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Industry Expert Secrets to Finding the Perfect Rug

What Size Rug Do I Need?

by Nancy Minter

with contributions from Jim Wood,
30 year expert in the rug industry. President of Scotia Design Group
and former Director of Gulistan Rug & Home

The most common mistake is buying a rug that is too small. In the store, rugs look much bigger on the rack than they actually are on your floor. Here are some tips on determining the best size for your room…

What size is your room?

Small Spaces - Entry ways and small spaces will usually require scatter size rugs; 2’ x 3’ up to 4’ x 6’. Small repeating patterns are usually best in these small spaces. Large motifs or medallions will overwhelm the small space and draws too much focus to the rug. Scatter rugs should be used as accents to a small space rather than being the focal point. Hallways and staircases can be accented by using runners to lead the eye along to another area. Runners are usually 2’ x 4’ or 2’ x 8’.

                    

Large Spaces - Larger spaces such as family rooms and bedrooms require a grander statement. Larger rugs such as 5’ x 8’ or 6’ x 9’ usually work best. The larger size rugs allow for a larger design pallet. Large motifs and medallions become an option. Typically the size of the rug is dependent on the open area in your room; between the couch and the recliner or the bed and the dresser. The rug should either be small enough to show a symmetrical margin of flooring on each side or be large enough to lap under the furniture proportionally on each side.

Another option is a room sized rug that stretches almost to the walls. This will provide a carpet-like feel to the room. These rugs are typically 8’ x 11’ or larger. If the rug in a wide open space is mostly visible and not covered by furniture then you may want to make the rug the focal point of the room. If that is your goal then choose a rug with a large design element to draw the eye to the source. Medallions are an excellent choice in this situation. If a piece of furniture, fireplace or other architectural feature is the focal point, then choose a less stated rug with a repeating pattern to compliment rather than compete with that feature. For a large area rug, a size should be chosen to allow symmetrical border of flooring to show on all four sides of the rug.

               

Dining Room – An area rug under the dining room table should be 3 to 4 feet larger than the length and width of the table. A common mistake is place a rug barely larger than the table. One should be able to pull out the chair and sit at the table without the legs of the chair extending past the edge of the rug.

These are the most common sizes for large rugs…

• 4’ x 6’
• 6’ Round
• 6’ x 9’
• 6’ x 11’
• 9’ x 12’
• 10’ x 14’

Your rug manufacturer may have other sizes as well. You will need to decide the size that best fits your room and your goals.

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