
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Area Rugs
December 3, 2020
The Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor Area Rugs
December 14, 2020As one of the most lived-in rooms in your home, the mood and design of your living room are essential to perfect for a high-quality home design. Your living room is the best place in the house to relax and bond with your family, so it must be comfortable. Area rugs add to the coziness of a living room, as they provide a soft area for bare feet while walking or playing. The added design element of a beautiful rug will section your living room and make it look larger when you pick the right size. By learning how to choose the right rug size for your living room, you will create a meaningful living room space where everyone loves to congregate.
Measure Your Space
You would not purchase a piece of furniture for your home without first making sure it fit in the space, would you? The same goes for rugs, even if they are on the ground. If an area rug is misaligned or crooked, it will stand out more than you may think—especially to guests with an eye for design. Get out the measuring tape, and zone out the area you would like to fill with a rug. It may help you to mark the space with painter’s tape, masking tape, or any other marking tool that will not damage your flooring. This way, you will see the exact dimensions you want to set aside for the new rug, and it will be easier to picture.
While you mark the area of your intended rug location, you’ll want to follow a few essential rules for both design and utility. These two rules should always be in your mind when measuring a zone for a new rug, especially in your living room:
Do Not Touch the Walls
If you wanted new wall-to-wall flooring, you would have gotten carpeting. Unless your furniture sits against the wall, the rug should never reach the edges of the room. Rugs that touch the walls will make the room feel cramped rather than enlarge it. As a rule of thumb, leave eight inches of space between the rug and walls for the most dramatic impact.
Leave Room for Walkways
Arranging your furniture within and outside of your measured-out rug placement area will help you decide if it is a large enough space. If the furniture is too cramped together on the rug, you may have difficulties maneuvering around the room, which can stress you and your guests out—especially if they struggle with mobility. Walk around your living room’s furniture to determine if they are a comfortable distance from each other. You may need a second opinion for this step.
Leave Breathing Room for Furniture
When you plan to fit all pieces of furniture on top of the rug, the rug will need to stretch further than the furniture—without touching the wall, of course. Give a couple of inches of wiggle room to the outside edges of your rug during furniture placement, and you will maximize the utilized space in your room.
Consider How You Want Furniture on the Rug
As you are placing your furniture the way you would like it to be in the living room, it is important to consider the furniture placement that best fits your room’s design. Because of the design rules mentioned above, the way you place your furniture affects the space you need to measure for your area rug. We list some popular design choices for living room furniture placement on luxurious rugs that might inspire you:
Furniture Entirely on the Rug
As mentioned, it is a popular design choice for all living room furniture—sofas, coffee tables, and even lounging chairs—to have their place on top of the rug. This sophisticated design separates the sitting area from the rest of the living room, allowing space for décor and appliances to accent the remainder of the room without cluttering the relaxing center. You may even have a hanging light fixture that you can use to center the rug. This rug placement style requires a larger rug, but it’s worth it for the dramatic effect it creates in the room—especially if you have an open floor plan.
Furniture Halfway on the Rug
When you want to cut corners in design, do not skimp on the quality of the rug—reduce its size. You can still find a stylish way to incorporate smaller rugs by placing only the front legs of your furniture on the rug. This way, furniture that touches the walls does not feel cluttered by a rug that wants to follow suit. Smaller rooms require smaller rugs, and this method provides a way for the smallest room to look elegant while conserving space.
Coffee Table Only
For a homier design, consider only placing the coffee table on the rug. Depending on the shape of your coffee table, you may find that a round or oval rug will work better for this style. Beautiful floors will stand out, and you will still have a way to break up the room for a less monotonous design. You may place the coffee table to one side of the rug to create a small area for children to play or watch TV.
Layering Rugs
You can incorporate more than one of these design tips by layering a smaller rug on top of a larger one. For this design, you will likely arrange all furniture on a giant rug while a smaller section of furniture, such as your coffee table or chairs, fits on the smaller one. This design adds an extra pop of style and allows you to put your interior design skills to the test as you mix and match different rugs.
Search for the Rug You Need and Customize the Size
Now that you have your measurements and furniture placement planned out, it is time to find the perfect selection of high-end area rugs. Area rugs often come in set sizes from average rug stores and manufacturers; while the set sizes may work for your room, every living room is different, and all sitting areas require unique sizes.
At Koeckritz Rugs, we specialize in providing you and your family with customized luxury rugs that fit the space you need as precisely as possible. We know how important choosing the right rug size for your living room is for your design and want to provide you with options to match the space you need to fill. Control the space you love with our unique customized rug service, and your living room’s design will blossom with charm and elegance.