I get so many queries about rugs…particularly - ‘What size rug should I buy?’
Well, a rug is used to ground your furniture and to tie it all together. It should create a base that compliments your lounge, bed or dining table along with their accessories.
For instance, a rug in your lounge should be long and wide enough to go at least under all the front legs of your lounges. You don’t want a rug that looks like its floating in the middle of nowhere on the floor. Let’s look at a couple of settings.
Firstly, if you have 2 lounges - a 3-seater (2100mm) and a 2-seater (1700mm) and they are placed in an L shape, you ideally need to find a rug that is approximately and at least 2400 x 2100mm. This allows the rug to fit under all the front legs of your lounges, taking into consideration the gap between the arms of the lounges when next to each other.
But if you have one lounge (2100mm) and an armchair that is placed diagonally opposite and on an angle from the lounge, then a rug that is minimum 2100mm long and depending on the room you have, perhaps a width of 1600-1800mm is fine. As long as the front legs of the chair are on or touching the rug. Again, this ties the furniture together and creates a space that evokes harmony and conversation.
In the bedroom, ideally the rug should be placed partially under the bed. It should be wider than the actual bed, by at least 40cm and sticking out at the foot end (if you have the room at least 1m) of the bed. It should run if possible, at least a third of the way up the length of the bed.
This placement and sizing also depends on the size of the room. If you are wanting the rug to run along one side of your bed, due to the size and placement of the bed in the room, then perhaps a runner or even a round rug could be placed alongside or partially tucked under your bed. The length of the rug shouldn’t extend past the foot of your bed, unless you have the foot end leg on it and it has enough extension to look balanced with the bed, but also ensure that it isn't too small that it looks like a bath mat.
If it's a small bedroom, I have been known to angle the rug under the front feet of the bed, with the rug extending out more from the front foot nearest the door. This creates a fun feature, but can be a bit fiddly getting the correct angle that is easy on the eye.
And, if you happen to like a rug under the dining table, then please consider the style and size carefully. A thick shaggy type is not ideal. It will be hard to clean, and the chairs may damage the pile or pull it. It should be a flat woven pile, easy to clean and large enough that when you pull the chairs out that the back of the chair is still on the actual rug. Please note that it should be a heavier weighted rug, otherwise if the edges turn up this can cause a tripping or falling hazard.
As an alternative, a long runner can be placed under the table. Again, ensure it is long enough to go past the 2 end chairs of the table when they are pulled out, and the legs of the table are also able to hold down the rug. This is used only when there is insufficient space to have the width taken into consideration and a feature rug is wanted to highlight the table above.
In an entry or foyer, the rug should be centralised in the space. This creates balance and a focal point on entering the home. A rug here helps especially if you have a vast floor space that needs some softening and breaking up.
I hope my explanations have helped you a little and please see the refence photos to get an idea of what I mean. And if you’d like to have a chat about getting a rug for your space or updating your look, then get in touch, I’d love to hear about your project and help you create a room that you adore.
Thanks for stopping by…