the wall. A 8-by-10-foot or 9-by-6-foot rug should be just fine for this layout. Lastly, you can decide to have just a small rug underneath your coffee table.
However, mind that in limited spaces, a tiny rug may make the room appear even smaller. In the dining room, there is one simple rule to follow: Make sure that all chairs sit on the rug and the rug extends 36 inches past all sides of the table (and no less than 24 inches). This applies to both rectangular and round rugs.
The Bedroom
In the bedroom, the bed is always the focal point so the arrangement will focus around it. You have three options to choose from. The first one is to have all legs of the bed and the nearest furniture—like nightstands and a bench at the foot of the bed—on the rug. With this option, you should leave 18 to 24 inches of space around the outer edges of the furniture. For a queen or king size bed, a 9-by-12-foot rug is ideal if you have a bench at the foot of the bed.
If you don’t, an 8-by-10-foot rug should be enough. For a twin or full-size bed, aim for a 6-by-9-foot rug or bigger. But there are other ways. You can have two-thirds of the bed on the rug—meaning the rug should start just slightly in front of your nightstands. Here, the rug should extend 18 to 24 inches on each side of the bed (including the foot of the bed).
For this layout, consider an 8-by-10-foot rug for a queen bed and a 9-by-12-foot rug for a king. Finally, you can simply put runners or medium-sized rugs on the sides of the bed. This will help you create an asymmetrical layout and it’s a good option for small rooms. Look for rugs that are slightly wider than your nightstands and will not extend beyond the bed itself.
DORIS LESLIE BLAU CAN HELP YOU FIND THE RIGHT PERSIAN CARPET OR ORIENTAL RUG. WE HAVE A LARGE SHOWROOM IN NEW YORK CITY PLUS ONLINE CATALOGS AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR HELP CHOOSING A PRODUCT FOR YOUR NEEDS, CONTACT US ONLINE OR CALL 212-586-5511.
