I’ve had area rugs on my mind lately because for the last few weeks, I’ve spent hours upon hours shopping for just the right rugs for a huge (and very exciting) project that I’m working on. (Tune in next week if you want to hear about that!)
So maybe you'd like a little info about choosing area rugs.
A rug can be a great addition to pretty much any room in your house - - it can inspire the design style and color palette of your space, define a particular area of a room, and add cushy comfort and warmth to your little tootsies in the morning.
If you’re not sure about how to choose the right size, I’ve got a few tips for you based on the room you might be shopping for.
But first:
Before you rush out to HomeGoods or Rugs 'R Us, measure the size of your room first. And your furniture too. You don’t want to fall in love with something that’s too large or too small for the space. Also, take into consideration how your furniture is arranged.
Living room rugs
If you’ve got a large room and your furniture is floating in the middle, choose a rug that’s large enough so that all the pieces are sitting completely on the rug. If you’ve got an open floor plan, this will define your conversational area. Check out rugs that are 9’ x 12’ or 11’ x 14.’
If you’ve got a smaller room and the furniture is against a wall, a smaller rug is fine, and it’s acceptable to have just the front legs of the sofa and chair on the rug. Look for an 8 x 10 or maybe a 6 x 9. Ha! These people appear to be Portlandians and fans of the airport. :-D
Dining room rugs
In a dining area, you'll want a rug that’s big enough so that the table and chairs are sitting completely on the rug. Measure the size of the table and then add an extra 24 - 30” on all sides so that the chairs can be pulled all the way out and still be on the rug. You don’t want to be dragging chairs over the edge of the rug or your guests tripping and spilling the gravy all over grandma.
They’re a little harder to find, but if you have a round or square table, consider a round or a square rug rather than a rectangle. Seems kinda obvious, huh?!
Bedroom rugs
You have a few size options which will affect how you lay the rug in a bedroom. With a large rug, you’ll want the bed and nightstands to be sitting completely on the rug.
If you choose a smaller rug like a 6 x 9, turn it so that it’s running from side to side, so that just the bottom two-thirds of the bed is on the rug.
(Hmm. This doesn't look like a small rug to me.
I'm going to have to have a talk with my graphic designer!)
You can also put a runner on each side of the bed if you don’t want to shell out for a big ol' rug. And that's a nice look too.
In any of these cases, try to have 30 - 36” of rug showing all the way around the bed.
Bonus tips:
If you can’t find the right size rug, you can have one made out of wall-to-wall carpet! Some manufacturers will custom make one for you by cutting it to the size you want and then binding the edges. In some cases this can be less expensive than a regular area rug, and the sky's the limit when it comes to the length. (Those Portlandians up there knew what they were doing!)
You have permission to put a rug down over wall-to-wall carpet too. This works best if it’s a low pile carpet, not so much with a long or heavy shag. Things start to get a little lumpy looking otherwise.
And don’t forget the pad under the rug. It adds cushioning, protects hardwood flooring from getting scratched, and extends the life of your rug, plus the rug won’t slip around on you.
So that's what I have to say about rugs this fine morning. What do you think? Are you in the market for a rug? Got more questions? Leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from ya!
