An area rug is the foundation of your furniture and helps to ground and define your space. We’re sharing our industry tips and tricks that will ensure you get the rug right for the room.
When picking out a living room rug, you need to consider the size of the space and your furniture. Do you have an open floor plan? Is it a confined space? These are the questions to ask yourself before purchasing a new rug.
If you have a larger space with an open floor plan, get a larger rug! The rug should be big enough to accommodate most of your furniture and it should coordinate with other rugs in the open space to create a nice harmony and balance.
If you have a smaller and more confined space, you have a few options when it comes to rugs. A larger rug will allow you to have the front legs of your furniture on the rug without making the space feel small. This layout is best if you have a grouping or piece of furniture against the wall.
For a small and narrow space, use a smaller rug as an accent to make the room feel larger. Base your rug size off of the size of your sitting area and the coffee table. You want it to fill the negative space without overwhelming it.
Take the shape of your furniture and room into consideration while looking for a dining room rug. All chair legs should be placed on the rug with enough room for them to still be on the rug when the chairs are pushed back. If your table has an extendable leaf, don’t forget to account that into the size of your rug.
The bed is the focal point of the room and will be the driving force in determining the size of your rug. A good rule of thumb: when you get up in the morning, your feet should hit the rug and not the cold floor!
A king bed should have a larger rug that allows the bed and nightstands to entirely or almost fit on the rug. A 9’x12’ rug or larger would work best with a king bed. It is up to you if you want to pull the rug to the back off the wall for the back legs of your furniture to sit on it or not. With a larger bed, you have more placement options for your rug!
A queen bed pairs nicely with an 8’x10’ rug that doesn’t extend under your nightstands but leaves about 36” of rug on either side of the bed. You can also go with a 6’x9’ rug giving you 18” on both sides. You can also pair a queen bed with an 8’ round rug for a differentiated look.
With a full bed, you have a few options to choose from. Get a 6’x9’ rug to fit under the bed or get two 3’x5’ rugs to put on either side of the bed in front of the nightstands. This is an excellent option for a smaller room where two sides of the bed sit closer to the wall. The runners shouldn’t be longer than the bed but should be a little wider than the nightstands.
For a twin bed, try an 8’x10’, 6’x9’, or 5’x7’ rug, depending on the size of the room. If you have two twin beds in a room next to each other, separate the space with a 3’x5’ rug between the beds.
Outdoor rugs are similar to indoor rugs in their functionality and style. Use outdoor rugs to highlight and define your space, whether it be an outdoor sitting or dining area. When picking the right size for your rug, make sure that all the front legs of your furniture fit on the rug. The same rule applies for outdoor dining rugs as it does for indoor. If you pull out your chair, it should still be on the rug.
There are nearly limitless styles of rugs to choose from. Start shopping now on Smithe.com or let a Smithe Designer find what’s right for your space, style and budget.