How to Choose the Perfect Rug for Any Room

Selecting the ideal rug is essential for harmonising a room’s style and usability. With the right advice, you'll know how to choose a rug that complements your living, dining, or even outdoor space. Use this guide to navigate rug sizes and understand placement for every room in your home.

Key Takeaways

• Getting the right size rug is important for defining the space, framing furniture and maintaining balance in a room’s décor.
• Rug placement is equally important to achieve visual harmony and comfort.
• Investing in quality materials and rug pads is crucial for a rug's longevity, safety and floor protection, while its relationship with furniture and room size will inform the selection process to create a cohesive look.

Navigating Rug Sizes

Understanding the wide variety of rug sizes is the first step to finding your perfect rug. From snug accent pieces to grand area rugs, the right size mat will form the foundation of your room’s design. Maintaining balance is key. An undersized rug can get lost in the space while an oversized one may dominate it. Visualising the room’s dimensions and the rug’s interaction with them is vital to create a harmonious space.

When considering rug sizes, it’s not just about covering the floor; it’s about the interaction between the rug and room it inhabits. The size of the rug determines how it frames furniture, defines spaces within an open floor plan, and even affects how spacious or intimate a room feels. It’s this interplay between the rug size and room’s dimensions that can elevate a space from simply furnished to thoughtfully designed.

Matching Rugs to Room Size

Before even looking at potential rugs, it's critical to measure your room. This preliminary step helps you visualise the exact space the rug will fill and how it will refine your room’s design. In larger rooms, leaving a 50cm border between the rug’s edge and the walls will prevent the rug from 'swallowing' the room, while still defining a distinct area within the open space. In smaller rooms, a well-chosen rug will expand perceived boundaries.

Proportionality with Furniture

Once you’ve established your room’s dimensions, it’s time to think about the furniture that will accompany the new rug. A good rule of thumb is to select a rug that allows for at least 2/3 of the furniture to sit comfortably on top of it, which will create a look that feels anchored and intentional.

Bigger pieces like dining tables, lounges and beds require a rug that stand outs. A dining room may require a large rug to accommodate a heavy dining table and chairs, while a living room will need one for a substantial couch. Your rug must be sized to maintain the room’s flow and harmony.

The Impact of Rug Shapes

Rug shapes are another factor to consider while shopping. Beyond the traditional rectangle, there are several shapes that can add a unique touch to your space. Organic-shaped rugs bring a sense of calm to your room by creating a natural and relaxed atmosphere. Circular rugs add a soft counterpoint to the angular lines of furniture, particularly in smaller spaces where they can help balance the proportions of the room.

Choosing a rug shape should be a deliberate decision, considering not only your personal style but also the intended atmosphere and function of the room. Here are some considerations for different rug shapes:

• A square rug can anchor a seating area in an open-plan space.
• An elongated oval rug can guide the eye down a hallway.
• A round rug can soften the edges of a room and create a cosy atmosphere.
• A rectangular rug can define a dining area or a long, narrow space.

The shape of a rug can dramatically alter a room’s aesthetic and invite creativity into the process of styling your home.

Rug Placement

The right rug placement binds everything in a room together, fostering a feeling of wholeness and equilibrium. It unites various design elements. The location of a rug can define seating areas, serve as a focal point or gently blend into the background to support the overall look of a space.

Mastering rug placement is not so much about adhering to strict rules as it is about understanding the principles that lead to a visually pleasing arrangement. Whether it’s ensuring your rug extends beyond the coffee table to unify your living room seating arrangement or positioning a low pile rug for easy movement of dining chairs, the goal remains the same: to enhance both style and functionality.

Living Room Rugs

Rugs can define a room’s character. In living rooms, this can be around quiet nights in or lively gatherings. As such, living room rug placement is an especially important decision.

Rug Under Couch Rules

Ideally, you want to follow rug under couch rules. At least the front legs of sofas and armchairs should rest on your rug to provide a sense of connection between furniture pieces. Your rug should be a generous extension of your seating arrangement, enveloping the area in comfort and style.

Avoid the trap of a ‘floating island’ effect, where a too-small rug makes your space feel disjointed. Instead, opt for a size that allows the rug to extend under the furniture, creating a cohesive look that invites relaxation. With rug sizes ranging from 230x160 to 400x300 cm, there’s a comfortable rug to suit every living room configuration.

Whether you’re working with a 2-seater sofa or 6-seater chaise lounge, following rug under couch rules can make all the difference for your living room’s ambiance.

Dining Room Rugs

Dining rooms combine functionality with elegance, and a well-chosen rug can elevate any meal. Dining room rug placement is about creating a comfortable, inviting space where chairs can be moved freely without catching on the edges of the rug. It’s about selecting a rug size that not only complements the dining table but also allows for an ample border to ensure that chairs remain on the rug, even when pulled back.

When choosing a dining room rug, consider:

• Extending it at least 60cm beyond the table on all sides. This not only helps protect your floors, but also ensures guests can comfortably sit and rise from the table without the risk of tripping or snagging a chair leg.
• Adding a rug pad underneath to prevent slipping and provide extra cushioning.
• Opting for a rug material that is easy to clean, as dining rooms are prone to spills and stains.
• Selecting a rug colour and pattern that complements your dining room décor and adds visual interest to the space.

It’s these thoughtful details that turn a dining room from simply a place to eat into a warm, inviting space for coming together over a meal.

Accommodating Dining Chairs

Guaranteeing that dining chairs fit entirely on the rug is important for both aesthetic appeal and practicality. A rug that extends beyond the dining table and chairs creates a unified look, while also protecting the floor from scratches as chairs are moved. To achieve this, add an extra 60–80cm to the dimensions of your dining room table when selecting a rug size. This ensures a generous allowance for chairs to be pulled out without catching on the rug’s edge.

Selecting a rug with a low pile or a flatweave design can further enhance the dining room experience by facilitating easy chair movement and simplifying cleaning. Remember, the right rug will complement your dining room décor and contribute to the comfort and functionality of the space.

Harmonising with Table Shapes

The shape of your dining table should be reflected in the shape of your rug to create a cohesive visual effect. For example, a round table is best complemented by a round rug. The mirroring of shapes pleases the eye and reinforces the design intention. Extending beyond interior design; harmonising shapes benefits the functionality of the dining area. It ensures chairs are evenly supported and movement around the table stays fluid.

Bedroom Rugs

Bedroom rug placement is about embracing the bed’s dimensions, whether it be a queen size bed or king size bed. To frame the bed as the centrepiece, the rug should align with it.

Rug under bed rules are important to:

• Prevent the bed from overshadowing the rug.
• Achieve visual balance.
• Add an element of plush comfort.
• Firmly anchor the bed within the space.

It’s the touches of softness and warmth a cosy rug offers that can make a bedroom truly feel like a sanctuary.

Rug Under Bed Rules

Choosing a rug that harmonises with your bed’s size is necessary to create a well-balanced bedroom. A rug under the bed should ideally extend 60-90cm, enveloping the bed with comfort and contributing to the room’s overall style. For smaller rugs at the side of the bed, a rug pad is important to keep the rug in place.

Outdoor Rugs

The allure of outdoor spaces lies in their ability to extend the comfort and style from indoor spaces into the fresh air outside. Outdoor rugs are ideal for adding a cosy feel to decks and balconies. The principles for outdoor rug placement are similar to those indoors, with the emphasis on larger rug sizes to create a unified space.

However, it’s especially important to consider materials outdoors. You'll need a rug that can withstand the elements for lasting use. A rug in an outdoor area elevates style, while also adding a layer of comfort and texture that makes every moment spent outside even more enjoyable.

Sizing for Outdoor Areas

For spacious patios or decks, larger rug sizes will accommodate dining setups and lounge areas. They'll provide comfort underfoot and a clear definition of the space. In compact areas like balconies, smaller rugs nestled under tables can offer warmth and style without occupying too much space.

Essentially, the size of an outdoor rug should be tailored to the scale of the space and furniture arrangement. For instance, a 6-seater dining setup will generally be complemented by a 320x230cm rug, while a 225x155cm rug will do well for a 3-piece set. These dimensions ensure that all furniture pieces comfortably fit within the bounds of the rug, creating an inviting and cohesive outdoor setting that’s perfect for everything from morning coffees to evening cocktails.

Durable Choices for the Elements

Outdoor rugs face the challenge of enduring the elements, especially with the hot Australian sun. This means selecting a rug made from materials with features like UV stability are crucial for outdoor settings. Quality rugs will be designed so that they're as stylish as they are practical. When coupled with rug pads, outdoor rugs will also ensure stability and safety in your outdoor setting.

Runner Rugs

A well-chosen runner will transform the hallway from a neglected space into a stylish statement. Narrow balconies can also benefit from runners, which can add style and character without overwhelming the area.

Runner Sizes and Placement

Standard hallway runners will come in sizes that accommodate different hallway lengths. In terms of width, they typically range from 60–100cm.

Rug placement is just as important as size. Here are a couple of guidelines for placing a runner in your hallway:

• Allow space for each room’s entrance to minimise the risk of tripping.
• Keep equal space for each entrance to achieve aesthetic balance.
• Ensure the runner stops before the hallway’s end so as not to intrude into the adjoining space.

The right runner will add character and warmth to one of the most high traffic areas in the home.

Rug Pads

While often overlooked, rug pads are critical to a rug's lasting quality, floor protection and safety. In preventing rugs from slipping, they reduce the risk of people tripping on them. They also prevent the rug from moving out of place and bunching up.

In addition to safety, rug pads also protect your floor against scratches and dye transferring from the rug above. They can even help reduce noises in the home!

Whether it’s a plush memory foam pad under a large living room rug or grippy rubber pad beneath a hallway runner, a rug pad will notably enhance your rug’s performance and lifespan.

Elevate Your Space with Furniture Bazaar's Rug Collection

Witness the effects of a perfectly chosen rug with Furniture Bazaar’s wide range. We understand that a rug does more than just cover a floor; it adds comfort to your space, expresses your personal style and brings together the design elements of your home. From small round rugs to large outdoor rugs, our range caters to various needs, tastes and budgets.

Shop online from the comfort of your home, with online exclusives available. Our customer service team is ready to assist with any questions. At Furniture Bazaar, you can be confident knowing you'll make the right choice for your space. Browse our rugs here or, if you'd prefer, visit one of our WA stores.

Summary

When it comes to choosing a rug, practical considerations are just as important as style. Whether it’s deciding between rugs sizes, navigating rug placement or understanding rules for rugs under beds, each action will help you create a space that resonates with warmth and elegance.

We hope you feel inspired to find the perfect rug for any room. With our diverse collection at Furniture Bazaar, you're sure to get just what you're looking for. Go ahead, shop with confidence and make a rug one of the highlights of your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a rug is the right size for my room?

To determine if a rug is the right size for your room, you should first measure the area. A well-chosen rug will be proportional to the space and furniture. It should be large enough to create a cohesive look but not so large that it overwhelms the room.

As a general guideline, leave about 50cm of bare floor between the rug and walls. For living areas, at least the front legs of lounges should be on the rug. In the dining room, the rug should extend at least 60cm beyond the table to allow chairs to be pulled out without falling off the edge. In the bedroom, a rug should extend around 60–90cm beyond the sides of the bed.

How can I ensure my outdoor rug lasts?

To ensure your outdoor rug withstands the elements, choose materials designed for durability. Features like UV resistance prevent fading, perfect for the Australian climate. Regularly shake off any debris and spot clean spills promptly to prevent staining, ensuring the rug maintains its appearance and longevity.

Where can I find a diverse range of rugs online?

You can find a diverse range of rugs online at Furniture Bazaar, where you'll discover a wide selection catering to various styles and budgets.