Area rugs are one of the most versatile selections an interior designer can reach for when creating the character and ambiance of a space. Available in every imaginable color and ranging from polypropylene to recycled materials to ultra-luxurious natural fibers, area rugs are truly a defining factor when designing a room.

Photo Courtesy of Overstock.com — Photo courtesy of overstock.com

Here are a few bullet points to consider:

1) How is the space used?

When selecting an area rug, heavy foot traffic, pets, and children are all considerations. In this instance, reach for a performance rug or even an outdoor rug so that cleaning becomes a breeze! Vintage rugs can also be an unexpected option here, as they have often already survived decades, and wear only adds to their character. Consider an ultralow pile in a space where mobility devices might be used. These could be anything from walkers or canes to crutches or baby strollers. Conversely, a rarely used guest space could offer an opportunity to layer a plush sheepskin or soft shag rug at the foot of the bed over an existing carpet.

2) Think about size.

Typically, area rugs are used to anchor or create a distinct space. Often they are being placed over beautiful flooring, which still deserves a moment of its own. So the object of the game is not to cover your entire floor; consider the size of your furniture, the layout of the essential furniture pieces, and don’t forget to think about the flow of traffic around the space. Three feet is plenty of space to walk around an area rug placed in the center of a room. A walkway much larger than three feet means your area rug is likely too small, and the room is improperly scaled; much less than three feet means your rug is likely oversized for your space and could create tripping hazards and too much wear-and-tear on the edges.

3) Proper placement.

There are a few accepted guidelines for properly placing your area rug and the furniture within the room.

Generally, placing all front feet of the seating pieces on the rug is a baseline starting point for living rooms. Any furniture off of the area rug will feel disconnected from the rest of the space (although this is occasionally practiced strategically to create two separate “conversation areas” within one room). Furniture pieces can be pulled further onto the rug, if necessary, to create a better flow and cozier atmosphere, but be mindful of any rug poking out from under the backsides of sofas or other solid pieces of furniture in a way that creates a disrupted walkway or visual imbalance. Optimally, the rug should sit underneath furniture pieces by about 1/3 of the size. For example, a chair that is 36” deep would sit about 12” over the rug. It’s also ideal to have at least 6” of visible carpet on either side of the sofa.

When it comes to dining rooms, center the table on a rug large enough to accommodate all the chairs pulled a full seat’s depth away from the table. Adding 24” to the length and width of the table size is a good rule of thumb.

For bedrooms, start by making some decisions about the additional furniture in the room: do you want your nightstands to be on the area rug too? What about the dresser, chairs, or bench at the foot of the bed? Also, consider the space necessary to move about the room without tripping hazards in the middle of the night. Area rugs often look beautiful placed perpendicularly to the bed, either ¼ or ¾ of the length of the bed away from the headboard wall. However, some bedrooms call for a rug to be placed parallel and centered under the bed, which is a perfectly acceptable option. And carpeted bedrooms don't necessarily need to be ignored. Layering area rugs on top of carpeting is a brilliant way to add coziness, character, and sophistication and can certainly be used as a tool to create multiple “spaces” within one room; for example, a dressing space with floor length mirror, a seating area, or a reading nook.

4) When in doubt, tape it out!

One of our favorite tricks is using painter's tape to provide a visual aide for furniture and area rug layout. Not sure if a 9’ x 12’ is a better choice for your furniture layout than an 8’ x 10’? Grab your painter's tape, and try it out! The same tip applies to furniture placement on top of your area rug as well.

5) Lastly, don’t forget the rug pad.

A rug pad can make a huge difference in comfort and protection of the flooring underneath. Each circumstance will be unique, but as a general rule, select a pad that is a total of two inches smaller in length and width than the rug itself (this does not include any fringe). Often, rug pads come in standard sizes reflective of popular rug sizes, but many can be cut to size if necessary. The thickness of the pad should depend on your preference, tripping concerns, and furniture placement.