The Top Three Rules for Picking the Perfect Rug

Living room with Bria 8x10 rug and Hanover walnut coffee table.

Picking the perfect rug anchors a room, defines a space, unifies your furniture look and creates a cohesive feel between rooms. There’s a wide range of variables that create wiggle room in your decisions. However, we suggest keeping color, texture and size in mind to find a just-right rug for your space. 

Picking the Perfect Rug: Three Tips

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1. Color: Turn on the Brights

Often, modern furniture is neutral in color to allow the design to define the piece. But if your wall color is neutral as well, your rug becomes your opportunity to add a bold color or pattern choice to energize a space. If your furniture is a mix of colors and styles, a more toned-down rug can pull things together, helping the different elements feel intentional and cohesive. 

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2. Texture: All the Feels

Just like the accent pillows and throw blankets you use to soften a space, rugs help your room feel layered and welcoming. Do you love a plush feel underfoot, or do you need a low-pile rug for moving chairs around? Is the area a high-traffic zone for your family, or a play room that could some sound-absorbing shag? Considering questions like these will lead you to the right texture for a specific space. 

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3. Size: Not Too Little, Not Too Big

While every room has its own personality, right-sizing your rug can add to a space’s warmth and balance. Consider the ideal placement of furniture in the room, and measure the main area. Note: this might not necessarily be the wall-to-wall dimensions. The general guideline is to have at least the front legs of each sofa and chair be on top of the rug for a pulled-together look. In a dining room, you want the rug to be large enough to be beneath pulled-out chairs, to avoid awkward unevenness.

Surprisingly, if your rug is too big for a space, the lack of negative space around the edges actually fools the eye into thinking a room is smaller than it is. Unless this is your intent, aim for approximately 12″–24″ of space from the wall on each side. In smaller spaces such as hallways or foyers, 6″–8″ should be enough uncovered space to feel proportionally right.

Ready to start rug shopping? Get an in-person look at colors and textures by ordering a refundable sample of any of our rugs for just $25—just return it within six weeks using the included pre-paid shipping label. Our Rug Size Guide and Rug Style Tips also offer inspiration and guidance.

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