A Detailed Guide to Rugs and Where to Place Them in Your Home

Rugs really have special powers. Besides bringing warmth and coziness into your home, they also inject color into dull spaces, add softness into otherwise sterile rooms, and tone down cluttered areas. Rugs also help divide big spaces into cozy areas in open-plan apartments or tie together a room’s color scheme. They can make a room appear larger or smaller, depending on their position and size.

But rugs do more than just adding a stylish touch. They also protect the floors (or carpeting), especially in areas with high traffic (like the hallway).

But how do you choose the best rug for your home? There are so many styles to consider – vintage rugs, modern, patterned, geometric, neutral, oriental, antique rugs… Not to mention the different textures, from hooked to tufted, and from knotted to flat-woven. The style very much depends on personal taste and how the rug suits your home’s décor, but then you have to decide where and how to place the rugs.

This guide will help you choose the perfect rugs for your home and find the best place for them, regardless of their size, style, or shape.

Living Room

When it comes to picking the ideal rug for your living room, you need to consider the type of home and your family’s habits. For instance, if you have small kids or pets, a wool rug might be more practical than an expensive Persian rug.

When it comes to placing rugs in the living room, there are some general rules to follow:

• make sure your rug fits your furniture; for instance, if your sofa is small, adding a big rug will make the room look unbalanced.
• leave at least 7-11 inches between the walls and the rug so that the floor is visible (unless the floor is hideous and you want to hide it).
• position the rug in the center of the room (under the coffee table or ottoman) and make sure that the sofa’s front legs are on the rug. This way, the furniture will ‘frame’ the area and make the living room look cleaner.

Larger living rooms

Proper rug placement can easily balance a huge living room. Just ensure that the rug is positioned halfway under the sofa and armchairs.

Smaller living rooms

To create an illusion of spaciousness, arrange the seating around the rig’s edge at even distances.

Extra tip

If there are several rugs in one room, should all of them be the same? It depends on personal taste and the effect you’re trying to achieve. If you wish to use similar rugs in a single room, shake things up a little bit by choosing a bolder design. This way, the repeated pattern will create a uninformed flow without overwhelming the space. If you want to go for different rugs, at least try using similar colors, but not exactly the same. We recommend using neutral shades from the same color palette in order to create a harmonious effect.

Dining Room

Many people don’t like the idea of placing rugs in eating areas but it can actually work very well.

So, what is the right size of rug to put under the dining table? Here is a tip: add about 20-25 inches to each side of the dining table.

The dining chairs should always be placed on the rug, even when pulled out. This way, you’ll make sure that neither the table nor the chairs are unsteady and prevent accidents that involve food! To further ensure table and chair stability, choose a flat type of rug, which is also easier to clean. Avoid high-pile and shaggy rugs, as well as sheepskin or cowhide rugs.

Round rugs

If you have a circular rug in the dining room, complement it with a circular dining table.

Shared living and dining

Properly placed rugs are a great way to separate the spaces in a combined living/dining area. Make sure to choose rugs that have a similar shape, tone, and color scheme.

Bedroom

In general, regular-size bedrooms with a standard-size bed go well with 7.8-foot rugs. This size makes the rug almost completely disappear beneath the bed, thus creating an illusion of spaciousness.

If you’re placing your rug under the bed, make sure to leave about 20 inches between the outer wall and the rug. Also, try to position your bed in the center of the rug so that the rug’s edges balance and ‘frame’ the bedroom.

Smaller bedrooms

Place the rug to the bed’s side to add depth to your sleeping chambers. This is also a good way to keep your feet warm, especially during the winter.

Kid’s bedroom

Adding a rug to a kid’s bedroom makes the space more personal and welcoming. What better place is there to host a playdate or picnic, read or draw? Place the rug partially under the bed to make sure the little feet are warm in the morning. Don’t forget to choose a fun color scheme to make the room even more playful!

Kitchen

Kitchen rugs are growing in popularity and for a good reason. Rugs turn kitchens from working into living spaces and make them cozier. When it comes to choosing the best rug for your kitchen, go for the extremely popular Persian-inspired runners.

Hallway

If you want to make a statement, this is the perfect place. Add a bold rug for an inviting first impression or to make a narrow entrance look more spacious.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be afraid to play with bolder patterns and colors because, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to add a personal touch and feel good in your home.