How to Pick the Right Size Rug with Guide!

I often get asked how to pick the right size rug for under a dining table, under a bed, for an entry and really any spot! And since we are on the subject, I only believe in one design rule- you must pick the right size rug for your space! I have an older blog post on picking the right size rug (HERE)- hey, even Joanna Gaines has changed her ways, from picking a too small of a rug to the right size rug for the scale of the room and furniture. Let me show you some of my tips from some  past makeovers we did. 

Bedroom Rugs-

• Tip- Depending in room size, rug should extend about 2′ to 3′ from the bed
• Recommended Size- Twin 5×8, Queen 6×9 or 8×10, King 8×10 or 9×12

In my sisters bedroom makeover we actually tried two different rugs! The above photo has the 8×10 charcoal rug  I had originally ordered, but wasn’t here in time when I had to take pictures. So I took pictures with the lighter rug that was a 6×9, too small for the space, fun to see the light verses dark tho.

This smaller bedroom we did this queen iron bed with this 6×9 rug. The rug fit perfectly wall to wall! (see this makeover here)

This queen bed we did this rug in an 8×10. I wanted to go bigger, since there was space and it also breaks up all the gold floors and the gold wallpaper. 

For my sisters bedroom I did an 8×10 to brighten up the room and contrast the dark carpet. You can find the rug here. 

For this small bedroom we have a queen bed in here with a 5×7 and it really pulls the entire space together! Find the rug here. 

Yes, we do a rug over carpet! It really adds so much to the room. We did a 5×7 in this rug in this little girls room.

I used this rug in here! Love how it pulls in the wall color. (see more of this room here).

In this bedroom makeover we actually went from a 9×12 rug all the way down to a 6×9! This is a queen bed and it fits the rug and room well! The rug extends about 2 feet out from the bed (Find the bedroom makeover HERE and the rug HERE).

Again in this bedroom makeover notice how the rug isn’t under the nightstands. This is an 8×10 with a queen bed. (Find the room makeover HERE and the rug HERE).

I did this makeover for my friend Amy. We layered her rugs for her oversized bedroom, great way to make a rug you love work in a space if it is smaller and a great way to save money0 if the top rug is not a budget rug (see makeover here)- Rug HERE.

This is a smaller room- but a good example of how we turned the rug to fit the shape of the room. I typically turn rugs horizontal to break up the shape of the bed, but this one ran the length of the bed. Also nice to show how a rug adds so much to a space, even on carpet. (Find this makeover HERE and the rug HERE).

For this bedroom makeover we did a king bed with a 8×10 rug, I actually showed how a light rug looks vs a dark! Find the two options on this makeover. 

And again for those that are wondering if you should do a rug over carpet- YES! A rug over carpet it always a great way to define the space and add a pop of color if you want it! (Find this bedroom makeover HERE and the rug HERE).

Entry Rug-

• Tip- Chose Rug that is width of door and sidelights 
• Recommended Size- 3×5 or try layering rugs to get the right size!

You can see how I layered two rugs on our front porch, this “just so you know there are a lot of plants in here” door mat was just too small on its own. I layered it with a rug I had so it at least extends the entire width of the door. I recently ordered this rug in a 3×5 for our back door, can’t wait to show you!

Living Room Rug-

• Tip- Front leg of each furniture piece should be on rug
• Recommended Size- 6×9 or 8×10 (larger for oversized rooms- but follow guidelines above)

I feel strongly that the front legs of your sofa should sit on the rug and the front legs of chairs you might have in the space. It really pulls everything together. If you go too big it will feel like everything is floating and not grounded. I had this rug in our living room and while I LOVED the color it is a really to thin of a rug for a higher traffic area and it does have fringe that would get stepped on as people walked into our house (making the rug fall apart quickly). I recommend a rug like this in a bedroom or it can go in a living room that doesn’t get a lot of traffic. 

We switched to this rug (I gave the other one above away to a friend for a makeover). This rug is slightly bigger, I do prefer the 6×9 in our living room, but sometimes you just have to go with around the size the rug comes in, so we have a 7’6″x9’6″ in here. This new rug is screen printed- I thought online that it was a hooked rug, totally fooled me. But for the price point it makes sense. Also when it is screen printed I won’t be as concerned about it being in a high-traffic area. 

I actually like to start with selecting a rug FIRST before I pick anything else! A rug makes such a statement and can sometimes be the hardest thing to find. In this family room makeover I picked a rug with a lot of color since the rest of the furniture was neutral. (Find the rug HERE).

This was a makeover we did for my friend Sarah (see makeover HERE) and find her rug HERE. Again, notice how the front sofa legs and the front chair legs are on the rug! Also we went with a pattern and a darker rug because it is a higher traffic area, before they had a really light jute rug. 

This home is an open floor plan, so it is important that everything works well together and coordinates. I actually try to think of that in every home, how they should flow nicely. We did a makeover of the entry and wanted the rug to coordinate with the painted front door and entry. This rug does just that! (find the rug HERE).

 In this family room we went with a darker rug that helps to define the space and contrast the light sectional! (Find rug HERE) 

Dining Room Rug-

• Tip- You wan the rug to extend 24″ from the back of each chair
• Recommended Size- 6×8, 8×10 or 9×12 depending on table size

I don’t have many photos of a dining room or a kitchen table on a rug. But if you want to do it, a good rule to follow is that when you pull out the chair it is still sitting on the rug. I think whether you do a rug or not under a table is totally personal preference. I would suggest going with a rug that you can easily clean up any messes! 

This dining room makeover I did for a friend you can find HERE. 

I typically follow the same rules for a home office as I do for dining room. You want your desk chair to remain on the rug when the chair is pulled out from the desk. Find the rug in my sisters home office makeover here. 

McGee and Co has the perfect size rug under this dining table (find rug and image source HERE)

Shop some of my favorite affordable rugs-

Rug #1 // Rug #2 // Rug #3 // Rug #4 // Rug #5 //Rug #6 // Rug #7 // Rug #8 // Rug #9 

PS- I like THIS rug pad! Nice thickness and it protects your wood floor!

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