The right sized area rug will bring warmth and balance to the room creating the perfect finishing touch.
Living room rugs size. A rug that is too large for the room can paradoxically make the room feel smaller. One of the biggest mistakes people make when decorating living rooms is to use area rugs that are too small often referred to as postage stamp size. Aimee beatty an in house stylist for pier 1 imports says to be sure to choose a rug that extends beyond the coffee table and at least under the first set of legs on sofas or chairs. Usually an 8x10 rug at minimum would suffice not taking into account the room size.
All furniture legs resting on the rug just the front legs on the rug or all furniture except for the coffee table off the rug. The rug size helps organize the seating area and create distinction in the room. A typical area rug size for this look in a living room is an 8 x 10 rug or larger. This is what you ll find in stores but if the sizes don t suit your space you can always have one custom made.
The key to styling your seating area on top of a large rug is to maintain at least a few inches of space beyond where your sofa and chairs sit. The common mistake most people make when choosing a living room rug is choosing a rug shorter than the sofas and then not aligning the furniture correctly. The standard sizes are 6 x 9 feet 8 x 10 feet and 9 x 12 feet. In larger sized living rooms it s best to go with a larger rug and have all your furniture sit on the rug.
Create a unified look in your living room with an area rug large enough to accommodate all of your furniture. An 8 x10 rug works best in an open floor plan or any room that is at least 3 feet larger than the rug on both the length and width 11 x13 room or slightly larger. Your living room shape not just the furniture should dictate the rug size and orientation to make the space look larger and feel connected. Whether your living room is used for entertainment snuggling on the couch or a more formal setting the furniture and décor you choose to include in it says a lot about who you are.
In large living rooms for example you can use two rugs to create two separate living areas. The size of an area rug can dramatically alter the room s overall effect. A rug that is too small for your space can cause the room to feel uninviting. Only front legs on the rug another very acceptable option in the living room is to have a rug just large enough for the front legs of all of the furniture to rest upon.
If you have a smaller living area the best layout leaves at least a 12 to 18 inch border of flooring around your rug. This will ground your conversation space and the room will look more organized. The general rule is to select a rug that is just about the size of your seating area in the living room. This leaves a comfortable border around the rug.