Beebe Cline, White Rock Realtor

I often get asked, “What are the rules in selecting the size of rug to use in a room?” Deciding what size rug is best for a space can be hard since there are many “rules” and just as many opposing opinions.

One popular rule is that the rug should be large enough to slide under the front legs of sofas and chairs in a seating arrangement, unifying the furniture. But just as frequently I’ve heard it suggested that all legs of the furniture should sit on the rug. So, rather than be bound by rules, be aware of the following guidelines and let them assist you in determining what size rug provides the visual effect you desire in the rooms of your house.

Rule 1: Front Legs on the Rug, Back Legs Off

Here is a gorgeous room by Visual Jill where the front legs sit on the rug, while the others are off. This approach really does work in most situations; the rug connects the various furniture pieces together while extending far enough into the room to create a sense of good proportion.

This room by North Fork Design also follows this rule. It works well here in large part because the tone of the rug is very similar to the flooring, making the break between the two visually subtle.

Rule 2: Some Front Legs On

Before moving onto examples where all the legs are placed on the rug, let’s look at a hybrid of the two approaches. In this living room by Lauren Nelson Design, only the front legs of the sofa sit on the rug, while the placement of the chairs leaves their bases entirely on the rug. This proves to be more effective here than if only the front portion of the chairs fit onto the rug, because of the size of the room and the contrasting tone of the rug against the flooring.

Rule 3: All Legs on the Rug

One tip is to determine the furniture placement before selecting what size rug to use, which leads to the next rule: A room generally looks more pulled together if all the furniture legs are planted firmly on the rug. We see that rule employed in this arrangement by Lucy Interior Design.
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Rule 4: No Legs on the Rug

Now if you would like to bring in just a small rug, perhaps one that introduces a pop of pattern into the room, another approach would be to have none of the furniture touching the rug. While this creates a completely different look, it also works, as seen in this family room by Novak + Huizenga Studio.

Rule 5: 18 Inches of Bare Floor Around the Rug

The next rule has been a standard for ages, and this approach states that there should be about 18 inches of bare floor between the rug edge and the perimeter walls of the room, bringing in traditional proportion. This guideline is great in rooms that are enclosed and separate from surrounding rooms, such as this room by Katie Postel Interiors, as opposed to open-concept spaces.

Using this rule in a small room is more successful if the 18 inches of bare floor exposed around the rug is reduced to about 8 inches.

Rule 6: Just a Few Inches of Floor Around the Rug

This dining room by Michelle Dirkse is a successful application of the rule to run the rug up to within inches of the wall around the entire room. While a traditional approach, it feels modern here due to the decor decisions.

Rule 7: Extend the Rug 12 to 18 Inches Around a Bed

For an area rug to look balanced under a bed, it should be large enough to extend beyond the sides of the bed at least 18 inches for a king or queen bed and at least 12 inches for a full or twin bed. Depending upon the size of the room, there can be more rug extension around the bed, as seen in this room by Lauren Nelson Design, but not less, which would make the rug look insignificant being covered mostly by the bed.

However, a smaller rug can also be very effective placed at the foot of a bed, bringing in just a little layer of interest and pattern. Here the rug width should extend beyond the width of the bed to feel balanced.

Rule 8: Extend the Rug 24 Inches Around a Table

It is much easier to maneuver dining chairs if there is at least 24 inches of rug extending from the edge of the table on all sides, as shown in this design by D2 Interiors. This rule allows the back legs of the chairs to be on the rug, even when being used. This can be a hard design goal to achieve due to the typical proportion of tables to area rugs.

Rule 9: Cover the Walking Area

The rug should cover the majority of the walking area in a hallway or entry, as shown in this entry by Lisa Burdus. For both safety and comfort, it is preferable to have both feet fall within the surface of the rug in a high-traffic area.

Rule 10: Combine Rugs

In making rug decisions for a room, another approach would be to bring in multiple area rugs. This can be very effective when the room is large with more than one seating arrangement.

Rule 11: Bend the Rules

While all these rules have merit, this room by Lynn Unflat Interiors breaks the rule of all legs on or off, and it looks great.

To sum up this topic, there are multiple rules to guide the decision of what size rug is best for the rooms of a home, and many of them completely contradict one another. But being aware of the various rules can provide guidelines to help determine which approach is most appealing to you and will be effective in achieving the look you desire in your individual spaces.