How to Choose the Right Size Area Rug (And Take Care of It)

When buying a new area rug, choosing the right size rug to fit the space is equally important as choosing the right style and material. After all, you can have the most beautiful rug, but if it doesn’t fit in the space, it misses the mark. With so many things that factor into the decision, it’s nice to have help. That’s why Ayoub Carpet Service® wants Chantilly consumers to know how to choose the right size area rug, and make it last for years to come.

All-Encompassing

The most traditional way to fit an area rug in a living room is to have all your sitting furniture, end tables, and coffee tables on it. In other words, all four legs of each piece of furniture should rest on the carpet. Next, we recommend running the area rug along the length of the sofa. The ends of the rug should extend six to eight inches wider than the furniture resting on it.

The rug's edge should stop at least 10 inches from the room's wall. Otherwise, it looks like you ran out of material trying to install wall-to-wall carpeting. You can even go as much as 24" between the rug's edge and the wall if you have more space. The exception to this rule is when the sofa rests against a wall. Finally, make sure to leave enough space between the furniture pieces, which allows room to walk. 

The Centerpiece

Depending on your room dimensions and furniture size, the area rug may extend as far as we initially described. If not, don't worry. Many people prefer to position their area rug as a centerpiece instead.

This placement involves resting only the front legs of all the furniture on the rug. Specifically, the area rug should extend under the front feet of the furniture by about one-third. The centerpiece layout works well for larger rooms where you want to take up more space. In fact, laying out the living room in this way can make a smaller room feel more spacious. 

Floaters and Odd Shapes

What do you do if you fall in love with a rug, but it's too small for your space? Or what about those fabulous leopard or cow prints with no precise shape? We have an answer for those, too.

If you have an exciting rug in a fun color or print too small for the space, try placing it on top of a larger, neutral-colored rug. In the case of an oddly shaped rug, you can put it in front of a fireplace, float it on a larger rug, or place it in such a way that all front furniture legs rest on it. 

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