HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZED RUG FOR LIVING ROOM
The living room is the heart of your home, and your living room rug will likely be one of your most prominent pieces of home decor. In the living room, area rug size can make or break the look. If you find the right rug size, though, it'll pull your furniture arrangement together and make your space more inviting.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SIZE LIVING ROOM RUG?
The standard area rug size for the living room is 330x240cm, but just because this is one of the most popular rug sizes doesn't mean it'll work for everyone.
The average dimensions of a living room are 600x500cm, but in some apartments, they're as small as 400x300cm or 300x200cm. So, the right rug size for small apartment living rooms will differ from the normal rug size for living rooms in large homes.
You'll want to consider the dimensions of your living room and furniture to find the perfect rug size for your living room. And we're here to help.
WHAT IS THE BEST SIZE AREA RUG FOR A SMALL LIVING ROOM?
The average home size is shrinking, and this trend is likely to continue in the foreseeable future – as a result, small living rooms are becoming more common than ever before.
Whether you have an apartment living room or a tiny den in the basement of a larger home, small area rugs are a necessity if you're working with limited square footage. So, what's a good size living room rug for a small living room?
- WHAT SIZE RUG TO USE FOR A 300x300cm ROOM: The recommended rug size for a 300x300cm living room is 240x240cm. This size keeps a 60cm border between the rug and the walls on all sides.
- WHAT SIZE RUG TO USE FOR A 300x200cm ROOM: The recommended rug size for a 300x200cm space is typically 230x160cm, again keeping a 60-70cm border between the rug and the walls.
Small living rooms usually work best with the back of your sofa and chairs against one wall, leaving only the front legs on the rug to anchor the furniture.
HOW SHOULD YOU SIZE AN AREA RUG FOR A LARGE LIVING ROOM?
Large living rooms are usually around 900x700cm, but with shrinking home sizes, even 600x500cm living rooms are considered spacious by modern standards. If you're lucky enough to have this much space, large room sizes work well with area rugs that allow all of the furniture in the space to rest on the rug's surface, creating an elegant and centered appeal.
Here are some standard large room rug sizes to consider for your living room:
- WHAT SIZE RUG TO USE FOR A 900x700cm ROOM: Most 900x700cm living rooms work well with a 300x400cm area rug; this leaves plenty of space between the rug's edges and the walls, creating flexibility.
- WHAT SIZE RUG TO USE FOR A 900x700cm ROOM: A 900x700cm living room would work well with a 400x500 area rug. Alternately, you might use a 400x300cm area rug to save money and achieve a different appearance.
Large living rooms work well with floating furniture arrangements, which means that the furniture is away from the walls and positioned on the rug. Often, all four legs of the sofa and chairs will fit on the rug, with the coffee table in the center. Alternately, you might position only the front legs of your couch on the area rug, leaving more space in the center.
WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FOR A SMALL APARTMENT LIVING ROOM?
A small apartment living room means different things depending on where you live. "Small" might mean a 300x200cm living room in a small studio or open layout apartment, but you might find a 330x240cm living room in a slightly larger apartment.
With living rooms of this size, you don't want a rug that's too large or too small. If your rug is too large, it may be touching the walls or too close to them, and the space can appear cramped and crowded. On the other hand, if the rug is too small, it might make the area feel disjointed and cheapen the look of your decor.
To find the largest size rug that can fit in your living room, subtract 5-10cm from the length and width of the rug. This size will keep at least 30cm between the edges of your rug and the walls.
Check out our curated selection of BEST LIVING ROOM RUGS!
SHOULD AREA RUGS FOR THE LIVING ROOM BE BIGGER THAN YOUR COUCH?
While you'll see home magazines filled with pictures of large rugs that allow all the furniture in a space to sit on their surface, this isn't necessary. Area rugs are traditionally bigger than the sofa, but modern design has created new rules.
If you need to save money (or maybe you just don't want to cover up your wood floors), a smaller area rug can ground your living room furniture. For example, runner rugs over the room's paths, or a small rug under the coffee table, will do the trick in many cases.
HOW SHOULD YOU CHOOSE RUG SIZES FOR YOUR UNIQUE LIVING ROOM STYLE?
Everyone wants to create a personal sanctuary in their living room, and the right area rug can help you do just that. If you want your living room to look unique, you don't need to worry about "typical rug sizes" – instead, think about what will capture the look you've always dreamed of.
For example, many modern living rooms feature open floor plans with few walls, exposed wood floors, industrial accessories, and a minimalist aesthetic. To keep with the clutter-free appeal, you might opt for runner rugs between the furniture and table instead of a standard large area rug.
HOW TO CHOOSE A ROUND RUG SIZE FOR THE LIVING ROOM?
It might seem challenging to choose a round rug size instead of a rectangular one, but it doesn't need to be.
Start by running masking tape from the center of your living room to the outside edge of the seating area (or the nearest wall). Then, measure the length of the masking tape to find the radius of your circle, and double the measurement to find the diameter.
Round rugs are sold by diameter, so use the second number to find your rug size. For example, if you measured 4' from the center of your room to the edge of the seating area, you'd get 8' by doubling it, which means you'll want an 8' round rug.
WANT MORE RUG SIZE INFO?
What sizes do rugs come in? How do I know what size and shape would look best? Check out our guide to rug sizes for help answering these questions. There, you'll find a rug size comparison chart for each room to help you decorate.