How to Choose the Right Rug Size for Your Living Room
A good area rug should be more than just decorative — it should also help create a focal point for everyone. Getting the rug in just the right spot can make all the difference in your space's overall feel.
A rug is often the statement piece that ties all the other elements of the room together. It helps furniture arrangements feel grounded while offering visual and tactile texture. Getting the most out of your area rug all comes down to choosing the right size for your living room, which will ultimately be determined by how big your space is and where on the rug you want your furniture to sit.
Rug Sizes for Living Rooms
Dimensions can vary widely based on the type of loom used and what part of the world a rug is woven in, here are some standardised rug sizes available to choose from.
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5 x 7 feet
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7 x 9 feet
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8 x 9 feet
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8 x 10 feet
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9 x 12 feet
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12 x 18 feet
Centre the Rug Under Your Couch
There's no right or wrong way to place a rug in your living room. Centring your couch on it is usually a safe bet. As the anchor of the room, if the rug is off-centre, it tends to make everything else look a little off, too.
Furniture Legs Should Sit on the Rug!
When selecting the right rug size, the rug should be large enough for all of the furnishings in the area to have their front legs on the carpet. As a general rule, allow for at least three inches of rug behind the front legs of your furniture.
Choose a rug large enough that you avoid squeezing all your furniture close together when accounting for those three inches. You need at least 30 cm between the sofa and the coffee table and chairs on the other side for ample space to navigate.
Always Opt for a Larger Size
You should always choose a rug size that's big enough to sit under your outermost furniture pieces. You'll want the rug to serve as the grounding piece, so be sure not to go too small to avoid having it look like a postage stamp in the centre of your space.
If you're torn between two different rug sizes, bigger is always better. Too small a rug is worse than no rug at all. A larger rug makes the space feel more pulled together and allows for easier and more functional furniture placement.
Use the Tape Trick to See Placement
If you're torn about what size rug to get, you can use a roll of painter's tape to help you visualise what the rug will look like in your space. To do it, measure out four pieces of tape: two for length and two for width. For example, if you're looking to purchase an 8x10 rug, you'll cut two pieces of tape that are eight feet long and two that are 300 cm long. Then, place the pieces of tape on the floor where you envision the rug would go. This will help you "see" the rug in your space before you make the big purchase. Repeat the process with different sizes and take pictures to reference back to later.
Maybe have two rugs, or even more?
If you're lucky enough to have a large living room, you can use a variety of different-sized rugs to create distinct zones throughout the space.