This One Rug Hack Fixed My Awkward Living Room Layout

When we moved into our new place, my goal was to preserve as much furniture and decor from the old one as I could. It was mostly for practical reasons; in this economy, you’ve got to save where you can. Plus, most of our stuff was perfectly lovely! The new living room layout did require a big purchase, though — we needed a new couch because the old one didn’t fit. 

Once we got the new sofa into the space, however, another problem emerged that I hadn’t anticipated: the living room rug was now way too small. This one little detail became my biggest design headache; I tried to live with it for as long as possible, but it was honestly throwing off the vibe and balance of the entire room. Finally, I accepted my fate (and the blow to my budget): We needed a bigger rug. 

To avoid a potentially costly mistake, I did some serious research before deciding which size rug would be better suited to the space. Most designers recommend choosing a rug that’s large enough to group all your furniture together — and generally, that means that the front legs of a sofa and any accent chairs should rest on the rug. The area rug should sit six to 18 inches from the wall on all sides, leaving a gap. You want to avoid creating the “floating” effect, where your rug looks more like an island with a coffee table than the anchor of the room. 

As much as I liked the design of our existing rug, at just 5 x 8 feet it was clearly too small. It didn’t stretch the length of the new sectional, nor could the accent chair and side table fit onto it at all. So, after a lot of deliberation, I purchased a new rug that was 7 feet, 10 inches by 10 feet instead. And what a difference it made!

Specifically, I went with this Loloi Magnolia Home Rug from Amazon. (I even mocked up a few designs in AI with different rugs to see what I liked best, and that helped a lot with visualization.) The reviews for this particular brand are consistently high, and five years ago I purchased another rug from the brand that I’m still loving. For the quality, longevity, and style, this is a fantastically priced option for anyone in need of a larger area rug. 

Design-wise, I liked that this rug felt neutral while still adding some color to the room, and the pattern helps prevent it from looking dirty. Although a few feet might not seem like much of a difference, the second we laid down the larger rug it improved the vibe of the entire room. Not only did the room look better, but what shocked me most was also how much more comfortable our little living room felt! It’s so cozy and relaxing without any glaring design mistakes; I get excited to snuggle in with a good book, conversation, or TV show. So the moral of the story? Don’t underestimate the importance of proportions, or the power of a good rug. And don’t be afraid to make the upgrade; there are still some seriously stylish, high-quality pieces out there that won’t totally blow your budget.