I'm back with another addition to my "How-To" series! Today we're talking about area rug placement.
More than likely, you have an area rug in your home. And more than likely, you've thought about the perfect place to put that area rug. I've created some diagrams that will help you decide not only the placement of your area rug, but also the size that will work better in your space. I'll spare you the obligatory joke about size and just leave you with this Michael Scott classic:
(I miss this show so much already it hurts)
For example, I've found that most people that use an area rug in their bedroom are either using the wrong size, or are placing in incorrectly under the bed. Here's a diagram that I drew to scale using a queen sized bed and an 8x10 rug:
If you use something smaller, say a 5x7, the bed does not fit well on the rug. Furthermore, the bed looks SO much smaller when you use a smaller rug. In this diagram, the beds at the bottom are the same size as the ones at the top. Doesn't look it, does it?! I also like pushing the rug all the way up to the wall behind the bed. If the rug doesn't reach the foot of the bed, it looks like highwater pants. Ain't nobody got time for that. So remember the size of the rug when you're planning your bedroom. If you have a king sized bed, I would recommend moving up to a 9x12, if you have the space for it. THe only instance that a 5x7 rug would really work is in the case of a single twin bed.
Let's take a look at the diagram for dining room rugs.
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is a too-small dining room rug. If I can't push my chair out without getting the legs caught on the edge of the rug, your rug is TOO SMALL. Now this is more of a common sense kind of thing, and it absolutely depends on both the size of your dining room and the size of your table. Just remember: push those chairs out like you were going to sit down, and BUY A RUG LARGER THAN THAT SPACE. This is definitely my wire hanger equivalent. Trust me, you and your guests will be much happier! :)
As far as living rooms go, I created a diagram that shows a pretty common type of layout, furniture-wise:
When it comes to your living room, you have to play it by "eye" (yep, said it) when placing your rug. I personally like option number two, because it's rare that you have a space large enough to place all of your living room furniture on one large rug (like a 9x12). My rule of thumb is to put the front legs of the couch and/or chairs on the rug, and it still creates a separate and more intimate space that way. The only no-no in this scenario is having a rug (say, a 5x7) that is too small and centered in the room. If your coffee table is the only thing that can fit on the rug, it's too small. This all comes down to choosing the correct size when purchasing a rug.
I hope that you found these tips helpful! Remember to hover over the image for the "Pin It" button in the corner so you can save it for future reference. Next in the series: pattern mixing! Happy rug placing!
Linking up to:
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