The right size makes a rug look as if it belongs in a room; the wrong size can make even a beautiful rug look lost. The most common mistake is choosing a rug that is too small. A few simple rules, based on how the furniture sits on or around the rug, will help you get it right in every room.
| Living room | At least the front legs of every seat on the rug; often 8 × 10 or 9 × 12 |
|---|---|
| Dining room | About 24 inches beyond the table on every side |
| Bedroom | Extending 18 to 24 inches beyond the sides of the bed |
| Hallway | Leave 4 to 6 inches of floor on each side |
| Floor border | Usually 12 to 18 inches of floor around a room-size rug |
Start with tape
Before you buy, mark the outline of the rug on the floor with painter's tape and live with it for a day or two. It is the easiest way to see whether a size works with your furniture and your walkways.
Living room
- All legs on: in a large room, a rug big enough for all the furniture to sit on it creates a unified seating area.
- Front legs on: the most common choice; the front legs of the sofa and chairs rest on the rug, the back legs on the floor.
- Floating: in a small room, a rug that sits in front of the sofa without touching the furniture can work, but it should still be wider than the coffee table by a good margin.
For most living rooms, an 8 × 10 or 9 × 12 is the right size. Leave about 12 to 18 inches of floor between the rug and the walls.
Dining room
A dining rug should be large enough that the chairs stay on it when pulled out. Allow about 24 inches beyond the table edge on every side. For a table seating six, that usually means an 8 × 10 or 9 × 12. Match the shape to the table: rectangular rugs for rectangular tables, square or round rugs for square or round tables. An all-over design suits a dining room well, since the center is covered by the table. See All-Over Designs.
Bedroom
- Under the bed: a rug that extends 18 to 24 inches beyond each side of the bed; often 8 × 10 for a queen bed and 9 × 12 for a king.
- Lower two-thirds: a rug placed under the lower part of the bed, leaving the nightstands on the floor.
- Runners: a pair of runners or small rugs on each side of the bed.
Hallways and stairs
A hallway runner should leave about 4 to 6 inches of floor on each side and stop short of the ends of the hall. If the hall is very long, two runners with a gap between them can work well. See Rug Sizes Explained.
Entrances
An entrance rug should be at least as wide as the door, and the door should open over it without catching. A 3 × 5 or 4 × 6 suits most entrances; a larger foyer may take a round rug or a 6 × 9.
See also How to Buy a Persian Rug.
