There are no rules when it comes to placing your rug, but trends certainly do dictate the look and feel that our clients are looking for today versus 5 or 10 years ago. Once upon a time it was common to only sell 1.6m x 2.3m rugs, these are small rugs and furniture sits around the rug but doesn’t touch it, this look still exists and would commonly be found when you are looking for low cost options to bring a pop of colour and comfort to a room.
The Rug Establishment today mainly sells rugs from 3000 wide, the look of today is to have your furniture sitting on the rug, this makes the room look larger and pulls together the furniture nicely and defines a room, even if you have a living and dining room that essentially share the same space. The saying “bigger is better” epitomises what people desire in their homes and office spaces.
For lounge rooms you need to consider where you would like your furniture placed, either entirely on the rug, or with the back one-third off the rug, both are acceptable and common. Once you know what type of placement, you need to consider the placement of the furniture in your room, then measure the area, taking into consideration where the rug will stop under your furniture.
See below for some of the most common placements.
Floating Lounge
This approach works better than no connection but does not give the room a unified look, especially in open floor plans because the furniture isn't connected.
Connection Lounge
Having the front legs of sofas and other furniture on a rug works in most situations since it 'grounds' the furniture to the floor and extends far enough to create a sense of good proportion.
No Connection Lounge
Small rugs like those placed under the coffee table are enough for a minimalist, contemporary home but the smaller the rug is, the smaller it will make your room look.
Ultimate Proportion Lounge
A rug sets boundaries and defines the conversation area in a living room. So a room generally looks more unified when all the furniture legs are on the rug and the bigger the rug, the larger it makes the room appear.
2-Seater Lounge
Place the seaters on each length of the rug and remember to have the front legs on it regardless of the shape or layout of your lounge. If you have two lounges facing each other, make sure the rug is positioned evenly between them.
L-Shaped Lounge
You’re getting the hang of it! L-shaped lounges are super easy to style because it simply goes on the corner of the rug. The only thing is to have a rug that is big enough to create an intimate space with all the connecting elements.
Round Dining Rug
Round rugs are a welcome change that shows off its curvy shape, helps to soften harsh edges, offers contrast and will give your room a new dimension. Popular as dining table rugs, they help to define areas like entryways or the corner of a larger room, especially if it's colourful or patterned and creates a space to linger.
Dining Considerations
Dining room rugs deaden the sound of scraping chairs and protect the floor from scratching. They should be big enough for the chair legs to sit comfortably on, even when they are pulled out to minimise the chance of tripping over the edge of the rug. We recommend having the rug at least 850mm around the table.
Anchored Bedroom
Placing a rug at the foot of the bed is a popular choice but you want your rug to be large enough that you can step onto it when you get out of bed. It's also a good idea to avoid elaborate designs since the bed will obscure most of it anyway.
Ultimate Placement - Bedroom
Placing a rug under the bed and bedside tables, with an equal part of it exposed on both sides is ideal because it creates balance and ties the whole room together.
Hall Runners
Hall runners protect your floors from wear, scratches and scuff marks as well as provide a sound barrier that protects your feet from cold, hard floors. You can't go wrong with a full-length runner but it should at least cover the majority of the walking area or entry. We also recommend that the rug is placed 200mm from the wall to allow space for the door swing.
Remember that these are just guidelines and the most important thing is that you like the way it looks!
