What size rug do I need?

Most rooms need a rug – a room without a rug can appear unwelcoming and unfinished. It will transform a room, introducing a sense of luxury, particularly if it is of good quality and a high standard of craftsmanship; the colour, pattern and texture of the rug lend a feeling of comfort and personality to the room.

Always opt for a good quality rug because not only do they look so much better, but they also will last for much, much longer. Most of all, you must love the rug – it is not like cushions, curtains or a sofa, but something that should last for a long time so you must be happy enough to have it in any room or even a different house.

Size

Before choosing a rug, you must first understand its purpose. Do you want a rug that will be a real statement piece, or a more neutral design which will blend seamlessly into the space, giving an overall tranquil appearance? Do you want it to unify a room or to define a space? If you are attempting to break up a room into different areas, a number of smaller rugs can do so beautifully.

Living Room A

Living Room B

Go for the largest size you can afford as it gives a generous, calming effect to the room. It’s great to be able to place furniture such as the sofa half on a rug (Living Room A), to give a wonderfully luxurious and flowing feel to the space.

Small rugs can look bitty and mean in the wrong space. A common solution is to have a rug that sits within the furniture, in front of sofas and chairs. In this case, the rug should be slightly longer and wider than the furniture, and not too far from the seating (Living Room B).

Living Room C

Dining Room

If you want to unify a room, a large rug will do this effectively (Living Room C). In this case, leave sufficient extra space around all the furniture so it does not appear ‘perched’ on the edge of the rug.

Furniture around the perimeter of the room, such as sideboards and cupboards, are generally best left completely off the rug.

For a dining room, a large rug under the table will deaden the sound in the room and bring colour, pattern and texture. Ideally, the rug should be in proportion to the table, and larger than it so that there is sufficient space to pull out a chair and sit down without the back legs coming off the rug. The minimum that allows for this is 75cm (29”), so that the ideal size is generally at least 1.50m (59”) larger than the table in each direction.

Remember that the centre of the rug will mostly be obscured by the table and chairs, so the most important part of the design becomes the border.

Bedroom A

Bedroom B

For a bedroom, the rug is best placed underneath the bed, framing it but stopping short of the side tables (Bedroom A). This allows for rug underfoot when one gets out of bed.

An alternative option is to have a smaller rug on either side of the bed (Bedroom B)

For a hallway, it’s usually best to order a custom piece so that we can create a rug in the precise dimensions, however we do carry stock of some designs as runners.

Staircases & wall-to-wall

With some careful planning, hand-knotted rugs can be used as wall-to-wall carpet and staircase runners, though the installation should only be carried out by a specialist carpet fitter. In such cases, it is essential to order the rug slightly larger than the space, up to 200mm (8”) extra in each direction to allow for the fitting. If you are considering a wall-to-wall rug, please contact us on 02 8749 7587.

Fitting into a well or recess in the floor

If your rug is to be fitted into a recess in the floor, the rug must be made larger in each direction and it is essential to consider how the pattern will be cropped. Please contact us on 02 8749 7587 for further information.