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In a small living room, the most common rug mistake is buying one that is too small. A little rug under the coffee table cuts the floor into pieces and makes the room look smaller than it is. A larger rug that reaches under the sofa and chairs pulls the seating into one group, and the room reads as bigger.
Three rules to know first
- Leave bare floor at the walls. About 12 inches on every side in a small room, 18 inches in a room 11 feet wide or more.
- Go wider than the sofa. The rug should pass the sofa by at least 6 inches on each side.
- Front legs on. The front legs of the sofa and every chair should stand on the rug.
The living room rug size calculator gives the standard size that fits your room and sofa.
01Buy one size larger than you planned
People tend to pick a 5 x 8 where a 6 x 9 or an 8 x 10 would fit. If two sizes both leave some floor showing on every side, take the larger one. The extra cost is usually smaller than the difference it makes.
02Use a 6 x 9 in a very small room
A 6 x 9 is the size that is easy to overlook. In a room about 10 by 12 feet it reaches under the front legs of a loveseat and one chair and still leaves a border of floor.
03Choose a light color
A light rug reflects daylight and makes the floor look wider, the same way light walls do. Cream, pale gray and soft beige are the safe choices. If light rugs worry you, see the washable option below.
04Keep the pattern small or tonal
A large bold pattern fills a small room quickly. A small repeat or a pattern in two close shades adds interest without making the floor feel busy. A faded traditional pattern also hides crumbs and wear.
05Pick a low pile
Thick shag looks heavy and catches chair legs and doors. A low pile or flat weave keeps the floor visually flat, lets furniture sit level and is easier to vacuum.
06Try a washable rug
A rug with a cover that goes in the washing machine removes the main reason people avoid light colors. It suits homes with children, pets or a sofa that doubles as the dining spot.
07Use jute or sisal for texture
Natural fiber rugs are plain in color and rich in texture, so they add warmth without pattern. They cost less than wool in large sizes, which helps when you follow the first rule. They feel firmer underfoot and do not like spills.
08Layer a small rug over a large plain one
If you already own a small patterned rug, lay it over a larger jute or flat-weave rug. The large one sets the size of the seating area, and the small one adds color where you see it most.
09Use a round rug in a square room
In a small square room, or in a corner with one armchair and a lamp, a round rug softens the box shape and leaves the corners of the floor visible. Size it so the front legs of the seating still rest on it.
10Run stripes across the narrow side
In a long narrow room, a striped rug with the stripes running across the width makes the room look wider. Stripes running along the length make it look like a corridor.
Which way to lay it
Lay the long side of the rug along the long side of the room, in line with the sofa. In an open-plan studio, let the rug mark the living area: it should end where the seating ends, not run under the bed or the dining table.
Always add a rug pad
A pad stops the rug sliding, protects the floor and makes a thin rug feel thicker. Buy it 1 to 2 inches smaller than the rug on each side so it stays hidden.
Before you buy
- Check the doors. Open every door that swings over the rug area. A thick pile can block a door that clears the bare floor.
- Tape the outline. Mark the rug size on the floor with painter's tape and live with it for a day.
- Read the size line. A rug sold as 8 x 10 is often a few inches smaller, such as 7 feet 10 by 10 feet.
What to avoid
- A rug with only the coffee table on it.
- A rug pushed against the walls like fitted carpet.
- Several small rugs scattered around one small room.
A rug works best with furniture that leaves floor visible under it: see small living room furniture ideas. For the windows, small living room curtain ideas shows how to hang curtains so the walls look taller.
