Choosing the Best Size Area Rug for Your Space
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Can you believe that this is one of the most common mistakes that I see in Interior Design? Many home owners often purchase area rugs that are too small for their space. The purpose of an area rug -other than adding softness & helping with acoustics – is that it defines a space. It brings together groupings of furnishings to create an ‘oasis’ and a connection between them all.
Click on the video above to see my 3D drawings of a clients Great Room where I show the wrong size and the perfect size for the space.
Below is a photo of another clients family room in Oakville Ontario where I purposely show the rug too small.

The rule I like to live by is that an area rug must be under the front legs (at the very least) of all of the furniture within an area. For the family room above, we did not want to extend the rug to the occasional chairs by the window and there was two reasons for this.
1) I suggested the chairs by the window with the table and lamp were a separately defined area in the space. They are far away enough from the sectional for this to work.
2) If we did choose to have a rug that extended to the chairs, the rug size would need to be customised and therefore the price tag increases dramatically.
Below the rug is shown in a more appropriate size for the family room.

I also purposely pulled the rug to the edge of the fireplace so as you enter the room it doesn’t draw the eye to show the rug only half way to the fireplace.
Here are some more examples of my designs showing the right size area rug.






Below in this family room the width of the space wasn’t overly big so the area rug (non customised) was able to fit perfectly and go all the way under the stunning blue swivel chairs.

One of the only exceptions to this rule is if you are using an animal hide rug as shown below in this photo by Christie Architecture. This is a different style – often Mid Century Modern Style – and so it’s meant to exude a specific look.

If I’m totally honest, when I first began my Interior Decorating course more than 7 years ago now and the instructor told the class of this rule, I realised that my own area rug was too small in my living room. I went out and bought a brand new one immediately and it made such a difference in how the room looked!
Undoubtedly, this is one of the biggest pet peeves for many designers. Does it bother you? Is your area rug too small for your room? I would love to know if you have made this mistake, comment below and share your thoughts. Let’s get the conversation going!
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Diana
| 14 August 2017I am so pleased to find this article! I always struggle when I’m buying rugs….they always end up being too big or too small. These tips are very helpful for choosing right area rugs. Thanks.
CCadmin
| 18 August 2017Hey Diana. Area rugs can be a big investment to not get the right size/fit for your space. I’m so glad that you found this helpful!
The Furniture Gallery
| 5 April 2024This article offers practical tips for selecting the right size area rug. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to spruce up their space with the perfect rug.
Claire Jefford
| 23 May 2024Thank you!