Choosing the right size rug for your living room doesn’t have to be a daunting task. It’s simple and can create a cohesive design aesthetic for your room. And when done well, it can pack a significant designer punch, tying the whole space together. We love rugs for what they bring to a space– beautiful aesthetics, comfort, and focus. If you’ve been feeling like your room is missing something, perhaps a rug is worth consideration. We’ve put together some of the top trending tips and tricks for knowing what size rug for your living room is the best choice. Read on to learn more!
It all comes down to size– really scope and scale. This is an important factor when deciding what size rug for your living room is best. This is the foundation for creating balance within a space. Ever walk into a living room and think something was off? Could it be that the rug was too small or too big? A rug too small creates an awkward, disjointed look to the room. A rug that is too large, and your sofa and other furniture pieces look as though they’re swimming in a sea of textiles. The best design rule of thumb to follow when choosing what size rug for your living room is to choose rugs that are 8’x10’ and 9’x’12’. This ensures your sofa or sectional isn’t being swallowed up by your rug, and not too small to create that awkward look and feel. Remember too that the rug should run the entire length of the sofa. A good rule of thumb- if all legs of the furniture within a room are on the rug, the rug is most likely too big for the space.
We see it all the time- a rug that’s too small for the space and the furniture. It makes the space look and feel awkward and disjointed– something to avoid when choosing what size rug for your living room will work best. If your rug only takes care of the real estate under your coffee table, chances are your rug is too small. While your rug doesn’t need to cover the entire perimeter of the sofa, it should start halfway under the sofa and proceed to cover the rest of the space. This will provide a visually appropriate scale and balance to the room, while too small of a rug makes the space look and feel much smaller than it is. Aim for having the front legs of the furniture on the rug, which will “ground” the rug in the room.
On the other hand, going too big also poses some awkward design dilemmas. Rugs too large for the living room tend to swallow the whole room. Their expansive size and presence weigh the space down, and don’t offer that cohesive look we’re trying to achieve. Moreover, if your living room is very large, you may want to create designated entertaining and living spaces within one space. One large rug sends the message of an overly large room, without the carved-out spaces for specific function and purpose. Think open floor plans with large kitchens that lead out into an expansive living room. You may want to create a TV area with a sectional as well as a sitting area accompanied by accent chairs. Focusing on one of those rooms that offers the distinction between the two, which will create harmony and cohesiveness within the overall space.
Rugs in Raleigh can come in all sizes– as well as shapes. And while it seems to be a natural gravitation to go for the rectangular area rug, consider oval or even round. They’re more easily incorporated into a design scheme than you may think. For example, if you’ve carved out a cozy sitting area in your living room, consider a rug placed under a small accent table, flanked by two chairs. The oval shape adds much visual interest and softness to the many angles within the space. Having fun with shape is a great way to play up the design aesthetic within the space to carve out specific living areas with appeal and function.
Make sure to accommodate walkways. The rule of thumb is to give 30” to 36” of a walkway between large pieces of furniture. However, if your living room is on a smaller scale, 18” to 24” will work. Consider these measurements when setting out to purchase your living room rug. This will help steer you in the right direction and avoid any design mishaps along the way.
And while color may not be directly linked to size, it does play a role in how the size of the room will look and feel. The most common design mistake is choosing a rug that’s the same color as the sofa and other furniture items in the space. While choosing a rug that cohesively pulls the space together is the goal, going matchy-matchy is a designer faux pas we’re looking to avoid. Go with a rug that compliments the space and the items within it.
When it comes to transforming the look and feel of your room, the power a well-chosen rug delivers is unmatched. You can easily take your space from drab to fab with the right-sized rug that will cohesively tie your whole room together. Here’s what you should focus on when choosing what size rug for your living room:
-Size: Most often, the best design rule of thumb to follow when choosing what size rug for your living room is to choose rugs that are 8’x10’ and 9’x’12’. This ensures your sofa or sectional isn’t being swallowed up by your rug, yet not too small.
-Avoid A Rug That’s Too Small or Too Big: a rug that’s too small for the space and the furniture makes the space look and feel awkward. Rugs too large for the space tend to swallow the whole room. Their expansive size and presence weigh the space down, and don’t offer that cohesive look we’re trying to achieve.
-Take Into Account Walkways: The rule of thumb is to give 30” to 36” of a walkway between large pieces of furniture. However, if your living room is on a smaller scale, 18” to 24” will do.
Finding the perfect rug for your space will not only provide comfort but will extend the visual design interest within the space. Rugs add texture, color, and interest to any living room. If you want to up your living room design game, consider adding a rug to your space. The design benefits are priceless.
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