One of the hardest things to get right when it comes to selecting a new rug for your home is how to select the appropriate size for your space. The size of the rug and how furniture is placed on and around it can dramatically affect the overall appearance of a room and the most common mistake people make is choosing a rug that is too small for the space.
Ideally, a rug should ground the room. It should tell everyone that this is the focal point of the space, that this is where we gather. While there is no real formula for figuring out the perfect size, there are a couple of rules that should be followed: the rug should be large enough that at least two legs of all furniture will fit on it comfortably; preferably all four legs will fit. The rug needs to be proportional to the sofa, allowing for an overhang of at least one foot on either side, avoiding the space appearing small or choppy. The rug should also be proportioned to the room itself. Generally speaking, you can’t go too big, but you sure can end up with something too small.
There could be many reasons why so many people end up with rugs that are too small, but we think we’ve figured out some of the biggest reasons. First is the budget, big rugs can be expensive and because of the expense, they end up being a big commitment too – who wants to replace something that cost that much money? Often, people rationalize that they can “get away” with a 5×8 or 7×10, when what they really need to fill the space properly is an 8×11. Usually the extra expense of a larger rug is well worth the inviting feeling that the right size rug will bring to the space.
Not only is there a cost savings to going with a slightly smaller rug, the smaller sizes are usually more readily available. Retailers tend to stock the 5×8 or 7×10 far more than they do the 8×11 or 9×12. Without considering other possible sizes, a consumer will often simply take what is on hand, instead of inquiring or waiting for a larger size to come in. Oftentimes, even if they do realize the rug isn’t quite right, many people decide the hassle of packing it up and returning it, isn’t worth the effort (and extra expense of getting something larger), instead they just live with it.
And lastly, in many cases, area rugs end up being an add-on product, an extra, to go along with a new laminate or SPC floor they’ve purchased from the same store. Usually the hard surface beneath was a significant expense and homeowners are reluctant to cover it up with an area rug. An understandable concern but the right rug, in the right size, should actually enhance the beauty of the floor beneath.
As flooring professionals, we have the opportunity to help our customers find the right rug, in the right size for their home. To help you’ve we’ve rounded up some of the top-selling rugs available in larger sizes, you can see there here: