Area Rug Sizes Solved - Living Room Edition
Choosing the perfect area rug size for your living room can be a tricky endeavor, but it doesn't have to be. With some simple measurements and consideration of your room's footprint and furniture layout, you can select a rug that pulls your living space together and makes it feel complete.
You'll learn techniques for measuring your room properly and matching that to standard rug dimensions. We'll also cover how furniture placement, room traffic flow, and style impact size selection. Follow our living room rug sizing tips and you'll get it right the first time.
Measure Your Living Room's Dimensions
When sizing an area rug for your living room, the first step is to determine the room's overall square footage. This requires measuring the length and width and multiplying them together.
| Use a steel tape measure and measure from wall to wall for width and wall to wall for length. For the most accuracy, take measurements in multiple spots and average them. Round up to the nearest whole foot. |
| Don't forget to measure jogs, alcoves or open doorways. You want the total usable floor space. |
| For oddly shaped living rooms, break the space into rectangles and measure each section. |
Once you have the room dimensions, jot them down along with a basic sketch of the layout. This will make it easier to visualize rug placement as you go through sizing calculations. Having the total square footage on hand is key for the next steps.
Consider Your Living Room's Furniture Layout
How your living room furniture is arranged will significantly impact the ideal rug size and placement. Before selecting a rug, take measurements of all existing furniture - couches, loveseats, chairs, ottomans, coffee tables, console tables, etc. Note their dimensions and position in the space.
Also look at where high foot traffic comes through the room. You don't want the rug obstructing main walkways or doorways. Allow enough bare floor space around and between furniture pieces and traffic areas. This will prevent the rug from getting scrunched or bunched up.
Leave Space Around Furniture
When placing furniture on a rug, allow ample margin so pieces don't hover at the edges. We recommend leaving 18-24 inches of rug around sofas, chairs, and tables. More for large sectionals or media consoles.
This not only prevents tipping or movement, but frames the rug nicely. Floating with too little grounding can make furniture look off-balance and awkward.
Mind High Traffic Areas
For open concept living rooms that flow into other spaces, use a rug to define the living area while keeping main walkways clear. Size your rug so it doesn't span the entire room but is large enough to ground the key furniture pieces.
A common mistake is selecting a rug too small in an attempt not to obstruct flow. But this usually results in furniture anchored unevenly or half on/off the rug.
Choose a Rug Size Proportional to the Room
When determining living room rug size, you want to aim for proper proportion. Oversized and undersized rugs are both ineffective. As a general guideline:
| For small living rooms under 200 sq ft, a rug between 4x6 - 5x8 ft typically works well |
| In medium living rooms 200-400 sq ft, popular sizes are 6x9 to 8x10 ft |
| For larger living rooms over 400 sq ft, choose a rug 9x12 ft or bigger |
The idea is to have enough rug surface to arrange and anchor furniture, without dwarfing or swimming in the space. When in doubt, opt slightly smaller rather than larger.
Size Your Rug to Fit Your Furniture
One of the rug's key functions is framing your living room furniture arrangement. All main furniture pieces - particularly sofas, chairs, ottomans and front legs of tables - should sit atop the rug. This grounds the setup and defines the living space.
When sizing a living room rug, mock up your furniture layout to visualize footprint. Be sure to account for ample margin around each piece with the rug dimensions.
Anchor It With Front Legs
Only the front legs of sofas, chairs and other furniture need to be on the rug. Conventional wisdom says all legs should be on, but anchoring just the front legs helps delineate space while allowing pieces to be pulled out from the wall.
If unsure of furniture measurements, pull pieces out and place tape measure at front legs for accurate placement room allowances.
Room for Rearranging
Don't size your living room rug to perfectly fit one layout. Leave wiggle room in case you rearrange down the road. Aim for at least 18-24 inches of clearance on all sides beyond furnishings.
Rugs come in standard dimensions, so you likely won't find a perfect wall-to-wall fit. Breathing room is better than cramming in a too-small rug.
Accommodate High Traffic Areas
When considering living room rug size, be sure to assess foot traffic patterns through the space. You don't want the rug placement obstructing main walkways and doorways. Allow enough bare floor space for routes between rooms.
For open concept living rooms, use an area rug to define the living room seating but don't overextend. Floating island rugs work well to anchor furniture groupings without blocking flow.
If there's a main entryway, hallway or dining room opening off the living room, keep at least 18-24 inches of floor space clear. This prevents the rug from impeding foot traffic and allows it to lay flat, not bunched up.
floated to frame spaces
A common rug sizing mistake in open concept living rooms is picking one mammoth rug. But this usually makes the space look smaller and closed off. Instead, opt for multiple medium sized rugs floated to frame seating areas and definition.
Floating your rug creates visual borders between rooms without walling them off. Size your rug about 24 inches from any adjoining openings to keep flow.
Consider Your Living Room Rug's Style
The type of rug you choose for your living room will factor into optimal size selection. Certain rug styles and patterns inherently look best larger, while others suit smaller spaces. Consider material and aesthetic when sizing.
Size Up Big Patterns
Larger area rugs best showcase styles like:
- Moroccan - Big, bold patterns
- Persian - Intricate centralized medallions
- Oriental - Busy motifs over entire surface
For ornate styles, petite sizes lose design impact. Size up for full effect.
Size Down Simple Patterns
Meanwhile, smaller rugs fit best for styles like:
- Southwestern - Large geometric shapes
- Shag - Single plush textures
- Sisal/Jute - Natural tight weaves
These more simple, textured looks can overwhelm in larger dimensions. Keeping them petite enhances the space.
Size Recommendations by Living Room Footage
To simplify living room rug sizing, here are our recommend target dimensions based on total square footage:
Small Living Rooms Under 200 sq ft
Good sizes for petite spaces are:
- 4x6 ft
- 5x7 ft
- 5x8 ft
For small square rooms, 5x5 ft or 6x6 ft are ideal. For tight spaces, a 4x5 ft rug can work by the furniture.
Medium Living Rooms 200 - 400 sq ft
The ideal rug sizes for the average living room are:
- 6x9 ft
- 7x9 ft
- 8x10 ft
- 9x11 ft
An 8x8 ft or 9x9 ft square rug would also be suitable. Size depends on dimensions and layout.
Large Living Rooms Over 400 sq ft
Oversized living spaces call for larger rugs like:
- 9x12 ft
- 10x13 ft
- 11x13 ft
- 12x15 ft
For big open squares, a 10x10 ft or 11x11 ft rug brings everything together.
Shop Smart - Measure Rug Dimensions
When shopping for a living room rug, be sure to verify exact measurements rather than going by size names alone. Rugs come in a variety of standard dimensions.
Some common sizes are:
| 3x5 ft | 5x8 ft |
| 4x6 ft | 6x9 ft |
| 5x7 ft | 7x9 ft |
| 8x10 ft | 9x12 ft |
Match your needs to these typical size options. Rectangular rugs are more versatile for most spaces.
Extra Tips for Rug Placement Success
To recap, here are some key takeaways for living room rug sizing success:
- Measure room and existing furniture precisely
- Mind standard rug dimensions when planning
- Float rug - don't cover wall to wall
- Only front furniture legs must be on rug
- Leave ample bare floor perimeter
Some additional creative rug placement tips:
- Layer two varying sized rugs for depth
- Use multiple small rugs in open concept rooms
- Place rug under front couch legs only to define space
Frequently Asked Questions
What size rug for a 12 x 15 ft living room?
For a medium 12 x 15 ft living room, excellent sizes are 8 x 10 ft or 9 x 12 ft rugs. This allows furniture to fit while leaving enough border.
What size rug goes under a couch and loveseat?
To anchor a couch and loveseat, a rug at least 8 ft long is ideal so the front legs of both fit. Rug sizes like 8 x 10 ft or 9 x 12 ft work well.
Should you put rug pads under rugs on carpet?
Yes, use a thin non-slip rug pad even on carpet to prevent sliding. Make sure it's designed for carpet and doesn't obstruct the rug's lay.
What size rug for living room with coffee table?
With a coffee table, make sure to size your rug so the front legs will fit. Aim for at least 8 x 10 ft for standard couches and coffee tables.
We hope these living room rug dimension tips have eliminated the guesswork and given you confidence sizing your space. Start by carefully measuring your open floor dimensions, mapping furniture, and referencing standard rug sizes.
Choosing a proportional area rug that anchors furniture without overwhelming the room will pull your living space together and make it feel polished. With the guides above, you can find that perfect fitting rug to make your lounge complete.