Rug Rules 101
Ok, after many (many many) requests for a primer in rugs, here it is! Rugs can cozy up a space or ground a seating area while drowning out sound and adding pattern and texture. They’re must-haves when it comes to design, and the right rug in the right room can really finish the space and add style to spare. So without further ado, a room by room breakdown with size specifications and general rug rules to live by when picking out the perfect floor covering:
In your dining room, the rug under your table should be big enough for all of the chairs to be pulled out with all chair legs remaining on the rug (this usually calls for an 8×10). Something with a border or a pattern is a great way to add interest and texture to a space that usually has a whole lot of wood (it’s always nice to break that up with a stylish area rug, especially if your floors are also wood).
In your bedroom if you’d like a rug to cozy up your bed (and save your feet from a cold hardwood or tile floor) you should grab something at least 5×8 (maybe 8×10 if you have a queen or a king sized bed) and lay it horizontally under your bed. By laying it sideways you’ll have about two feet of overhang on each side of the bed and you’ll want to pull the rug down to match the overhang on the bottom (so there’s also 2 feet of overhang at the bottom of the bed as well). Picking a material that’s cushy will add to the soothing, restful feeling, and selecting a smaller scale or more subtle pattern (even a solid colored rug) might make the most sense when setting a serene scene.
In the kitchen you’ll want a durable rug. Natural fibers like jute and sisal work well because they can be shaken out and easily vacuumed cleaned while an indoor/outdoor rug is also a fabulous and hardworking idea. You can opt for a small doormat sized rug in front of the sink or a larger rug to cozy up the entire cooking area. We like cheerful stripes or colors in a kitchen, so feel free to have a little fun in this space (especially since 3×5s and 4×6s are super affordable and easy to switch out- you can even do this seasonally if you’d like).
When it comes to your bathroom you can have a little fun. Since rugs are smaller you can splurge on something a little more special, and while there are many lush and plush bathmats out there, we’ve heard time and time again that regular rugs (like a gorgeous oriental carpet) can really stand up to wet feet just as well as a rug intended for the bathroom. Try hitting up a place like Marshalls or TJ Maxx for something ornate that’s not an actual antique. You can also bring in a bold colored rug to spice up a bland white or neutral room to inject a bit of sizzle for next to nothing (it’s a whole lot cheaper than replacing the tile floor!).
In the living room you’ll want your rug to cozy up and ground the seating area so it should be at least as long as your sofa (many of which are around 80 inches, so you’ll want a 5×8 or even an 8×10 if you have a larger seating area). Even if your living room has wall to wall carpet, a nice area rug can add pattern, interest, color, style, and of course define the seating area like nothing else. So we highly recommend bringing in a gorgeous rug no matter the current flooring in your living room to add comfort and maybe even define your color palette for you (find a gorgeous multi-colored rug and pull pillow and curtain colors straight from your new area rug to make the whole space cohesive and inviting). Then remember to keep at least the front legs of your sofa, your loveseat and all the accent chairs on the rug (while the back legs can remain on or off depending on the size of your rug).
Your sunroom or screened-in porch is where you can really bring the outside in. We love a nice jute or seagrass rug to add some texture and a dash of that island vacay feel. And you can either go wall to wall with a natural fiber rug or just settle on another area rug to define the seating area (in our case we have a nice 5×8 from Pier 1 which is wider than the daybed to ground the area and add cozy-factor to our hard cement floors).
And on a personal note, we just scored a cheerful new rug for the living room (at a major discount thanks to the DIY shoot) so here’s a little teaser shot:
Stay tuned for a pic of the whole rug (and the rest of the room). Until then, happy rug hunting!
Images courtesy of PointClickHome (except for the pooch pic at the end)
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Comments
The rug you just scored is killer. I love the color and lattice design. . .can’t wait to see where you put it!
Thank you SOOO MUCH! We are heading to Ikea this weekend to look for rugs, so your post was timely and super-helpful. I’m going home tonight to measure our spaces! Love the new rug can’t wait to see all of the swag you scored during the photo shoot!
Thanks so much – love it! I have another question maybe ya’ll could address in a post – what about rugs/mats for a small entry. I need something that’s super cute/stylish but at the same time doesn’t show dirt/is easy to clean/absorbs water & dirt. HELP!
Ditto to Sarah’s request for that all-important entry rug. Too many of them look like floor mats for your car!
Thanks for the primer!
Can you guys recommend some of your go-to sites or stores for rugs? I have a hard time finding quality, modern rugs at my budget!
This is going to be very useful to a lot of people!
I agree with a lot of the sizes, of course it also depends on the size of the room… Although the bedroom sizes can get very large. Many people prefer to have a large area rug, perhaps upwards of 9×12 to really cover some floor. Especially in a Master Bedroom.
It’s also not uncommon for other, smaller area rug sizes to be used in this area, perhaps even runners next to or at the foot of a bed (although some may say this prohibits “flow”)
This is a great guide! I’d like to add that many people want to have the same exact rug throughout the house, but it’s nice for each room to have it’s own character! Thanks for an awesome post :)
Hey! That’s the rug that Stacie used in her room redo (different color). I’ve been coveting it big time. Ditto on the comments. I am a rug idiot — same with anything that covers window if it isn’t plantation shutters. I think most of it is just too fussy. Seems that others can pull it off in ways that are pleasing to me, but I have problems just conceiving it. Love your/Nate’s high-set bamboo shades trick though. Thanks for this rug primer. (So, window treatments primer next?) :-) – Jean
Great post. I disagree, however, with your advice about the rug for the bedroom. It seems so silly to me to have a rug for under just to peek out a couple of feet. Why not either get a large enough rug to cover the majority of the room or have two rugs on either side of the bed?
Hi Amy,
I like the idea of two rugs on either side of the bed… Especially if a couple has two different tastes regarding design :)
Glad you’re all loving our little rug primer.As for our go-to stores for affordable rugs, we like target.com (the in store rugs aren’t great though) and Walmart actually has some surprisingly good finds. In our own home we have a new one from Pottery Barn (good eye Jean) and one from Pier 1 (the sunroom rug), one from World Market (in our bedroom) and one from JC Penney (used to be our living room rug, now lives in our guest room). Oh and we also have that adorable Company Store rug in our third bedroom. So all those places are definitely worth checking out for value and quality to boot.
Oh, and Amy makes a good point about a bedroom rug being mostly obscured by the bed (although the layered effect is oh so cozy, and if you can’t afford a huge rug definitely grab at least a 5×8 for a little warmth and texture to ground your sleeping area). But for those of you lucky enough to have a giant room, why not have a giant rug to create a completely plush experience throughout the space? In our case, an 8×10 would almost cover our entire 13 x 12 room (we have a small but sweet little master) but for those of you lucky enough to have a spacious master suite, definitely think about going for something even larger or even toss down a few runners or smaller rugs on either side of the bed and call it good!
Stay tuned for more decorating tutorials- from curtains to furniture placement and accessorizing, we’ve gotcha covered. Oh and we plan to revisit the rug in the entryway scenario as well, so stay tuned…
xoxo,
Sherry
sherry!!!! you got the pottery barn moorish tile rug in yellow!!!!!!???
same as our chocolate one in the bedroom!!! and you got it on the cheap?!?!?!?
Way to go (although mine was worth every retail, full priced penny!!)
xoxo
Stacie
Hey Mary,
Our yellow rug is 5′ x 8′, which is a great size for a small seating area with just a sofa and a chair (one with a sofa and a love seat- or a sectional- almost always calls for an 8′ x 10′). Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Hey Sherry. I LOVE your living room rug–beautiful! We are looking for a rug for under my black dining room table and chairs. This is a room that gets used daily by my family (I have 4 active boys). I need something that is easy to clean up, looks great, and is economical. Any suggestions?
Hey Brandi,
We do have a few favorite rug sources up our sleeves: Overstock.com, The Company Store, JC Penney, Ikea, and Target are usually the first places we look. As for your dining room, I think the key is selecting something dark enough to obscure stains without blending too closely with your black table (so it doesn’t look like a big black hole).
Movement, texture and pattern always help to hide any stains or wear and tear, so that’s a great idea for the dining room, and something in the tan-mocha area (or the sage green or silvery gray or any other mid-tone color) will also be a lot more long-lasting than a super light rug while complementing the black table. Woven fibers like jute and indoor/outdoor textures like polypropylene are also easy-clean and durable in a kitchen or a dining room. And in a dining room always remember to err on the side of too big. You want all the chairs to be able to be pulled out while remaining on the rug, which usually calls for an 8 x 10. Hope it helps! Happy rug hunting…
xo,
Sherry
Hi Sherry! I have wall to wall carpet in my living/dining but desperately need an are rug to distinguish the living room. You have said that putting an area rug down on carpet is okay. Yet, I am having trouble seeing it that way. Do you have any images to share or any suggestions for picking out a rug? I am going for the light and airy (creams and whites) feel for my living room. If my couch is neutral and so is my carpet, would it be bad to choose a rug that is also a neutral color? Also, would a jute rug be horrible on carpet? Thanks!
I have a question about bamboo rugs.
I love the feel of the bamboo rugs I saw in Lowes. But how do they hold up underneath heavy metal legs of a dining table? Does anyone have any experience with them? I imagine they would be a breeze to clean up in general. But I wouldn’t trade that for a dented rug.
Thanks.
Hey TD,
Good question. We actually don’t have any firsthand experience with this, but hopefully someone will weigh in!
xo,
Sherry
Love the design and ideas for rugs in the sunroom!!! Do you know where I can find the low daybed like the one in your pic?
Hey Elaine,
West Elm has some great modern and low daybeds so they’re a great place to start. You can also search “daybed” at nextag.com and see what you find. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
In general, when should a rug stand out? Where would someone put an 8 X 10 (or larger) zebra rug and what decorating “rules” and tips do you have for zebra? I also have a size question. My dining (and hall) room area is 9 X 15, it is also a high traffic zone from room to room. My dining table is very large. An 8 X 10 rug would come mid way trough the high traffic path. Would a room size rug work?
Hey CCCCC,
Good question! In general (of course there are no hard and fast rules, and even if there were, rules are meant to be broken) a more neutral room can handle a louder, more patterned rug but you’ll want it to be the star. If other things in the room (bright walls, giant art, a stunning pink leather chair) are also the stars, it can get a bit chaotic. As for zebra, it’s not a loud color but the pattern is pretty high contrast so it will work best in a room with other items that are more subtle for a layered and exotic effect that doesn’t hit you over the head too much. As for your size question, it’s really about what works for you. If you don’t like the idea of the rug in the middle of the traffic path, a room sized rug would be great. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Thanks for the quick guide to rug buying. I currently have a 6×9 in our living room that I have been unhappy with since we bought it and I have been looking for better options. I love the rug in your third bedroom and looked on The Company Store, but I don’t think they have it anymore. I did find a rug I like on there, similar to the 2nd living room rug pictured above, do you have any advice about choosing between sisal or jute? I want to avoid scratchy, but we have two rough and tumble dogs and want something durable. Is one softer than the other?
Good question! We have seen scratchy low quality versions of both and gorgeous textured well done jute and sisal options so it’s best to go with a company you trust. Since we love ours from The Company Store we hope that you’ll love either one you choose. And no we don’t get paid to say that. They don’t know us from Adam but we live their selection and their pretty darn good prices. Plus they have a great return policy just in case you don’t think the new rug will hold up. Good luck!
xo,
s
Hey Guys,
This might not really fall in this category but I couldn’t find a better spot! I have a large remnant of a beautiful caramel color, shaggy-style carpet that my parents’ just laid in their house. It looks just like the large floor rug I was going to pay $89 for. My question is, is there a way to finish the edges so it doesn’t look like a remnant, but like an actual floor rug? My husband suggested burning the fraying edges with a lighter, but I wasn’t sure if that was the best way to go. Thanks!
Erin
Good question! We honestly have no idea! We’ve seen a lot of rugs finished with a flap of fabric around the outside (like jute ones with a cotton edge running all around the rug) but other than that don’t have a clue. Maybe check out some area rugs that look professional and deliberate to get some ideas that you can adapt for your remnant? Overstock.com has tons of them to look at. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi Sherry, what is your thought on rug pads? Do you have them under your rugs and do you think they are necessary?
Hey Mary,
We love them for rugs that slip around (we have them under the rug in the kitchen and the rug in the den because they don’t have any grippy backing) but we don’t always purchase them since many rugs come with some sort of traction built in on the bottom. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
That does help – rug pads are expensive! We just bought an 8×10 that has some traction on the back, so I think we should be fine. I didn’t want to shell out another $100 for the pad, so we will try it without and see how it goes…
Hi sherry,
I’m moving to a place with wall to wall carpet. I have a sisal rug I love with my sofa. Am I going to have to give up my sisal or would it look okay on the carpet?
Thank you,
Lise
We believe 100% in area rugs over wall to wall carpet. They help define a zone (like a seating area or dining space) and sisal looks especially great layered over carpeting. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi!
I am in the market for some rugs for our new place. We have an L shaped living room/dining room and we want to use a rug for under the dining room table and one for the seating area in the living room. What are some good tips for finding rugs that will work in this situation and will not look too matchy matchy?
Thanks!
Katie
Sometimes when it comes to defining two different spaces in the same room we actually love the look of coordinated rugs to tie everything together (the furnishings on top of the rugs will be different since one area will have a sofa and one will have a dining table) so the rugs become a nice cohesive backdrop like the color of the wall and the window treatments (other things we like to keep consistent in open spaces). You can also do something coordinating but not matching (a neutral diamond patterned jute rug in the dining area and a linear striped jute rug in the living area). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi Sherry ! I’ve just purchased an 8×10 area carpet for our dining room. Our kitchen, dining room and living room are all open together. We have medium oak floors, pine ceilings, and natural cherry cabinets=lots of wood. We have muted colours for furnishings- sage green, creams and tans. The carpet is 100
% wool and has all of the colours from the furniture and wall colour…..perfect you would think, but I have a fireplace that has medium and large granite stones with similar muted tones, and I’m afraid that the pattern will compete with the stones. Most of the examples I can find of dining or living rooms with area rugs, have very simple fireplaces. What is your take on this?
thanks!
We would totally go for it! As long as things have similar tones even different patterns and textures can live in the same space happily. The colors will tie them together! Of course you can always return the rug if you get it home and it doesn’t float your boat but we’re betting it’ll be perfect. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Thanks so much for your input Sherry! I bought the rug and really like it. It does make the room a bit more busy as the space isn’t large, but if our eyes don’t get used to it, I can use it in another room in our house. Thanks again and I enjoy checking out your fantastic blog every day!
Thanks for checking back in with us! Definitely give your eyes a few days to adjust. Sometimes things seem bad/cluttered/busy just because they’re new and different but within a few days you could take them out of the room and the space would look bare and flat without them!
xo,
s
Thanks for all of your help, we have made great changes due to your suggestions. We are trying to find a rug for our living room. The room is 19×14. We have a symetrical sectional in one corner, a baby grand piano in another corner and a catty corner armoir in another. The room is right off the entrance way and is a pass through to the dinning room. The floor is wood and I would like a remnant to fill the majority of the room and pull together the whole space. What do you think? Thanks
We believe that a seating area with a sectional always calls for at least an 8 x 10′ or even a 9 x 12′ rug so we would suggest pursuing one of those options. Overstock.com has a bunch of great options at that size which could be just as affordable as a remnant but may look a bit more finished and add more texture, pattern and detail. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Yay! You’re the best! This gives me a lot of direction for size and placement for our hypothetical rug.