How to Choose the Right Rug Size (By Room)

Rugs are a great way to spice up your interior design—but only when they’re used correctly.

In order to get the most out of your home’s décor, you’ll need to know about standard rug sizes, how they affect a room’s appearance, and where to put them.

How do you choose the right rug size? The right rug size depends on the type and configuration of the room in question, as well as (to a smaller extent) room size. With the right-sized rug, you can ground your room and neatly tie in other elements of your décor.

This piece will go over some important information about rug sizes so you can make the best purchase for your home. Keep reading to find out more.

What Are Standard Rug Sizes?

Here’s the good news: most rugs come in a few standard sizes, making it easier for you to find an option that works with your interior.

These sizes are designed to help complement standard construction guidelines. This means that understanding common rug size options (and the size of your room) is the first step to finding the right rug size for you.

Some standard rug sizes are:

• 3 feet x 5 feet
• 5 feet x 8 feet (standard size, formerly 6 feet x 9 feet)
• 8 feet x 10 feet
• 9 feet x 12 feet
• 12 feet x 15 feet

More often than not, manufacturers will offer rug designs in at least three or four different standard sizes.

Coming up, we’ll examine how these rug sizes correspond to common room sizes and types to help you find the best possible option.

How Do You Size a Rug? 3 Key Factors

Sizing a rug largely depends on three factors. Let’s take a look at each in turn:

1. Furniture Placement

How you configure your furniture will bear the greatest impact on your rug needs. That’s because certain layouts will require rugs of different sizes than others. This is particularly true in living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms, where furniture placement is flexible.

A good general rule for living rooms is to find a rug that covers the seating area of the room, leaving a one-inch berth on the sides of the furniture.

As you can see, however, this rule is entirely dependent on the layout of your furniture.

2. Furniture Size

Furniture size also comes into play.

Larger furniture such as sectionals or larger dining room tables will obviously facilitate the need for bigger rugs. Smaller furniture, on the other hand, may be arranged more flexibly and be more compatible with multiple rug sizes.

3. Room Size

Contrary to popular belief, room size is the least important factor in choosing your rug.

That’s because the same size room could require a different size rug if configured differently. For this reason, it’s always best to consider the other factors here first.

What Size of Area Rug Do I Need?

Using the information above and some practical techniques, you can determine the size of area rug you need. Once you understand how to size a rug, you can begin to guess which size option will be appropriate for your room.

From there, you can perform this simple exercise to better visualize what size of area rug you will need:

• Taking masking tape or another tape that won’t damage your flooring, measure out a space that corresponds to a standard rug size and tape it off.

This will help you see how a rug of a specific size would look in a certain room or area of a room before you actually go out and buy a rug.

Rug Size Depending on the Room

Though room size shouldn’t be at the top of your list when choosing a rug, you don’t want to discount it entirely. In some cases, you can get a better idea of your necessary rug size by knowing how big your room is.

For reference, some recommended rugs by room size are:

• 5 feet x 7 feet (Room)—3 feet x 5 feet (Rug)
• 7 feet x 10 feet (Room)—5 feet x 8 feet (Rug)
• 10 feet x 12 feet (Room)—8 feet x 10 feet (Rug)
• 11 feet x 14 feet (Room)—9 feet x 12 feet (Rug)
• 14 feet x 17 feet (room)—12 feet x 15 feet (Rug)

You’ll also want to consider the purpose of rugs in each room:

• For living rooms, the main purpose of having a rug is to ground the “conversation” space or seating area, so you’ll want to get a rug that does so accordingly.
• Dining room rugs, on the other hand, largely depend on the size of your table (as you always want to make sure the rug covers the table and the chairs).
• For bedrooms, consider rugs that cover the bed and its surrounding area (nightstands, seating, etc.).

Given this, here are some recommended rug sizes per room function:

Living Room

Consider a larger 9’ x 12’ rug that’s big enough to completely cover all your furniture with some extra space on the sides for a unified look.

Dining Room

If your dining room is small, consider a 5’ x 8’ rug; if it’s larger, consider either an 8’ x 10’ rug or 9’ x 12’ rug depending on the size of your dining room table.

Bedroom

Both queen- and king-size beds necessitate 8’ x 10’/9’ x 12’ rugs, while full-size options generally match with 5’ x 8’ rugs.

Does a Rug Make a Room Look Smaller?

Rugs can make a room look smaller—but they can also make them look bigger.

One of the biggest benefits to rugs is their ability to change the perception of a space to fit your desired aesthetic.

Placing a rug in one area of a large room can help create a more “sectioned” look that can cause the room to look smaller. Rugs with garish colors and intricate patterns can help achieve the same look, as they draw attention to one area of the room.

Conversely, one large rug in the center of the room or the use of light-colored or light-textured rugs can help a room appear larger.

Should a Rug Go Under a Couch?

It’s always recommended that your rug go completely under your couch (and all other furniture in your living room). In the event that your couch is too large, consider having only the front legs on the rug. The effect is a unified space high in aesthetic appeal.

Summary

The right rug can provide an excellent base to your room, while also adding comfort and protection for your floors underneath.

With this rug sizing guide, you’ll be able to find the right rug for anyone room. This piece covered some standard rug sizes and relevant sizing information that can help you purchase the right rug for your living room, bedroom, or dining room.

Need to size multiple rugs for your interior? Make sure to check back here frequently to get the best rug for each room!