Determining the right fit for an area rug to show off your floors, living room furniture and décor can seem tricky, but Big Sandy Superstore has made it foolproof.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing an area rug. The biggest rookie mistake is choosing a rug that is too small and makes the sofa look like a Great Dane standing on a dollhouse rug. Choosing a rug that is too large and dwarfs the room is another pitfall.
Big Sandy Superstore has right-sized rugs for every style and taste and in every price range, including customized orders for rugs larger than the most popular 8-by-10-foot options.
Our knowledgeable product specialists can help you find high-quality rugs, such as our Signature Designs by Ashley, that are proportionate to your room and budget.
With a wide selection of area rugs in all price ranges, Big Sandy gives homeowners options to spend less on a shorter-term design commitment or spend a little more to find the right rug and keep it for years, just like they would hold onto a pair of fine leather boots.
First, Measure the Space for Your Rug
Taking a little time to measure and consider the length and width of the room (or part of an open floor plan) saves time and mistakes.
Designers around the country suggest leaving a perimeter, ranging from 8 to 18 inches, of uncovered floor between the rug and walls.
If your sunroom measures 8-by-10, you might enjoy the casual Japheth turquoise area rug, which measures 5-foot-3-inches by 7-foot-5-inches.
Maybe your home office isn’t a standard size. Just choose the next rug size up or down that leaves a comfortable perimeter. A 6-by-8-foot room would come alive with this transitional Jerilyn rug. The perimeter won’t be the same on each axis, but centering it will balance the room.
If you are carving out a conversational area within an open floor plan, it’s okay to fill the whole space, keeping a perimeter along any walls that border a side.
It’s also important to note heating and cooling vents and walkways between spaces, where you don’t want the rug to intrude.
Second, Tape Your Rug Space
Taping the dimensions of an area rug onto the floor will help you visualize how it will fit in your space and may avoid problems with traffic patterns or furniture placement.
We like using low-adhesive painter’s tape, so no sticky residue is left behind. Check out these room diagrams before taping.
How to Size a Rug for Your Living Room
If you are creating a conversational space in an open floor plan, or from a large living room, you may prefer a rug that defines the conversation space and exposes more of your beautiful hardwood floor.
In this case, you’re not measuring the room, but the living room collection.
Arrange the sofa, chairs and tables and tape the floor around them so all the furniture legs fit into the rug space. Generally, the rug should extend past the sofa by 6 to 12 inches on either side.
Then measure the space you taped and adjust up or down a bit to find a rug that most closely fits.
A smaller rug can also make a balanced looking space, as long as the front legs of each seating piece, think sofa and chairs, rest on the rug. Side tables should still fit completely on the rug so they are on even footing, which prevents table wobbling and pitching your favorite soda onto your traditional Precia rug.
How to Size a Rug for Your Dining Room
In the dining room, you may want to fill the room or use an area rug as a dramatic staging area for the table and chairs.
Area rugs should be the same shape as the table — rectangular, square or round — although round tables also look great on square rugs.
The main goal is to choose a rug large enough so the chairs don’t catch the edges when a diner scoots out from the table. Designers suggest adding 24 to 36 inches on each side of the table.
A Joanna Gaines 7-foot farmhouse table would look fabulous on an 8-by-10-foot area rug, like the contemporary handwoven wool Karalee rug, a bargain at just $349.99.
Remember to consider a table’s leaves or extensions when choosing an area rug, and adjust the size accordingly.
How to Size a Rug for Your Bedroom
The basic idea for sizing a rug for your bedroom is to frame the bed, because it’s the room’s dominant visual element.
A bedroom area rug that fills the room except for the perimeter looks great. But you may want to be more creative with a rug that focuses attention on the bed and nightstands. There are two basic schools of thought on this.
The first is that all of the bed and nightstand legs rest on the area rug.
The second has just the lower two-thirds of the bed resting on the rug, while nightstands rest on the floor.
Center your contemporary Jicarilla rug not on the room but under the bed.
Be sure your feet land on luxury, no matter where you exit the bed. We recommend that at least 24 inches of rug extend on each side and the end of the bed, or from a bench at bed’s end.
Big Sandy Superstore is Here to Help
At Big Sandy Superstore, our staff is here to help you make an informed choice about what size area rug best fits your space. Don’t see what you want? Call us at 888-610-2449, and we’ll help you customize the best rug size for your home.