Living Room Rug Size Guide
While I have a lot of blog posts in the works, I got asked this question again last week and I feel like it deserves to bump up the posting list.
One of the questions that I receive almost every consultation and from friends and family, is how to pick the right size rug for a living room.
Today I decided to compile my best tips and tricks that I use, as well as what I recommend to other people.
Sizing
To kick things off, standard sizes for living room rugs are typically 8’ x 10’, 9’ x 12’, and 11’ x 14’. These are all totally dependent on the size of your space, as sometimes a 5’ x 8’ rug works for a smaller living room space.
The rug should also be about 6”-8” wider than the sofa/chairs on either side of the furniture. Rather then the edge of the rug sitting under the pieces, it should run the length of the sofa.
Placement
Another big question people have is, where does the furniture go on the rug?
The conversational furniture (sofa, chairs, side tables, coffee tables, etc.) should have at least the front two legs of the furniture on the rug. Trying to include all of these on your rug is ideal.
As well, a large part of furniture placement and rug sizing is providing appropriate space and walkways. When people have a rug that is too small, the space tends to shrink to accommodate all the pieces on the rug. Around large pieces of furniture, I tend to try to have a 24” minimum around the pieces of furniture to enable ease of moving around. No one like whacking their shin on the coffee table getting off of the couch. But you also don’t want the tables too far, so that your morning coffee isn’t too far out of reach. There is definitely a sweet spot to be found, as well as the need for appropriate sized furniture for your space.
A few extra tips if you are in the market for a new rug to keep in mind as you shop!
If you are unsure about the sizing of your rug, map it out with tape! Whether you run a long piece of tape on the floor, or just mark the the corners of where your rug would go, measure it out! You can measure 6”-8” out from your furniture, measure from corner to corner and select a rug size that falls within that margin.
As well, a huge note to keep in mind is if any doors with be going over your rug. Speaking truthfully, I have made this mistake in my day and it is easier to think of this ahead of time then be backtracking. Whether an entry door, or if there are any drawers or cupboard drawers low to the carpet, keep these doors in mind. My suggestion would be to look for a rug that is printed or low pile. Or if you fall in love with a rug, you could always shave down your door a few millimeters. There is always a solution!
Down below there is a PDF of all of these tips and tricks combined in one place for some ease.
