Decor & Styling

How to Choose a Rug: 6 Rules to Follow in Every Room

written by JESSICA FRIEDHOFF

When you see a space that feels warm, cozy, and pulled together, nine times out of 10 there is a gorgeous area rug anchoring the room. Rugs help ground a room and are the perfect way to add some texture, pattern, or color to your design. However, area rugs are an investment in every sense of the word: They’re often expensive, hard to shop for, and difficult to return. So when you do end up purchasing a rug, you really want to get it right. Luckily for you, I’m here to help. Below, you’ll find my top rules you should always follow when choosing a rug for any room and some affordable picks to help you nail the look on a budget.

1. Make sure the legs of your furniture can sit on top of the rug

In a living room, for example, at least the front legs of your sofa and chairs should rest on top of the rug. This helps anchor the rug and avoid a “floating” look. For a dining area, you’ll need to take this rule one step further. Make sure all four chair legs can fit comfortably on top of the rug, including when you pull the chair out to sit. Otherwise, you might end up catching the edge of the rug as you scoot in your chair, which is always annoying.

2. Don’t take up every bit of floor space

Wall-to-wall carpeting is not the look you’re going for here, which means your rug should not butt right up to the walls. Allow for some breathing room around the perimeter to avoid overwhelming the room. As a good rule of thumb, aim for about a foot of floor space on all sides.

3. Extend the rug past the ends of your furniture

Again, the size of your furniture will help you determine your ideal rug size. Allow (at the very least) 6 to 8” of area rug around furniture—just that little bit of space to anchor the arrangement. Ex: if your sofa is exactly 7′ long, then a 5×7′ rug will be too small!

Same rule applies to a dining room: The area rug should ideally extend past the ends of the table about 8 to 10” on each side. In a bedroom, position the rug on the lower section of the bed, making sure that it extends past the bed at least a foot.

4. Choose a material that suits your lifestyle

Think about textures, materials, and how those play into your lifestyle. Material choice is important in this space, especially if you have a family. Washable or scrubbable materials, or a busier pattern will help hide stains, spills etc. You might also want to consider the color. If you’re placing a rug in a spot that receives a lot of bright sunlight, a dark, saturated color might fade more quickly than a lighter, neutral-toned rug.

5. Layer rugs the right way

When layering, make sure the second rug is about ⅔ the size of the first so you can actually appreciate both textures. Again, the scale will feel right if you stick with this rule! Jute and sisal are great layered underneath something softer underfoot.

6. Use multiple small rugs if one big rug is out of budget

All great rules are meant to be broken, after all. If that giant 9×12 area rug of your dreams is out of your budget, don’t fret. Using multiple smaller rugs is a great alternative that can even add some extra personality to your space. The key is to make it look intentional—not like you accidentally bought the wrong size and waited too long to return it. In a bedroom, flank the bed with two runners or smaller area rugs along the sides.