Rug Buyer’s Guide
There's no denying the power of a great rug. The perfect combination of color, texture and pattern can really pull a room together and make it sing. But one element is often overlooked: size. If a rug is what anchors a room and unifies the space, then the wrong size rug can make a space feel awkward, out of proportion and unfinished. So whether the look you're going for is comfortably snug or lively and spacious, follow our tips below for selecting the right size rug for your room.
Rules to Shop By
- Rugs should be at least 4" away from all walls to avoid looking cramped
- Keep rugs clear of floor vents
- When in doubt, buy the largest rug that can fit in your room without covering any floor vents.
- To highlight a particular area, layer your foundation rug, like a natural fiber rug, with a smaller patterned floorcovering that makes a big statement.
- When deciding on size, use painter's tape to outline the area you'd like to cover, measure the perimeter, and pick the nearest size in your favorite rug.
- The front two legs of all major pieces of furniture should fit on your area rug — sofas, chairs, tables, and even beds. For dining rooms, all chairs should still land on the rug when they're pulled away from the table.
In the Bedroom
To create a cozy border, allow an additional 30" on each side of the bed for the ideal rug size. From there, the rug size can vary depending on how much or little flooring you'd like to see.
| Bed Size | Rug Size |
| Twin (39" x 75") |
5' x 8' (60" x 96") 8' x 10' (96" x 120") |
| 2 Twins (39" x 75") |
8' x 10' (96" x 120") 9' x 12' (108" x 144") 3' x 8' (36" x 96") |
| Queen (60" x 80") |
8' x 10' (96" x 120") 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
| King (76" x 80") |
8' x 10' (96" x 120") 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
In the Living Room
In a living room, the rug helps define the space. Conventional thought is that all four legs of your furniture should either be on or off the rug. But today, it's okay to have just front legs on the rug.
| Primary Seating | Rug Size |
| Sofa (83"-89"W x 38"D) |
8' x 10' (96" x 144") 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
| Apartment Sofa (72"-76"W x 39"D) |
8' x 10' (96" x 120") 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
| Loveseat (63"-73"W x 39"D) |
8' x 10' (96" x 120") 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
| Club Chair (29"W x 36") |
In the Dining Room
For chairs to slide in and out easily, you should add 24"-30" to each side of the table for the perfect rug size.
| Table Size | Rug Size |
| 42" Round | 8' round (96") |
| 48" Round | 8' round (96") |
| 60" Round | 9' square (108" x 108") |
| 42" x 60" oval | 8' x 10' (96" x 120") |
| 49" x 97" oval | 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
| 36" x 70" | 8' x 10' (96" x 120") |
| 32" x 76" | 8' x 10' (96" x 120") |
| 36" x 84" | 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
| 39" x 90" | 9' x 12' (108" x 144") |
| 41" x 108" | 10' x 14' (120" x 168") |
| 30" x 120" | 10' x 14' (120" x 168") |
