8 Tips for Choosing the Right Rug for Your Home
Hi, I’m Eileen. A rug can be one of the hardest-working pieces in a room. It can bring furniture together, introduce colour and texture, soften a space and make a room feel more inviting.
But choosing the right one isn’t always as simple as finding a rug you love.
Size is usually where things go wrong. A rug that’s too small can make a room feel disconnected, while the right size can completely change the proportions of the space. Then there’s placement, material, colour, pattern and of course, how much you want to spend!
So, before you fall in love with a beautiful rug that turns out to be completely wrong for your room, here are 8 things I recommend considering first.
1. Start with the Size of Your Room
When choosing a rug, start with the room and your furniture layout, not the standard rug sizes available in the store.
Measure the space and look at where your furniture sits. The rug needs to feel generous enough to connect the furniture rather than looking like a little island in the middle of the room.
Getting the scale and placement right is also an important part of creating a room that feels balanced. I share more about bringing furniture, proportions and styling together in my guide to creating a well-balanced room.
My tip: Before buying, use painter’s tape to mark out the rug dimensions on your floor. It’s such a simple trick, but it gives you a much better idea of how the size will feel in the room.
2. How Big Should a Living Room Rug Be?
In a living room, your rug should be large enough to visually connect the main pieces of furniture.
Ideally, I like the front legs of the sofa and chairs to sit on the rug. Depending on the size and layout of the room, the furniture can also sit completely on the rug.
What I try to avoid is a small rug sitting underneath the coffee table with all the other furniture floating around it. It tends to make both the rug and the room feel smaller.
If you’re deciding between two sizes, the larger rug is often the better choice provided it still leaves some floor visible around the edges.
3. What Size Rug Works Under a Dining Table?
A dining room rug needs to accommodate both the table and the chairs, including when the chairs are pulled out.
If the rug finishes too close to the table, chair legs can catch on the edge every time someone sits down or gets up which isn't particularly practical!
Measure your dining table and allow plenty of additional space around it before choosing your rug.
And because this is an eating area, practicality matters just as much as appearance.
I generally look for something durable and relatively easy to maintain rather than a delicate rug that will have everyone panicking whenever a glass of red wine appears!
4. How Should You Place a Rug in a Bedroom?
In a bedroom, the rug should extend beyond the bed so you actually see and feel it.
A large rug positioned underneath the bed can beautifully anchor the room and add softness underfoot. You don’t necessarily need it to run all the way underneath the bedside tables, positioning it further down the bed can give you the coverage where it matters while reducing the size of rug you need.
For smaller bedrooms or tighter budgets, runners on either side of the bed can also work beautifully.
The goal is to create that lovely soft landing when you get out of bed rather than hiding most of your rug underneath it.
5. Choose a Material That Suits How You Live
The best rug isn't simply the one that looks beautiful. It needs to suit the way the room is actually used.
A busy family living room, for example, needs something very different from a quiet bedroom.
Wool is a beautiful natural option and can be wonderfully soft and durable. Synthetic fibres can offer practicality and easier maintenance, while natural fibres such as jute and sisal introduce gorgeous texture and a relaxed feel.
Think about children, pets, foot traffic, cleaning and where the rug will be positioned before making your decision.
There’s no point owning a beautiful rug if you’re terrified of anyone walking on it!
6. Think About Colour and Pattern
A rug can either support the room or become one of its main features.
If your sofa, artwork or furnishings already have plenty happening, a more subtle rug can help ground everything. In a fairly neutral room, a rug can be a wonderful opportunity to introduce pattern, colour and personality.
Rather than trying to match everything perfectly, I look for a connection like a colour that's already appearing in the artwork, cushions or other furnishings.
Texture is also important. A rug doesn’t need a bold pattern to add interest, sometimes a beautiful weave or subtle variation is all a room needs.
7. Don't Forget What's Underneath
A rug pad or underlay is one of those details that's easy to overlook, but it can make a real difference to how your rug sits and performs.
It can help reduce slipping and movement, provide extra cushioning and protect both the rug and the flooring underneath.
This is particularly worth considering on hard flooring or underneath rugs that tend to move with everyday use.
8. How Much Should You Spend on a Rug?
There isn't one right amount to spend on a rug. Your budget should reflect the room, how much use the rug will receive and how long you expect to keep it.
A beautiful wool rug may be worth investing in for your main living space, while a more affordable option might make perfect sense in a child's room or somewhere you know your needs may change.
I’d rather see someone buy the right size rug at a comfortable price point than spend their entire budget on an expensive rug that’s too small for the space.
My tip: Work out the size you need before setting your final budget. Larger rugs can cost considerably more, and knowing the dimensions first gives you a much more realistic idea of what you'll need to spend.
The Right Rug Can Bring the Whole Room Together
A rug shouldn't feel like an afterthought. When the size, placement, material and style are right, it can be the element that connects everything else in the room.
Start with your measurements, think honestly about how you live, set a budget that feels comfortable and then have some fun with the colour, texture and style.
And remember, you don't have to follow every design rule perfectly. Your home still needs to work for you.
If you're choosing furnishings for your home and finding it difficult to bring everything together, I'd love to help you create a space that feels considered, comfortable and completely yours.
Contact me today and let's make your home feel like you 🏡
