A rug pulls a room together, but only when it is the right size. When in doubt, go bigger: a rug that is too small makes the furniture look like it is floating.
Living room
- Best: all the furniture in the seating area sits on the rug.
- Good: at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs sit on the rug.
- Leave a border of bare floor between the rug and the walls, often around 30–45 cm (12–18 in).
- Common sizes are 160 × 230 cm (5 × 8 ft), 240 × 300 cm (8 × 10 ft) and 270 × 360 cm (9 × 12 ft).
Dining room
The rug should reach at least 60 cm (24 in) beyond the edge of the table on every side, so the chairs stay on the rug when someone sits down or pushes back.
Bedroom
Place the rug under the lower two-thirds of the bed so it reaches out on both sides, ideally by about 45–60 cm (18–24 in). Alternatively, use a runner on each side of the bed.
Before you buy
Mark the rug size on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day or two. It is the easiest way to see whether the size works with your furniture and walkways.