Area rugs can add coziness, color, and texture to a room. They can also ground a room and define specific areas. However, choosing the proper size area rug can be challenging. Here’s our guide to area rug sizes.
Better too big than too small
Area rugs generally come in standard sizes of 6 x 9 feet, 8 x 10, 9 x 12, and 10 x 14. The biggest mistake people make in buying an area rug is choosing one that’s too small. An area rug will better define a space if it is large enough for at least the front legs of all the major furniture to sit on it. For example, a living room will look best if at least the front legs of the sofa, end tables, and chairs all rest on the area rug.
If the rug is sufficiently large, place all the furniture legs on it. With these bigger rugs, expert opinions vary on how much space you should leave between the edge of the rug and the walls, but 8 to 18 inches is a good rule of thumb. The larger the room, the greater the amount of space you should leave around the rug. Be sure there’s the same amount of space between the rug and the wall on all sides.
If you’ve fallen in love with an area rug that’s too small for your space, you can always layer it over another larger area rug or wall-to-wall carpeting.
Rooms that are quite large will look best with furniture groupings on more than one area rug. Keep a space of at least two feet between the rugs.
Area rugs for specific rooms
- In a living room, an area rug should extend at least 12 to 18 inches from the sides of the furniture.
- An area rug beneath a dining table should be large enough that all chair legs remain on it even when the chairs are pulled out from the table. Choosing an area rug that’s the same shape as the dining table is a good idea. Low-pile rugs work best under dining tables so that chairs can be pulled back more easily.
- In a bedroom, an area rug looks best if it extends beyond the sides and foot of the bed. A 6 x 9 rug should work with a double bed, an 8 x 10 for a queen, and a 9 x 12 for a king.
Related – Clean Area Rugs Differently Than Carpet
