How To Choose The Right Size Area Rug For Your Room

One questi0n that I often get from friends and clients is how to choose the right area rug for your home. The right rug is so important.  Many homes today are built with a very open concept where one room flows into the next without the delineation of a wall, so the area rug warms and defines a space.

I love oversized area rugs. I want all my furniture on the rug with room to breathe around the parameter. That’s just me. It’s not necessary but it looks great and gives the room finite definition. We live in Florida so homes tend to have lots of tile combined with lots of air conditioning. Floors can be cold to the touch. So for me, bigger is better. Area rugs can be in the middle of a seating area but the rug edges should touch the front of the furniture end to end, or the front legs of the pieces should be on the rug.

In a bedroom, there are a few options. I love an area rug that goes under the bed and gives at least four feet of rug on either side of the bed so you step off onto warmth. At the foot of the bed there should be a bit more rug than on the sides. Also, in a bedroom, there is an option to do one large area rug at the foot of the bed only. But the rug shouldn’t be half on and half off ie. Falling in the middle of the bed itself.

Rugs that are too small look like bath mats. So be sure you are using a rug that covers enough space in a room. Area rugs in dining rooms or under dining tables are controversial in my book. I don’t love them because food falls, they get dirty, it’s hard to move a chair back and forth. However, a flat weave or kilim rug are great options. Chairs must be able to pull out all the way and still be on the rug. Dining chairs cannot be half off and half on a rug.

As far as bathrooms go, if you have in floor heating I’m jealous! If not, large and fluffy rugs are a must – flokati even better!. They should be cleaned weekly and swapped out every other month. Rubber backing is a great idea for no slipping.

If you’re going to layer rugs, be careful. Flatweave, natural fiber and animal skin rugs are the only ones that work whenlayering. I do love the Moroccan feel of a few rugs thrown together. It’s very “in the moment”.

Mats belong in front of your home and should be a large statement piece. Your entryway should have at least a 4×6 to make it feel like a special space and set the tone for the rest of the house. Color or bold pattern are a wonderful idea.

Here are some great rugs that I love, and super crushing on blue of any kind at the moment. It’s the most inviting neutral of all, and when it’s bright and royal, it puts a smile on my face.

How I designed my home to work for me is with rugs in neutral tones and if I’m going to make a bold statement with color or geometric pattern, I normally don’t do that with a rug. Unless it is tone on tone or an subtle geo. Otherwise it overwhelms the space and the attention is on the rug. Balance is key here! Natural weaves and colors are the best, anything that looks handmade or is soft to the touch is my favorite. If furniture is light and neutral, go with a subtle color rug (I am loving blues right now!), but if furniture is colorful or dark use a neutral toned rug.

I decided it was important to stay within a tight budget when I designed my home three years ago in 2013. We are about to undergo a fun facelift, also budget friendly so stay tuned for that!

Get the vibe:

1. Monogrammed Dormat | 2. Sheepskin | 3. Cow Hide Leather | 4. Faux Fur Ivory |

5. Trelllis Shag | 6. Eastern Accent Panel | 7. Handwoven Navajo | 8. Hand Hooked Jafar

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