Area Rug Dos and Don'ts
Area rugs are more than just decorative accents—they’re essential tools for defining spaces, adding warmth, and tying furniture together. However, choosing the wrong size or shape can throw off the balance of a room, making it feel awkward or incomplete. Whether you're styling your living room, dining room, or bedroom, understanding how to properly place an area rug is key to creating a harmonious and polished look.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the dos and don’ts of area rug placement for every room in your home, complete with helpful visuals to ensure you get it right every time. Let’s dive in!
Living Room Area Rug Dos and Don’ts
Do: Choose a rug that complements the size of your living room and anchors your furniture. For example:
- A large rectangular 8x11 rug is ideal for fitting all your furniture, including sofas, chairs, and coffee tables, completely on the rug. This creates a cohesive and grounded look.
- A smaller rectangular 5x8 rug can also work if the front legs of all seating pieces, such as sofas and chairs, are placed on the rug. This approach still ties the furniture together while being more budget-friendly.
Don’t: Avoid rugs that are too small or mismatched to the shape of your space.
- A circular 8x8 rug may leave parts of your furniture awkwardly off-rug, such as back legs of chairs or sofas. The round shape can feel out of place with rectangular living room furniture arrangements.
- A tiny 3x5 rectangular rug that only fits under the coffee table will make your living room feel disjointed and unbalanced. It’s important that at least some furniture legs touch the rug to visually connect the pieces.
Dining Room Area Rug Dos and Don’ts
Do: Select a rug that fully accommodates your dining set, including chairs when they’re pulled out.
- A large rectangular 8x11 rug works perfectly for a rectangular dining table, ensuring all chairs remain on the rug even when in use.
- For a round dining table, an 8x8 circular rug is a great match, as it mirrors the table’s shape and keeps all chairs comfortably on the rug.
Don’t: Avoid rugs that are too small to fit your dining set properly.
- A circular 8x8 rug under a rectangular dining table will feel cramped and awkward, with chair legs likely slipping off when pulled out.
- Similarly, a small 5x8 rectangular rug under a round dining table will fail to provide enough coverage for chairs, creating an unbalanced appearance.
Bedroom Area Rug Dos and Don’ts
Do: Use rugs to enhance comfort and define your sleeping space.
- An 8x11 rectangular rug placed fully under the bed and nightstands creates a luxurious, cohesive look while adding softness underfoot.
- Alternatively, you can position an 8x11 rug partially under the bed so only the front legs rest on it. This placement works well if you want to showcase more flooring or use a smaller rug while still framing your bed beautifully.
Don’t: Steer clear of rugs that are too small or poorly positioned.
- A 5x8 rectangular rug placed in the middle of the room will leave nightstands and rear bed legs off-rug, making it feel disconnected from the rest of the bedroom layout.
- A circular rug in the center of the room creates similar issues—its shape doesn’t align with typical bedroom furniture arrangements, leaving key pieces floating awkwardly around it.
By following these simple guidelines for area rugs in each room, you can create spaces that feel polished, balanced, and inviting. Happy decorating!