Easy Way To Choose A Rug Size In Your Living Room

Layout Guide To Rug Sizes For A Living Room

With rugs available in every shape and size, it’s difficult to know the perfect rug size for your living room instinctively. The best way is to consider the size of the room. Look at this simple placement guide for your furniture layout, and then scroll for a rule of thumb room-to-rug ratio.

Measure The Room To Determine The Right Size Rug For Your Living Room

Large Living Room Size For A 9′ x 12′ Area Rug

More floor space, more rug. If your living room is 12′ x 18′ or larger, a 9′ x 12′ area rug should be the perfect size rug. Yes, I know, an area rug of this size can be an investment, but a large room equals a large rug. It will be the focal point of the room.  

Shown here is the Loloi Layla rug – a large area rug that I have styled in my living room. I like this one because we have a dog and if my kids don’t wipe his paws clean, it’s great for hiding the dirt. This is a printed rug, and not woven to keep the cost down. It doesn’t look cheap, but just something to be aware of. Oh, and because it is pretty thinn, get a rug pad.

Living Room Size For A 8′ x 10′ Size Area Rug

If your living room is 11′ x 13′ or larger, the best rug size is probably 8′ x 10′. This is also an ideal rug size if you live in an apartment or are part of the small space squad. This size rug is often the best option for the Half On, Half Off furniture arrangement.

Shown here is the Distressed Suede Leather Geometric Rug by Exquisite Rugs. Again, this is shown in my living room before adopting our dog Comet. I swapped this one out for the Loloi Layla rug (first photo) because a supple leather hide luxury rug is not sensible when you have a puppy. If you purchase, definitely invest in a thicker rug pad.

HOT TIP! Orient the rug the right way for the room. If you are second-guessing yourself about this rug size for your living room, always try turning it 90° before you explore different sizes.

Small Living Room Size For A 6′ x 9′ Area Rug

Attention small spaces! If your living room is smaller than 11′ x 13′, this could be a good size rug for your space; however, I would encourage you to use painter’s tape to measure and place furniture because rarely will a 6′ x 9′ be large enough. A good rule of thumb here is to measure your sofa to determine if the rug is longer on both sides. I’ve learned that you want around an extra 8″ on either side of the sofa.

Just remember, too-small rug in the living room will look like a bathmat surrounded by a seating arrangement. The best choice is always to go bigger. Only use the 6′ x 9′ if you have a small room. 

HOT TIP! Always measure your living room before you buy a rug, and make sure the rug is porportionate to the room because no one likes returning a rug. They’re big and bulky, and return shipping can be pricey.

If you have a small rug that you absolutely love, but it’s too small, it’s not a complete design crime. You can always float it. If you love it, that’s all that matters. Just keep it as close to the sofa as possible.

Shown here is the Loloi Layla rug that was pictured above. This is the Olive/Charcoal colorway.

3 Ways To Arrange Furniture On A Living Room Rug

The most important thing is to consider your living room’s layout and furniture placement. If your rug is too small can make a room feel disjointed, while a rug that is too large can make the room feel cluttered. The goal is to find a rug that gives your living room a foundation but does not cover the entire floor. 

1. Half On, Half Off The Rug

The most common way to arrange furniture on a living room rug is to have the front legs of your furniture rest on the rug and the back two legs off the edge of the rug. I prefer this because my home is a more traditional design with smaller rooms. This option is also perfect if you have a small space, live in an apartment, or if the larger rug size does not fit your budget.

2. All Furniture Legs On The Rug

This is a great option for an open-concept home or large rooms. A larger rug size will define a large open space, dictate a conversation area, and give your living room a foundation. It will also accommodate all four legs of your furniture, and your living room will feel pulled together and cozy. It’s a very elegant look, but you must have the space for it, or your living room will feel like an awkward version of almost but not quite wall-to-wall carpet.

The key is to be consistent. If your legs are half off, make sure they’re all half off. If your legs are all on, make sure all pieces have all four legs on the rug.

3. The Layered Look

I found a killer black and white striped vintage kilim rug (similar) at the most amazing price on Etsy, but the size was wonky and overall too small for my living room. So what’s a gal to do? Well, to achieve the look of the perfectly sized living room rug, I layered this too-small for my space kilim rug over a large affordable jute rug. Problem solved! I found this to be a better solution than the floating option.

There is an affordable, larger jute rug on Amazon for $312 — ya, it’s a 9′ x 12′. I’ve also seen multiple IKEA jute rugs overlap asymmetrically for a laid-back, relaxed John Derian meets Leanne Ford look.

How To Determine A Good Rug Size For Your Living Room

Before buying a rug, is there a foolproof way to measure the perfect rug size for a living room?

Yes, there sure is! If you want to make sure you nail the right rug size for your living room before making a purchase, measure out the seating area space with painter’s tape. You’ll get a sense of how the rug will feel in the room and know if all of your furniture fits around the area rug. Just remember to leave enough space for side tables. 

Can you have too large of a rug size in the living room?

Yup, you sure can. I like to give myself around 24″ from each wall, but as a general rule of thumb, you’ll want at least a foot of space between the wall and the rug. If you decide not to follow this design rule, you risk having an awkward I shrunk the wall-to-wall carpet look.

However, you can break this rule when your couch sits against a wall. Bump the rug closer to the wall (under the sofa) to give yourself additional space.

Are there any low-budget, affordable living room rugs you can suggest?

Oh, you know I got you! Hand-knotted or handwoven wool rugs will be pricier than, say, the printed living room rugs by Loloi II (scroll down for my top picks). If you’re choosing a rug based on price and you’re considering downsizing an 8′ x 10′ area rug to a 5′ x 7′ rug to stay within budget, DON’T DO IT! Downsize your quality before purchasing a smaller living room rug. Trust me. You may not like the idea, but in the end, you’ll thank me. Here are a few affordable rugs I’ve owned and loved!

What About A Round Rug?

Round rugs in a living room can be tricky. In general, they don’t cover the entire floor surface, and a sectional sofa’s front legs probably won’t fit on this rug shape. Using them under a round table in the dining room is an excellent choice, or at the foot of the bed in a bedroom is also a good choice. They’re perfect for breaking up the rectangular shape of the bed and softening those edges. 

Area Rugs For Your Living Room Curated By An Interior Designer

1. Stacey Garcia for Karastan Zagoria Rug (I have this in my home office)
2. Sundar – Melora Area Rug from Jaipur Living (this company is a smidge pricier, but the quality makes up for it)
3. Anthem – Noverre Area Rug from Jaipur Living
4. Iconic Synovah Area Rug also from Jaipur Living (I love the geometric asymmetrical look to this one)
5. Rendition Mezzo Area Rug another Stacey Garcia for Karastan design
6. Momeni Simba SIM-8 Area Rugs

7. Colorblock Shine Rug

8. Liora Manne Madison Shadow Area Rug

9. Francis Jane Power Loomed Rug

10. Jaipur Living Syntax Scalene Area Rug

11. Hogan Handknotted Mocha Viscose Area Rug

12. Surya Queens 26207 Area Rug

13. Hugo Hand Knotted Rug you might recognize this rug from my dining room

14. Sway Neutral Tufted Area Rug my friend Lauren has this rug in her living room, and it’s so soft underfoot!

15. Loloi II Bowery Collection BOW-02 Slate / Taupe you might recognize this from my living room

Affordable Area Rugs Under $500

For the price, these affordable area rugs are “chef’s kiss”!

16. Billie BIL-03 Area Rug from Amber Lewis x Loloi

17. Margot feat. CloudPile – MAT-03 Area Rug I had this Loloi II Rug in my living room when the walls were painted DeNimes blue. The rug is one of the softest I’ve ever felt.

18. Layla Printed LAY-03 Area Rug you can see this rug in the room with the new brown leather couch.

19. Amber Lewis x Loloi Georgie GER-06 Area Rug

20. Georgie – GER-02 Area Rug also by Amber Lewis x Loloi – this rug was one of the top sellers from my Amazon Prime Sale post.

21. Morgan feat. CloudPile – MOG-01 Area Rug when you see Cloupile, you know it will be super soft.

If that out-of-budget rug design is what you’re heart truly desires, use the layering multiple rugs workaround! You’re taking up the foundation space you need with a large jute rug, and the smaller rug will not look like a bath mat. It’s a win-win.

Do I really need to purchase a rug pad?

Yes, you always need a rug pad. They protect you from falling and the rug from slipping. Plus, they protect your flooring from color transfer, scratches, and indentations from heavy furniture. Think of it as a protective barrier. Most importantly, this is key when purchasing a more budget-friendly rug because they’re usually on the thinner side; a rug pad will give you that extra layer of cushion underfoot.

Can I put a washable rug in my living room?

Heck ya, you can! If you have pets or kids, a machine washable rug might just become your best friend, although will say anything larger than an 8′ x 10′ rug might be too large for your home washing machine. I prefer washable rugs as runners in the kitchen and foyer because they’re not as bulky in the wash. BTDubs, I have a full round-up of outdoor washable rugs if you want to spruce up your outdoor patio.

Can I have a rug that fits just my coffee table?

When your rug only fits the size of the coffee table, it winds up looking really dinky and small. You don’t want your living room to look like you’ve styled it with a bath mat. Go with the layered look. Although it’s not a design crime, my advice is never to purchase a 5′ x 7′ rug or smaller unless it’s for the foyer, kitchen, or hallway.

Have you noticed the arched cabinet is trending in home furnishings? Check out these 22 stunning arched cabinets with doors for your living room.

Should my rug be wider than my sofa?

Yes! More often than not, the size of the rug will run the length of your sofa. Ideally, your living room rug should be at least 6″ wider than your sofa on both sides. I actually prefer 8″, but no more than 10″. If you’re adding a side table to the couch, you’ll want that rug to extend 8″ beyond the table.