This decorating post about choosing the right rug size was last updated in April 2023.
Rugs can make or break a room, which is why we wanted to share our most detailed rug buying guide with you before you fill your next room with one!
You can give your room an instant makeover with the quick switch of a rug. Everything about a rug, from the texture of its construction to its color scheme and the overall design, can heavily influence—and therefore change—the design statement in the room.
Another important detail that shouldn’t be overlooked is rug size. Admittedly, figuring out the best rug size for any room can be a difficult task. Follow our expert tips, sizing advice, and diagrams below to help you choose the best rug size for your indoor spaces.
Choosing Bedroom Rugs
There’s nothing better than hitting the warm, soft surface of a rug when you roll out of bed in the mornings.
Bedroom rugs make a statement or set the mood more than you might think, so it’s important to pick a rug color that makes your cozy bed feel even more inviting than it already is. But what about sizing?
The rug sizing diagrams above and below lay out the guidelines for choosing a rug size to match your bed size, furniture arrangement, and more.
Still not sure if its the right size? Use painters tape to outline the area in your bedroom you’d like to cover, measure the perimeter, and pick the nearest size in your favorite rug.
TIP: To create a cozy border, allow an additional 30″ on each side of the bed and extend it out depending on how little or more of the bedroom floor you’d like to see.
Choosing Dining Room Rugs
Dining Room rugs not only make the dining decor feel cohesive to the eye, they are an important feature of any family gathering.
The rug sizing diagrams above and below lay out the basic guidelines for choosing a rug size to match your table size, shape, and orientation.
For chairs to slide in and out comfortably, you should add 24″-30″ to each side of the table for the perfect rug size. If your table has extensions or leaves, take measurements with them in place, so you’ll have a large enough rug regardless of the size of your dinner party.
Choosing Living Room Rugs
In a living room, the rug helps define the space. To create an inviting, inclusive feel, choose a rug large enough to extend past all of your seating. To highlight a particular area, layer your foundation rug with a smaller rug that makes a big statement.
The rug sizing diagrams above and below lay out the basic guidelines for choosing a rug size to match your furniture arrangement, type, and quantity.
If your living room space is very large, consider dividing it into separate seating areas/zones, each with its own rug.
For example, the TV Area could have its own standalone rug and decor, while the reading area could also have its own rug and decor. The choice is yours!
Find Your Perfect Rug Today
We hope this rug guide helps you find the perfect rug for your own home!
Let us know in the comment if you have any rug questions we didn’t answer. Or, give some of our other rug buying content a read and find even more inspiration for filling your home with rugs:
Find more rug inspiration here, or browse our Pinterest boards for ideas.
robinette lynch
I appreciate your advice on rug dimensions; however, there does not seem to be any such thing as an 8 x 12 rug (which is exactly what we need) so why recommend something that doesn’t exist?
Heather Daly
Hi Robinette,
While it’s true, 8×12 is a more uncommon size for rugs, we do over a handful of rugs in this size. Simply search rugs on our website and choose the filter “size”. There is an option for 8×12 rugs within this filter. Hopefully you find one that works for your space!
Paula
Hi,
I am looking for a natural fiber rug for my den/office. It is a long narrow room, 21′ long. I can only do about 6′ wide due to vents and a hearth. Do you have an rugs that fit these dimensions? I was wondering how odd it look to have 2 or 3 rugs. Two would likely mean breaking the room in half, which I don’t love since a sofa sits in the middle. I’d welcome any advice.
Thanks.
Annika Dupree
Paula,
We would love to help you pick out a rug for your den/office! We offer a free design service where our interior designers help you pick out furniture, fabric, and accessories! Just send in your question along with a picture of the room here, and a designer will reach out to you with a design plan!
Chelsey
We have recently purchased a new round table and I am very hesitant to use a rug because we have 15 month old twins. I’m so worried it will get destroyed with food and drinks. Is their a kid friendly material I should be looking for? I’ve heard using an indoor/outdoor rug is a good choice. Help!
Caroline McDonald
Chelsey,
Indoor outdoor rugs have come a long way in recent years! Because they’re often made from polypropylene, you could literally hose them down outside and they’ll be good as new. Some do have a thicker weave than others though which give them the feel of a wool rug. While these certainly feel more plush and are extra resistant to stains, their plush texture means they don’t dry as quickly as a flatter pile. Overall, I think an indoor outdoor rug would work fantastically for your application! I’m certain they’ll be able to stain up to whatever stains your twins can throw at them 🙂
Best of luck!
Caroline
Jackie
Hi! I’m in need of two rugs for my kitchen/hearth area. A round for under the kitchen table and a rectangle for under 2 chairs in front of a fireplace. Would you recommend the same pattern in both areas or different? Would sisal be a good option or would a patterned rug be best? The areas are about 20 feet from each other. Thanks for your input!
Annika Dupree
Jackie,
We would love to help you pick out rugs! We offer a free service in which our interior designers help pick out furniture, fabric, and accessories! Just send in your question and a picture of the room here, and a designer will contact you with a design plan!
Connie
Hi! We have just moved to a new house with traditionally stained oak floors, from dark hardwoods, and our rugs look terrible! Thinking of purchasing the Best of Ballard’s Braided Jute in driftwood. Will this color work on our honey hued floors? And is it over kill to use same style rug in family, dinning, and master? Thank you for your time and suggestions!
Caroline McDonald
Connie,
It’s definitely not overkill to use the same rug throughout your main rooms. In fact, it’s a great way to link them all together. Sounds like this rug would work great with your honey colored floors too.
Happy Decorating!
Caroline
Karen
How about an office. I’m having trouble figuring out how the desk chair can be comfortable half on and half off. The rug Should the rug go to the wall under the desk?
How to Decorate
Karen,
You’re right, it’ll be difficult to move around a chair (if it’s on casters) if the rug is half on and half off. It would be best to have it either all on the rug or all off. As far as the rug running under the desk to be closer to the wall, we think that’s the best way to go.
Best of luck!
Brenda
Hi:
We have an odd shaped small front living room. There are Windows on one wall and a corner fireplace taking up two walls. The remaining wall is only half a wall as its our stairs and room entrance.
Currently we have two Chairs angled in front of the windows and looking towards the fireplace. And we have a round rug in front. I feel like we may need a square rug but will that conflict with the angle of the fireplace.
Caroline McDonald
Brenda,
A round rug seems like a good solution, but if you aren’t happy with it, we’d suggest having a custom rug cut. You can do this at nearly any carpet store. A seagrass or natural fiber would be great. Usually they’ll come to your house, measure your room and cut the rug to size. This will solve the problem of your angled fireplace!
Laura
Hello I am looking at your sisal rugs for my living room and dining room which back up to each other. I was told they don’t need to match but should coordinate. I think I need a 9 x 12 for the living room and 8 by 10 or possibly larger if they should both be the same size . I really like your diamond sisal but max size is 8 by 10 what would you recommend to coordinate with this or other coordinating options? Thanks
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Laura,
Rug sizes can be tricky so we totally understand your confusion! We suggest going with the bigger size for two reasons, first, as long as the 9×12 will still leave a few inches of space at the wall, we tend to prefer a larger rug size in a room. When in doubt, go a little two big rather than a little two small. Second, it’ll flow nicely if it’s in eyesight with your living room, and even better if they come up right against each other.
Since you like the Diamond Sisal Rug but it doesn’t come in the 9×12 size, we suggest the Trellis Sisal Rug which has a very similar pattern to the Diamond Sisal, as well as a similar weave!
Best of luck!
Nancy
How to choose a size for your foyer?
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Nancy,
Great question! In general, we suggest leaving a minimum of 4 inches between the edge of your rug and the wall. We’re also partial to rooms where rugs are generous — typically either a runner size or 5×8 rug works best in a foyer.
Do you mind giving us more information about your foyer? What are the measurements? Is it a long hallway or just a small entrance/landing?
Lori
Is Jute or Sisal a soft product on bare feet? Is one more comfortable than the other
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Lori,
That really depends not so much on the material as it does on the weave. A tighter weave on a traditional sisal rug is not as soft, for example, as the looser weave of our Braided Jute Rug.
Does that help!?
S. G.
I am looking to update my front entry with a rug. It is a very neutral space. What type and material rug should i look for?
Caroline @ How to Decorate
S.G,
We have lots of indoor/outdoor rugs that would be great in an entryway. Since they’re so durable, they’ll stand up to lots of traffic, and they’re easier to clean! If your space is mostly neutral, we suggest maybe keeping with the neutral palette, but instead going for pattern. Our Saylor Indoor/Outdoor Rug would be a great choice!
Best of luck!
Christine
Hi! I have a sisal rug in my living room but my family doesn’t like the texture on their feet. Do you have any suggestions for a sisal look but soft rug?
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Christine,
We totally understand! We think any of these rugs would be good alternatives:
Our Wainscot Indoor/Outdoor Rug has a very subtle pattern, is as durable as a sisal rug, but much softer underfoot.
Our Beckett Rug has a neutral color, subtle pattern, and so, so soft!.
Suzanne Kasler’s Chunky Wool Rug is very plush and can work with nearly any decor.
Suzanne Kasler’s Montaigne Rug has a subtle, tonal color that echoes the strié of a sisal rug but is thicker and soft.
Let us know which one you pick!
The How to Decorate Team
Mary Mroz
I am looking for an indoor/outdoor rug that is about 9×12. When I look at that size in your catalog, I notice that the word threshold with a price in parenthese. Just what does that mean?
Caroline McDonald
Mary,
Threshold refers to a the shipping fee required to deliver such a large rug.
Ann mccord
I want to buy a carpet for my family room. I have a patterned chair and ottoman so am having a hard time choosing a carpet. The carpet will be approx 10×12.
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Hi Ann,
We suggest either pulling a color from your chair or ottoman to coordinate with your existing pieces or else choosing either a light grey or beige that will be neutral enough to work with any existing or future choices!!
Best of luck.
Kathy
Can your team give me advice as to what print & color of rug to purchase for a foyer?
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Hi Kathy,
We sure can! We actually offer a free service where our Design Solutions team will help you come up with a plan for your home. Simply complete this form, and we’ll reach out to you.
We look forward to hearing from you!
The How to Decorate Team
Cathie
I am in the process of searching for a rug to put over a larger rug. I want to put it at an angle but I’m not sure of the correct size. My bottom rug is 6×9. What do you suggest?
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Hi Cathie,
We would love to offer you some rug suggestions. Simply complete this form, and we’ll reach out to you.
We look forward to hearing from you!
The How to Decorate Team
jeanne
Hi,
I am in the process of redecorating my living room. It is a very large room and I have two seating areas and a fireplace at one end of the room. The floors are oak and I currently have two wool patterned rugs down. I need to make the room cozier and I am not sure if I should get 8 x 10 rugs or 9 x 12. It will be creme and blues. I ordered the irvory burlap drapes and have recieved them. I have 3 single window and 2 double windows. It is a beautiful room and I want to do it justice.
Help
Caroline @ How to Decorate
Hi Jeanne,
We would love to help you give your room a cozier feel! It’s hard to offer suggestions without seeing your space, but if you would send us photos, our Design Solutions team can come up with a plan for you. Simply complete this form, and we’ll reach out to you.
We look forward to hearing from you!
The How to Decorate Team