A rug that is too small for your space can cause the room to feel uninviting. A rug that is too large for the room can, paradoxically, make the room feel smaller. The right-sized area rugArea rugs provide comfort, warmth, and decorative interest (color, pattern, texture, etc.). And they can create a frame in which to place furniture and define spaces. Area rugs are often advantageous over wall-to-wall carpeting because they are easier to clean.https://www.thespruce.com › area-rug-rules-of-thumb-2213430
One large area rug — rather than several small ones — makes a room feel larger. Measure the room's dimensions first. Then select a rug that will rest within 12 inches of all four walls.
A too small rug can and will make your beautiful living room feel smaller, choppy and generally cheap.
General Rules:
Make sure your rug is at least 6″ wider (8″ is ideal) than your sofa on both sides. Typically run the rug the length of the sofa. Give 30″ to 36″ of a walkway between large furniture pieces (if your living room allows for it) if not then at least 18″-24″. That will help to inform your rug size.
A rug that's too small will look lost in your space, while a rug that's too large will make your room look crowded and overly busy. So, it's crucial to find a size that will fit with the shape and dimensions of your room, and the positioning of your furniture.
Leave space around the rug so you can still see the flooring. The rug should take up the whole furniture space, however, if space allows, the best size rugs will also leave 12 to 18 inches of space around it for flooring to show.
Leave at least 6-8” between the rug and the floor on all sides. This will ensure the rug looks intentional in the space. At least two legs of all main furniture pieces should rest on the rug. The rug should extend 12-18” beyond the sides of the furniture underneath.
The most common living room rug sizes are 5′ x 8′; 8′ x 10′; and 9′ x 12′. You can apply these sizes to rectangular and oval area rugs. Bigger is usually better, especially if you have a large living room. If you have plenty of floor space to work with, a large rug can make the living room feel even bigger.
The rug should fill the room—bigger is better with rugs. Center the rug (and seating area) on the focal point of the room, like a fireplace or window.
In general, the rule of thumb is to allow approximately 18 inches of exposed floor space around the perimeter of an area rug, however the overall size and location of the room should also be taken into consideration.
The key to using an area rug to help your room look bigger is to use the correct rug size. A common decorating mistake people make is selecting an area rug or carpet that's too small, making the room look choppy and disjointed, and therefore makes it look smaller.
When layering an area rug on carpet, it's generally best to avoid using a patterned rug over a patterned carpet. One or the other will work well. The key to layering rugs over carpet is to vary the texture. Area rugs generally work best over short-pile or looped carpet.
A good rule of thumb is to allow your rug about 2 feet on all three sides of the bed. That means a 5'x8' for a Twin, 6'x9' for a Full, 8'x10' for a Queen, and 9'x12' for a King.
Ideally, your dining room rug should be about four feet longer and wider than your table. You need 18 to 24 inches on each side so you and your guests can slide chairs out without worrying about falling off the edge of the rug.
Use light-colored rugs
The work of light colors is to brighten up a room and its décor. Rugs in tones of beige, sand, and taupe will make your room seem bigger and sprawling.
A 5x8 is usually too small for a living, family room or bedroom. An appropriate place for a 5x8 might be under a twin bed, in a small seating area away from a sofa or under a 60” long or less dining table. 6x9 rugs can work in small rooms with petite furniture, like under a sofa that is less than 80”.
Just be sure to choose a color that's different enough from your floor color to provide a bit of contrast. Step 3: Think about how lighting will affect the colors in the room. Also, don't just consider how dark your flooring is; consider how dark your room is in general.
In most rooms, the rules are simple: Leave at least six inches between the end of the rug and the walls (or counters, in the case of kitchens); leave all furniture legs off rugs in busy thoroughfares like entryways and hallways, and let the space dictate your choice of rug size.
In a big open-plan space, the rug should sit under the front legs of both the sofas – or if you have a large rug, then both sofas can sit completely atop the rug. If you have chairs in the space as well, then the front legs of the chair should be touching or "hovering" on the rug.
The width of the rug should be at least equal to the width of the sofa, but ideally be 15 - 25 inches wider than it on both sides. A spacious sofa corner can be accentuated by a large, cuddly rug - a shaggy rug provides a very soft surface and creates a perfect feel-good zone.
A 9' x 12' foot rug will happily fit your couch, coffee table, and two chairs with about a foot of space on the edge. This is best for large rooms, lofts, or open plan spaces.
Considering Wall Color
Your wall color should be two tones lighter than your carpet. If you have dark walls, you can also go a few tones lighter with your carpet. Since it's much easier to change your wall color than your carpet, choose your carpet color first and then match your wall color.
When selecting an area rug, make sure that it extends under all the key pieces of furniture in the room. In a living room, for instance, all of the furniture should be on top of the rug. If this isn't possible, it's okay to have the front legs of major upholstered pieces on the rug and the back legs off.