How to Pick the Perfect Size and Spot for a Rug

Every space is different, which means there’s no one-size-fits-all rug that works in every room. Fortunately, there are a few rules of thumb that make choosing your rug a whole lot easier. Dining rooms, for example, need a rug that’s big enough to fit under your table without catching the chair legs while bedrooms benefit from a little extra softness. Whatever your room’s size, use, and spot, Macy’s has a rug that will work in it. So here, you tell us the basics of the space you’re working with, and we’ll give you some guidelines for finding which rug that is.

In a tiny apartment, you can either choose a big rug to mimic wall-to-wall carpet, or you can define a cozy seating area with one small rug. Give your furniture some breathing room, and place a 5′ x 8′ or 6′ x 9′ rug under the coffee table. Keep all other furniture legs off the rug for a simple, sophisticated look.

When your furniture is up against the wall, make sure that at least the front two legs of sofas and chairs are on the rug. Sizes in the 7′ x 9′ or 8′ x 10′ range are likely to work well in this scenario.

When floating all your furniture on a rug, leave an equal border of exposed floor around all four sides. Choose a big rug (like 9′ x 12′ or 10′ x 13′) so you have enough space to fit all your furniture on it while still allowing plenty of room between sofas, chairs, and tables.

You don’t want dining chairs to catch on the rug as you pull them out. Choose a rug that leaves at least 24″ of space around the border of your table and chairs. Try an 8′ x 10′, a 9′ x 12′, or a 10′ x 13′ rug to find the right fit.

In a bedroom, you can use a larger rug (8′ x 10′ or 9′ x 12′) to provide full or partial coverage under the bed. Or, you can place smaller 5′ x 8′ and 6′ x 9′ rugs at the foot or sides of the bed to add softness underfoot when you wake up in the morning.

Need help choosing a style? The Andorra Collection by Oriental Weavers is a good bet for any of these spots. The all-over pattern brings depth and dimension to a room while hiding wear. The collection comes in all sizes (including runners), and it’s woven from long-wearing materials.

^{This post was created by Apartment Therapy’s Creative Studio and is sponsored by Macy’s.
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