Making sure that you have the appropriate rug size for your space is essential for your room to be perfectly balanced. Purchasing a rug that is too small for your living room space will make the room feel uninviting and awkward. However, picking up a rug that is too large will make the room feel smaller. A rug that fits perfectly in your space can make the room appear larger and more comfortable. This complete guide will give you all of the tips and tricks that you need to make sure you have the perfect rug size.
Standard Rug Sizes
Before rug shopping, it’s important to know what your options are. If you’re having a rug custom-made, you can purchase a rug the size of your choice. However, if you’re buying a pre-made rug, you’ll notice that it is available in standard rug sizes. The standard sizes for rectangular rugs are:
- 3 x 5
- 4 x 6
- 5 x 8
- 8 x 10
- 9 x 12
- 10×14
- 12×15
- 12×16
- 12×18
- Runners
There are also standard rug sizes for Round and oval rugs. These are measured by measuring the diameter of the rug in feet. Standard sizes are:
- 4 feet
- 6 feet
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
Most rug manufacturers will have rugs available in at least 2 or 3 of these sizes.
Tips And Tricks For Choosing The Right Rug Size
The most common mistake that shoppers make when purchasing a rug is buying a rug that is too small, which makes the area look awkward. Instead of risking purchasing a rug that doesn’t work, it’s important to take your time and follow these tips to determine the correct rug size.
Leave 12-18 Inches Of Floor Space
When placing a rug in a room or entryway, it’s important that the rug doesn’t sit directly against the wall unless it is underneath a piece of furniture. For example, if a rug is underneath a couch or bed, it’s okay if the rug is directly next to the wall. If the rug is not underneath a piece of furniture, make sure that you leave at least 12-18 inches of space between the rug and the wall in larger spaces.
In smaller spaces, you can leave less floor space exposed without making the area uncomfortable. Simply make sure that you have 6-8 inches of space on the sides of the rug. This rule is often used in small areas such as bathrooms, hallways, and entryways.
Measure The Area
Before shopping for a new rug, make sure that you measure the area. If you plan on putting the rug underneath of furniture, such as under a coffee table or bed, you can measure the piece of furniture. Then, add 6 inches to the measurements.
The only exception is if you are placing a rug underneath a bed. If you have a common bed size, such as a king size bed, you can look up the exact size of your bed online.
Match The Shape Of Your Furniture
When choosing a rug, and measuring space for a rug, it’s important that the shape of the rug match the shape of the furniture that it’s underneath. For example, a rug underneath a coffee table should be the same shape. If you have an oval table shape, you’ll need an oval rug to go underneath your table.
Determining the appropriate shape will guarantee that you have the correct measurements. If you are shopping for an oval rug, you need to measure the diameter. For rectangular rugs, you want to measure the length of two sides to determine the rug size that you need.
Use Masking Tape To Visualize Your Rug Size
If you’re unsure whether you’ve chosen the right rug size, use masking tape to outline where the rug will be. This can help you visualize the size of your future rug to determine if you’ve chosen the right size.
Go Up A Standard Size If You’re In Between Sizes
After measuring the area you would like to put a rug, you may find that it is a non-standard size. In this situation, go up a standard size instead of down. If you purchase a rug that is smaller than your measurements, it will be too small and make your space look less comfortable.
Choosing Rug Size According To The Room
When deciding which size area rug is appropriate, consider the room that it will be in. These classic design ideas can help you decide where to place a rug in each room of your house according to furniture placement.
Living Room
When placing a rug in your living room, consider the living room layout. Then, place a rug with all pieces of furniture, including sofas and chairs, on the rug. You can do this by making sure that all furniture legs are on the rug, or by only placing the front legs of each furniture piece on your area rug. make sure that you leave 12-18 inches of flooring exposed so that people have a walkway in the living room.
For smaller rugs, place them in the middle of furniture groupings. It’s common to put small area rugs underneath the coffee table only.
Dining Space
When placing rugs in a dining space, they are supposed to be under the dining room table. All legs of the table and chairs should fit on the rug. When you scoot the chair out from the table, the legs should remain on the rug.
Bedroom Rug Placement
When deciding on bedroom rug placement, you have several options. Purchase a large rug to make sure that you can sit all of your bedroom pieces of furniture on the rug. You can also opt for a smaller rug that sits at the end of your bed. Only putting your bed on the rug is a great option. Finally, it’s common to purchase two runner rugs that go on both sides of the bed. Typically, no furniture sits on these rugs.
After you figure out your perfect rug size, browse through our large selection of rugs available to find your new rug!