So you're thinking about buying a rug but aren't sure where it should go, if it should sit in the middle of the floor or under all your furniture? While there are no concrete rules on where to place your rug, we've put together a few guidelines and options you can choose from to help your rug complement your space.
1. No connection
Small rugs like those placed under the coffee table are enough for a minimalist, contemporary home but the smaller the rug is, the smaller it will make your room look.
2. Floating
This approach works better than no connection but does not give the room a unified look, especially in open floor plans because the furniture isn't connected.
3. Connection
Having the front legs of sofas and other furniture on a rug works in most situations since it 'grounds' the furniture to the floor and extends far enough to create a sense of good proportion.
4. Ultimate proportion
A rug sets boundaries and defines the conversation area in a living room. So a room generally looks more unified when all the furniture legs are on the rug and the bigger the rug, the larger it makes the room appear.
5. Dining considerations
Dining room rugs deaden the sound of scraping chairs and protect the floor from scratching. They should be big enough for the chair legs to sit comfortably on, even when they are pulled out to minimise the chance of tripping over the edge of the rug. We recommend having the rug at least 850mm around the table.
6. Anchored
Placing a rug at the foot of the bed is a popular choice but you want your rug to be large enough that you can step onto it when you get out of bed. It's also a good idea to avoid elaborate designs since the bed will obscure most of it anyway.
7. Ultimate placement
Placing a rug under the bed and bedside tables, with an equal part of it exposed on both sides is ideal because it creates balance and ties the whole room together.
8. Hall runner
Hall runners protect your floors from wear, scratches and scuff marks as well as provide a sound barrier that protects your feet from cold, hard floors. You can't go wrong with a full-length runner but it should at least cover the majority of the walking area or entry. We also recommend that the rug is placed 200mm from the wall to allow space for the door swing.
Remember that these are just guidelines and the most important thing is that you like the way it looks!
