How to Select the Correct Area Rug Size - Living Rooms & Bedrooms

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How do you know what size rug to purchase? Well, from my perspective as a seasoned interior designers, it is second nature, but I’ve seen people struggle and pick the weirdest sized rugs so I think it’s time for this post! But DUDE, a rug can seriously tie a room together ;)

Rugs can come in all different sizes and even shapes, but I always stick with the standards.
5’x8’ - Rarely used in my world of design. Occasionally in a foyer or outdoor entry instead of a runner or welcome mat.
6’x9’ - I don’t typically use this size in my projects, but commonly available.
8’x10’ - Commonly used in apartments and small scaled bedrooms / smallish living rooms.
9’x12’ - Commonly used in Medium Sized living room spaces and King-Sized Bedrooms
10’ x 14’ - I don’t typically use this size in my projects, but commonly available.
12’ x 15’ - Commonly used in South Florida and Texas LOL in GREAT ROOMS.

Don’t fret, if you are needing an unexpected size, you can check with other rug vendors for and find things like 10’ x 13-2” // 9’-9” x 13’-9” // 8’-6” x 11’-6”

Living Room layout options with corresponding area rug sizes

General rule of thumb - when in doubt, SIZE UP. Never have a rug just under a coffee table - make sure AT LEAST the legs of the sofa are all on the area rug. I’ve gone into rooms where the area rug was so small, it felt like a placemat for the (also too small) coffee table.

A quick rule about chaise end sectionals: The rug ABSOLUTELY MUST cover the entire chaise end. My living room rug was delayed so I used the 8’x10’ I had until my 9’x12’ arrived - it looked so stupid I had to point it out to everyone! I did not want anyone to think, well I saw it in a designer’s house, this must be the way.

General Rules I have when it comes to space planning and rugs in BEDROOMS.

Queen and King Sized Bedroom Layout Options with Rug Sizes

  • Do not go so small the whole rug is covered by the bed.

  • It is OK now to add in an accent rug over wall to wall carpet. For this, I would suggest a light woven / light weight rug.

  • Do not go so large the rug has to go under the nightstands.

  • Do not go so large the rug has to go under the dresser. Note, if the dresser has tall, mid-century modern legs and the room is kinda small, go for it!

  • Do not go so large it feels like wall to wall carpet.

  • Leave around 8”-12” of clearance from the edge of the rug to the edge of furniture, and around 18-24” from the edge of the rug to the walls. (this advice can depend on the room size.

One quick mention about area rugs in dining rooms: Make sure you have about 2’ from the table edge to the rug edge so the chairs can be completely on the rug when IN USE. I’m not a huge fan of rugs in dining rooms, despite having one in my own house! LOL Just be cautious of color choice, material choice (ex. no wool), and know you will have to spot clean it regularly - - even if you don’t have little ones at the table. But hey, if your dining room is a formal setting that gets used on special holidays, go ahead and splurge a little.

You can also source rugs from places like rugs direct, rug studio, rugs usa, or Wayfair, but pay attention to the brands and reviews. I love to select from Jaipur Living, Loloi, and Surya.

That’s it guys! Now go out and buy a bigger rug - lol .. Want extra help sourcing the perfect area rug? Send me an email or fill out a form to start working together! If you tackled finding a new rug based off my info, comment below! If you want help space planning your own house, check out my services and get your own space planning options by clicking here