RUG KNOWLEDGE: SIZE AND PLACEMENT
When you plan to include an area rug in your decorating scheme, one of the first questions you should ask yourself is “What size?” Here are a few guidelines in helping to match the size of a rug to the size and use of a room.
If you are planning on one large area rug, look for a rug that will leave a balanced, symmetrical border of flooring on all four sides. Rooms and rugs being what they are, however, means that you may not be able to match a rug to a room so perfectly that all four borders are even; instead, position the rug so opposite borders are equal. In any event, an area rug should not abut the baseboard molding.
For a more traditional or formal scheme, a central medallion in the rug will help define the center of the room around which you begin to group furnishings. Keep an eye open for architectural details as well; a fireplace, for example, also tends to focus a room. A rug (especially one with a medallion) may look best when you keep in mind the overall symmetry of the room.
If, on the other hand, a room does not have a natural or well-defined center, you might try a rug with an overall repeat pattern.
A somewhat more adventurous approach is to use more than one rug in the same room. Doing so starts to define areas within a room, separating a group sitting area, for example, from a reading chair and lamp. Don’t divide a room in half with two equal-sized rugs; a large rug and a smaller one makes for a better contrast. Also, designs and colors needn’t match. Rugs should complement each other. Vary the scale of the pattern and the type of design.
When arranging furniture, it is general practice to place the front legs on the rug (don’t forget to use adequate protectors under heavy furniture to protect the rug!) and the back legs on the flooring. The primary concern, however, is not whether the furniture is on the rug or off-as long as the uncovered spaces on the floor are balanced, the rug is right for the room.
The rug should be of adequate size to move chairs away from the table without falling off the rug. In most cases, an eight-foot-wide rug will be adequate. A rule of thumb is to measure your table, and add two feet to all four sides. The resulting dimensions will be your minimum rug size.
The shape of your dining room table should dictate the shape of your rug. A round table looks best on either a round or square rug. An oval or rectangular table works best on a rectangular rug. No matter the shape of the rug, your table and chairs will cover the middle of the rug. Therefore, we recommend selecting a dining room rug with an all over pattern rather than one with a medallion in the center. This way the pattern will not get lost beneath the table and chairs.
Surrounding furniture in the dining room (breakfronts, serving stands, china cabinets) should be on the floor, not on the rug.
Few things are nicer than stepping out of bed directly onto a plush rug! In addition to the wonderful tactile experience, a rug in the bedroom also muffles sound. A bedroom is a restful place, and a handmade rug helps keep it quiet and comfortable.
If you are placing a rug beneath the bed, you may want to use a rug with an all over pattern rather than one with a medallion. In addition, ensure that the rug extends equally beyond both sides of the bed. Larger beds, i.e., king and queen, should have a minimum of 18” of rug on either side. Smaller beds, i.e., full and twin, should have at least 12” of rug on either side of the bed. Ideally you will also want your rug to extend at least a few inches beyond any nightstands that may be beside the bed. Another option is to place a small rug at the foot of the bed. However, to balance it, the width of the rug should again extend beyond both sides of the bed equally.