The first thing you need to do when you are deciding what area rug size you need is measure both the size of your room and the size of your furniture.
Measure Room Dimensions
You need to know what room size you are working with before you make any decisions about area rug size. As a general rule, an area rug should come no closer than 6″ to the wall on any side of the room. Any larger and it may overwhelm the space, curl against the wall or block floor vents.
For example, if you have a standard 10’x12′ bedroom the largest rug you would want would be an 8’x10′.
Measure Furniture
Now that you know the maximum rug size that you can order based on the size of your room, measure your furniture.
You DO want a rug that will sit either completely underneath or ideally will allow you to place at least the front legs of each furniture piece on it. You DO NOT want a rug that floats, unanchored, in the center of the room. It will look too small and awkward. It’s always better to size up, not down if in doubt.
Living Room Area Rug Sizing
Here are some examples of correctly sized living room area rugs. I prefer to have a rug that allows for the front feet of the furniture to sit on it and leaves the back feet off. If you have flooring that you are trying to cover with an area rug you could choose a rug that the furniture can sit entirely on top of as long as you have 6″ minimum space between the edge of the rug and the wall.
Area Rug Size for Under Sofas
If you have a smaller space or apartment-sized furniture an 8×10 rug will usually work. (Remember to measure your room and furniture to verify before you buy). rea Rug Size for Under Sectionals
The same rules apply for a sectional or larger furniture. You want the front feet of the furniture to sit on the rug. A 9×12 or even 10×14 rug usually works in larger spaces. In our living room, the sectional sits with its front feet on the rug and its back feet off.
Dining Room Area Rug Sizing
In a dining space, you ideally want an area rug that is large enough to contain all the furniture even when the chairs are pulled out from the table and people are seated. For a standard dining table that seats 6-10 people, a 9×12″ rug is usually large enough. Sometimes an 8×10 will suffice, but remember to measure before you order. Round Dining Table Area Rug Tips
I personally prefer rectangular rugs, even under round tables. Circular rugs tend to look more dated. If you do want to use a circular rug just apply the same rules. Measure how wide your table is and then add enough space to your measurement for a chair to be pulled out on either side. Usually, an 8×10 rug will be sufficient for a smaller table, round or rectangular.
Bedroom Area Rug Sizing
In bedrooms, I prefer to have area rugs that sit underneath the bottom 3/4 of the bed leaving room at the head for bedside tables as shown on the left-hand side of each illustration below. It’s less expensive to buy the smaller size rug and it looks just as good! If you want a really luxurious feel or are again trying to hide flooring you can go for a larger rug size that the entire bed will sit on top of.
