A rug can pull a room together or quietly throw it off. Size is almost always the reason.
Here are the rules we use, room by room.
Under a dining table
This is the one people get wrong most often. The rug has to extend past the table far enough that a chair stays on it when someone pushes back to stand.
Allow 24 to 30 inches past every edge of the table. For a 72 inch rectangular table, that means a 9 by 12 rug. For a 48 inch round table, go with an 8 foot round.
Match the shape of the table
A round table looks best on a round rug. A rectangular table wants a rectangle. Our Topa Topa tables come in both shapes, so pick the rug to match the one you have.
In the living room
You have three good options.
All legs on. Every piece of furniture sits fully on the rug. This is the most generous look and needs the largest size.
Front legs on. The front legs of the sofa and chairs rest on the rug, the back legs sit on the floor. This is the most common choice and it works in most rooms.
Floating. Only the coffee table sits on the rug. Keep this one for small spaces, otherwise the room can feel disconnected.
Whichever you pick, the rug should be at least as wide as the sofa, and ideally wider on both sides.
In the bedroom
Put the rug under the lower two thirds of the bed, starting just below the nightstands. Aim for 18 to 24 inches of rug on each side so your feet land on something soft.
A queen bed usually takes an 8 by 10. A king usually takes a 9 by 12.
Leave a border
A rug should not run wall to wall. Leave 8 to 18 inches of bare floor around the edges. That border is what makes the rug read as intentional.
Tape it out first
Before you order, mark the size on the floor with painter's tape. Live with it for a day. Walk around it, pull out a chair, see how it feels. It takes ten minutes and it settles the question.
When you are between sizes
Go bigger. A rug that is slightly too large reads as deliberate. A rug that is too small makes the whole room look smaller than it is.