A rug adds texture, warmth and creates a grounded atmosphere - but get the wrong size and it can throw the whole room off. We’ve come across our fair share of rugs that are too small for a space, and we get it, rugs are costly! Instead of just saying to purchase “something large” we’re going to share some formulas, rules and a couple tricks to help you get the perfect rug for your space (and budget).

Getting the rug for your living room can be a daunting task. Not many are cost effective and returning rugs is a pain - trust us on that. They are investment pieces and need to be just so, to pull the room together.

Let's start with a couple FID guidelines and then dive in to some example layouts to find out what works best for your space!

Most common rug sizes for living rooms are 8’x10’ and 9’x12’
Keep your rug at least 6” wider on both sides of your sofa
Typically, the rug will run lengthwise with your sofa
A comfortable walking space between furniture is 24” or wider (if your space allows for it), keeping that in mind should already give you the size range of your rug.

Pro tip: Take painters tape to measure out rug sizes on your floor. This will give you a much better idea of how the space will look.

All Furniture On Board

A classic layout and one that is a must in large spaces. Keep all furniture about 8” from the edge of the rug and the rug at least 10” from the wall. If your sofa is against a wall the rug can go closer to the wall to not waste valuable conversational space.

Half On, Half Off

The most common layout, keep just the front legs of furniture pieces on the rug. This not only allows for a smaller rug it can also make a space feel more spacious than it is. Keep about 1/3rd of the furniture item over the rug and let those back legs hang loose on the hardwood. Example, say a sofa is 36” deep, that would mean 12” of it would be over the rug.

Layer It Up

You have the perfect vintage rug, but it’s only a 5’x6’. Fear not! Layer it over a larger rug and give your space the ultimate cosy, textural experience. The go-to for layering is a larger, neutral, jute like rug and a smaller rug in a different colour and material on top. Finding a jute rug or something like it can be more cost effective and then you can get the real masterpiece rug in an economical size to go on top.

Be A Little Different

Not all rugs come in rectangles, some come in a fun organic shape (like a cowhide). If you’re thinking well how would I know what size to get then, we have an answer. There are no real “rules” when it comes to organic shaped rugs but we like to ensure it’s proportional with the sofa. It can however be a small cosy rug to create an intimate spot separate from the main conversational area. Or it could be layered and just sit in half the room for added texture. With these rugs you can stretch your creative muscles and see what you can do to spice up your space.

You are now ready to go pick out a rug! Take these tips and tricks to find the perfect rug for your space and budget. Hopefully, now getting this investment piece will seem less daunting.

We also added a cheat sheet below for a quick reference :)