What size rug for your living room?
The most common mistake in a new home is a rug that's too small. Here's how to choose the right size for each room, with a chart you can measure against.
The quick answer
For most living rooms, choose a rug large enough that at least the front legs of the sofa and every chair sit on it, with 12 to 18 inches of bare floor between the rug and the walls. In a large living room, that usually means 9 × 12 ft or bigger.
Living room rug sizes
| Room size | Rug size | Layout |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 12 ft | 6 × 9 ft | Front legs on the rug |
| 12 × 15 ft | 8 × 10 ft | Front legs on the rug |
| 13 × 17 ft | 9 × 12 ft | All legs on the rug |
| 14 × 18 ft and up | 10 × 13 ft or 10 × 14 ft | Whole seating group on the rug |
| Open-plan great room | Custom size | One rug per zone |
For a great room, use a separate rug to define each zone, seating, dining or reading, rather than one rug for the whole space.
Dining room rug size
Add 24 to 30 inches to each side of the table, so chairs stay on the rug when they're pulled out. A table for six usually needs an 8 × 10 ft rug; a table for eight to ten, a 9 × 12 or 10 × 14 ft rug. Round tables suit round rugs.
Bedroom rug size
Place the rug under the lower two-thirds of the bed so it extends 18 to 24 inches on each side. A queen bed needs an 8 × 10 ft rug; a king, 9 × 12 ft or larger.
Round and organic shaped rugs
A round or double-round rug works best under a round table or a curved sofa and a pair of chairs. An organic or irregular shaped rug doesn't need to line up with the furniture at all. Let it float under the coffee table, slightly off-centre, as you would a piece of sculpture.
How to measure
- Measure the room wall to wall, and note doors, vents and fireplaces.
- Subtract 12 to 18 inches on each side for the border of floor.
- Mark the result on the floor with painter's tape and live with it for a day.
- Round up rather than down. A rug that's slightly too big almost always looks better than one that's too small.
Find your rug
Browse large and oversized rugs, neutral rugs or the whole collection. If your room needs something in between, we can make a custom size. Still unsure? Ask for a free sizing consultation.