Area Rug Size Guide
to help you select the right size Area Rug!
A well-chosen area rug can add warmth and personality to a room. It can also serve to visually anchor your furniture layout and absorb noise in high traffic rooms. But more often than not people make the wrong choice for the size of their rugs. Here’s a handy area rug size guide to help you select the right size area rug for your space!
Area rugs can be layered over wood floors, tile, broadloom (wall-to-wall carpet) and even other area rugs.
In the Living Room
ALL FURNITURE ON THE RUG
The most classic area rug sizing in the living room is to have all of the furniture entirely on the rug. You will need a rather large area rug, but the exact size will depend on the size of your furniture and the size of your room. This option is perfect for uniting a room that may not quite be entirely coordinated. A typical area rug size for this look in a living room is an 8′ x 10′ rug or larger.

Another very acceptable option in the living room is to have a rug just large enough for the front legs of all of the furniture to rest upon. This works well in a slightly smaller living room or a if you are on a tighter budget. A 5′ x 7′ area rug could work in this type of situation, but again measure to be sure all of the front legs will rest on the rug.

Pro-decorator tip: Do not choose an area rug that falls short of going under at least the front feet of the furniture arrangement. Your area rug should not just float in the middle of the room, or sit alone under a coffee table!