What do you look for when choosing a rug for your home? While the colour and texture are crucial to establishing the aesthetic of a room, selecting the rug size is just as important. Get it right, and you’ll anchor your furniture and define your space beautifully. Here’s how to measure a rug for a room with confidence.
Rug Size Guide for Different Rooms
The first thing to think about is the room itself: living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms all have their own considerations when it comes to the size of your rug.
Living Room
Rug sizing tips for a living room centre around your furniture. Generally, your carpet should be large enough to accommodate at least the front legs of your sofa, armchairs and coffee table to define a lounging zone. For larger spaces, you might want to consider a rug that can fit your furniture in its entirety, creating a cohesive look.
Bedroom
The ideal rug dimensions for a bedroom allow your carpet to extend beyond the bed’s edges all the way around. For instance, a carpet 400 x 300 cm (approximately 13' x 10') is ideal for a king-sized bed, covering the space around the bed to ensure a soft landing for your feet in the mornings while still showing some flooring.
Dining Room
The best rug sizes for dining rooms are related to the size of your dining table. The main thing is to ensure your carpet can accommodate all the feet of your dining chairs even when they’re pulled back. A good rule of thumb is to leave 45-60 cm around the dining table to achieve this.
Kitchen
This is where a long, narrow rug can really shine. Kitchen runner rugs should be sized to leave some space around the edges (ideally, aim to cover about 70% to 80% of your kitchen floor), with sufficient room around your cabinets so that you can open the doors easily.
Step-by-Step Guide to Measuring
Whether you’re looking to make the most of large rugs or seeking a rug measurement guide for small spaces, here’s how to get it right every time:
• Define the Space: Identify where your rug will be placed and consider how much exposed floor you’d like to leave around its edges.
• Use Tape for Visualization: Lay down painter’s tape to mark where the rug will go.
• Measure Furniture Placement: Check that your rug will be large enough to fit at least the front legs of your furniture.
• Consider Door Clearance: Measure how much space you need to open any doors over the rug without obstruction.
How Different Sizes Can Impact a Room
Choosing the right rug size can have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of your room:
• Smaller Rugs: While placing a small rug in a large space can leave your room feeling fragmented, these rugs are perfect for creating a cosy reading nook or brightening up an odd corner.
• Larger Rugs: These are great for defining distinct areas, such as separating the dining area from the living space in an open plan room. They also create a cohesive look and can make your room appear bigger.
Find the Rug That Fits at Carpet Centre
Ready with the measuring tape? Whatever the dimensions or layout of your room, you’ll find your ideal rug size at Carpet Centre. From vibrant abstract rugs to round blue rugs that make a statement, we have something for every style of interior. Explore our collection to find the right size for your space.
FAQs
What size rug is best for a living room?
While the perfect size will vary depending on the size and furniture layout of your room, you’ll generally want a rug that’s big enough for the front feet of all your furniture.
Can I use a smaller rug in a large room?
Yes, but there are some considerations. Smaller rugs can work well as accents such as under a coffee table. However, if the carpet is too small in comparison to your furniture, then it might make your room look disjointed.
How much of the floor should a rug cover?
In general this will depend on the layout but you should aim to leave up to 60 cm of exposed floor around the rug’s edges.