Published January 2025 | Updated January 2025
The size of a rug dramatically influences the dynamics of a room. A living room with a too-small rug feels uninviting and temporary. A rug that is too big is confusing, leading the eye toward the vast rug instead of the composed and carefully designed seating area or the beautiful, curated bedroom furnishings.
Selecting the Right Size Rug for the Room
Proportions between the size of the room and the size of your furniture, the orientation of a rug to your couch or to the room’s length, and the colors or patterns in the rug all need to be considered. Here are our tips and guidelines for finding that perfect size and achieving balance in any space.
- Standard vs. Non-standard: Most area rugs are sold in standard, set sizes and may not work for your space. Create your own custom-sized rug that fits your unique space perfectly.
- Frame: A living room area rug should extend at least 6-8 inches beyond the width of the couch on both sides and, ideally, the couch’s front feet should be on the rug. If possible, leave 18-24 inches of exposed flooring on the edges of the rug to show off your floors and further define the space.
- Measure Twice: Just to be sure, measure twice and consider using painter’s or masking tape to mark the rug dimensions on your floor and help you visualize the rug’s footprint.
- Room Size or Furniture Layout?: Deciding on the right size rug is influenced by the size of the room, the layout of your furniture, or both. An open concept space needs a map—an area rug defines and unites a gathering space and should be proportional to the furniture layout as well as the size of the space.
- Orientation: A rug should echo the dimensions of the space it is in. If the room is long, orient your rug lengthwise.
Why do I need a custom size rug?
A made-to-measure custom area rug provides a unique accent to every room and is the ideal solution to the limitations of a standard-sized rug. All of our rugs are made to order—from classic layouts to customized shapes or runners. Bespoke finishing options and detailed craftsmanship paired with our finely curated assortment of weaves will bring your vision to reality.
Living Room
The most preferred and economical option places the two front legs of your sofa and chairs on top of the rug to frame an inviting seating area. Buy the largest size rug you can afford.
Common sizes include 8’x10′, 9’x12′ & 10’x14‘
Bedroom
Large bedrooms deserve large rugs. But if you have a medium to small sized bedroom, select a rug big enough to include the front feet of your end tables and that extends at least 18 inches on either side of the bed.
Common sizes include 5’x8′ (twin), 8’x10′ (queen) & 9’x12′ (king)
Dining Room
A dining room area rug should should accommodate dining chairs when they are pulled all the way out. Add about 32 to 36 inches to each side of your table’s dimensions to comfortably move chairs in and out.
Common sizes include 6’x6′ round, 8’x10′ & 9’x12‘
Kitchen
Kitchen rugs add a splash of style while protecting your floors and supporting your joints. The layout of your kitchen determines which rug size or shape you need. A decent-sized runner or a small rug in front of a sink are the most common shapes.
Common sizes include 2’x6′ runner, 3’x8′ runner, 2’x3′, 3’x5′, 5’x8‘
Entryway
An entryway rug should be eye-catching and as big as possible to catch dirt and moisture before it enters your home. If your rug is short, add a walk-off mat at your front door for added protection.
Common sizes include 3’x8′ runner, 2’x3′, 3’x5′ & 5’x8‘
Bathroom
A runner that matches the width of your vanity provides warm padding where desired the most. But don’t be afraid to try something different, like circular rugs, for a fresh look in an often ignored space.
Common sizes include 2’x6′ runner, 3’x8′ runner, 2’x3′, 3’x5′, 5’x8‘
For even more details and options on choosing the right size rug for your room, head over to Custom Rugs: What Size Do I Need?
Special Shape Rugs
Sometimes a square or a circle won’t do. You may need a rug with a unique shape to fit an attic bedroom or a tailored cut to fit around a fireplace. Angled corners, outside cuts or inside cuts—we can help. To learn more about custom cut rugs, including how to measure (templates included), visit our resource page Irregular Shaped & Custom Cut Rugs. Additionally, our team of experts can guide you through the process, from selecting the right material to the final finishes.
Organic Shaped Rugs from SynSisal®
rugs inspired by nature’s curves
Tiles: Create Your Own Special Shape
Tiles are another option for creating a special shaped rug. With tiles, you can design a rug in the shape you need or the style you want. Unique patterns like stripes or checkerboard are possible by mixing colors or turning individual tiles to alter the weave direction. Tiles are easy to install and if a tile becomes damaged, swapping it out for a new tile is easy.
For colorful options in a goat-wool blend, Interlife Tiles offer durability, insulation and limitless design possibilities. Our Sisal Tiles combine the beauty of sisal and the versatility of tiles to create a modular flooring option with a beautiful bouclé texture and earthy tones.
Learn more about the versatility of tiles by heading over to our Tiles collection page or our blog post Sisal Tiles—The Benefits Of Tiles Versus Rugs And Carpet.
Our Rug Buying Guide is a one-stop shop for gathering all you need to know about buying a rug, from selecting the best material for your lifestyle to the delivery of your new rug.
Christy is the Flooring Content Specialist at Curran and sisalcarpet.com. She writes about flooring products with a focus on design and sustainability. For 5 years, her blog posts, technical guides, and product descriptions have led customers along the path from purchasing to maintaining their flooring investments. Her favorite natural flooring? A sisal rug, of course.
