Area Rug Placement Secrets for Maximizing Your Living Room

An area rug can make or break a living room. With the right size and placement, it pulls the space together, defines sitting areas, and adds style underfoot. But when the proportions are off or the positioning misses the mark, even the most beautiful rug can end up looking like an afterthought.

Luckily, there are tried and true techniques for conquering area rug placement. By following some simple guidelines, you can choose the perfect rug and situate it strategically to maximize both form and function in your living room.

Why Proper Area Rug Placement Matters

Before delving into the nitty gritty details, it helps to understand why area rug placement makes such a difference in living rooms.

Defines Spaces and Creates Flow

An area rug visually anchors a seating arrangement, gathering chairs and sofas into a cohesive conversation area. It also breaks up large open floor plans, defining spaces within an open concept living room. Proper placement creates natural traffic flow around furnishings.

Provides a Focal Point

A beautifully positioned area rug acts as a focal point, drawing the eye towards a specific spot and pulling the room together. It should be the visual star, like art in a frame.

Adds Style and Comfort Underfoot

While wall colors, window treatments, and furniture make up a room's bones, area rugs bring spaces to life. The right rug introduces color, pattern, and texture in a way that flat paint can't achieve. Underfoot, rugs add literal comfort and warmth.

Choosing the Right Size Area Rug

A rug that's too small or too large for the room will fail to have the desired effect, no matter how beautiful it may be. Follow these tips to choose a properly scaled area rug.

Measure Your Space

Start by measuring the length and width of your living room in feet, accounting for any large furniture pieces already in place. This determines the maximum dimensions for your rug.

Consider Standard Area Rug Sizes

Common sizes for living room rugs include:

• 4' x 6'
• 5' x 8'
• 6' x 9'
• 8' x 10'
• 9' x 12'

Allow for Borders

Make sure there's ample bare floor showing beyond your rug--at least 18 inches from walls and all furniture. This nicely frames the rug within the living space.

Where to Place Your Living Room Area Rug

Center It Under Main Furniture

The rug should be centered underneath the front legs of your primary living room seating like sofas or sectionals. This anchors the arrangement and defines the main conversation area.

Leave Walkways Uncovered

Take care not to block doorways, passages to other rooms, or primary traffic paths. The rug should enhance flow, not impede movement.

Use Multiple Rugs

It's fine to use smaller rugs in sitting nooks or to add interest behind a floating sofa. But take care to coordinate colors and patterns so that spaces flow together cohesively.

Material and Style Considerations

Beyond placement, the material and style of your area rug also impacts its function and look.

Select a Durable, Easy-Care Fiber

In high-traffic living rooms, natural fibers like wool and cotton provide durability, while synthetic options like polyester and acrylic resist stains. Stay away from delicate surfaces like silk or sisal.

Pattern Adds Interest

While solid rugs show every footprint, patterns camouflage dirt and wear. Go for lively global styles or geometric prints. Save ultra-plush white shags for bedrooms.

Vary Textures for Depth

Mix up textures and pile heights between rugs, pillows, and throws to create depth and dimension. Shaggy moroccan styles next to cozy cotton dhurries prevent a flat, one-note look.

Complement Existing Decor

Choose rug colors and patterns that work with your furnishings. A floral rug pairs nicely with chintz chairs, while graphic modern patterns complement sleek mid-century sofas.

Common Area Rug Placement Mistakes

While a strategic rug layout pulls a space together, the wrong approach falls flat. Avoid these all-too-common mistakes.

Sizing Errors

A rug that's too small gets drowned out in the room, while an oversized one overwhelms. Double check your measurements and proportions.

Poor Furniture Positioning

Forgoing the 18-inch rule or failing to center furniture on the rug makes everything look haphazard and messy.

Wrong Style Choices

A bold graphic rug in a small formal space or pastel shag in a playroom defeats a rug's purpose. Style it to suit the room.

A pulled-together living room that's both functional and fashionable can be achieved with a few tricks. Take the time to find the perfect size, place it thoughtfully, and choose a style that enhances your existing furnishings. Your new area rug will be the living room star you've always dreamed of.