How to Place a Rug in Your Living Room: Easy Layout Ideas

A living room is often said to be the heart of your home. And for such an integral part of your space, you surely want to style it with nothing less. But, what most people overlook is to often include rugs before or during styling. An area rug could be the missing piece of the puzzle to transform your entire room. Now, the only question is – how to place a rug in a living room. How do you style it so that the look looks well-tied and not completely thrown off? 

 

Don’t worry. It is not as hard as it sounds! In this guide, we will take you through simple & easy rug layout ideas, the ideal-size rug to choose for styling, and even common mistakes to avoid (a few do’s & don’ts). Whether you’re a big fan of bold living room rugs like our Gengar rug or loves minimal and solid rugs, we have everything covered here to help you create a polished & inviting space: 

How to Place a Rug in a Living Room  

When placing the rugs, there are two essential factors to consider –  furniture layout and room size. The two have a direct say in how to place the area rug in the living room for a balanced look. Here’s how:  

 

All Furniture Legs On the Rug  

The layout will have your furniture gracefully sit on your rugs. You can have your sofa, chairs, and coffee table sit entirely on the rug. Ideal for larger living rooms to create a more unified, polished look.  

Best for:  

• Open concept spaces  
• Large sectionals or multiple seating pieces  

Front Legs Only on the Rug

You can have the front legs of your sofa on, keeping the rest of it off the rug. The layout is great for a medium sized room to anchor the furnishings.

Best for:  

•  Mid-sized living rooms  
•  Budget-friendly setups (smaller rug needed)  

Coffee Table Centered on the Rug  

The layout is ideal for more compact spaces to add more texture.  All you have to do is keep your coffee table on the rug. You can style the rest of the furnishing surrounding it off the rug.

Best for:  

• Small Apartments  
• Minimalist or modern styles  

Floating Rug (No Furniture On It) 

Call us biased, but we would love to attest to the fact – rugs, even as a floating furnishing accessory, would look great.  Let them “float” in the center of your room or use them as a wall tapestry – you can go wild with styling possibilities. 

Quick tip: The style looks especially good with rugs with bold patterns like gengar rugs or artistic design like tattoo rugs.  

Best for:  

• Quirky or boho styles  
• Adding color without overwhelming the room  

How Big Should a Living Room Rug Be?  

 

Now, when you are clear about placement, it’s also essential to understand – how big should living room rug be. If it’s too small for your space, you can throw off the entire look, and if it’s oversized, it’s overwhelming to look at. Confused? No worries, we have prepared a simple cheat-sheet to follow: 

 

Standard Rug Sizes for Living Rooms
Room Size	Recommended Rug Size	Placement Tips
Small Room  (Under 10’x12’)	5’x8’ or 6’x9’	Keep the rug under the coffee table.
Medium Room  (Under 12’x15’)	8’x10’	Keep the front legs of your couch or sofa on the rug.
Large Room (Over 15’x20’)	9’x12’ or larger	All furniture on the rug.

 

Note: Measure your space and use painter’s tape to outline the rug placement before buying one.  It will ensure your purchase and placement isn’t totally based on guesswork.

 

How to Place an Area Rug in a Living Room: Do’s and Don’ts  

 

Do’s

• Always match the shape of your rug with the layout of your furnishing. Rectangle rugs are ideal for sofas, while round rugs are perfect for more circular seating.
• Always Leave a space of 12 to 18 inches between the rug and the wall. If in doubt, you can always rely on it!
• Always match the mood. You want cozy – try wool or shag rug! You want sleek – go with low pile rugs or flatweaves!
• Place rug pads underneath your area rugs, especially for spaces with higher traffic, like hallways or living rooms. 

 

Don’ts

• Don’t choose smaller rugs. It will make your space look chopped up.
• Never overlook vents or doors. Make sure you check the placement before finalizing.
• Don’t ignore the maintenance. You can consult our cleaning guide to ensure a healthy upkeep.
• Don’t clash the patterns. Furniture too busy – opt for solid rugs. Too Plain – opt for quirky designs like Gengar rugs or tattoo rugs. 

 

Conclusion

 

We have finally made it to the end. We have covered – how big should living room rug be, how to place an area rug in the living room and even all the do’s and don’ts. Follow these quick tips, and we are sure you would be the rug stylizing wizard: 

 

1. Add more dimension by layering smaller rugs with bolder designs over neutral ones and vice-versa (why not?).
2. Balance the look while playing with colors. Bold walls command neutral toned rugs. Light walls call for rugs in bold tones!
3. Play with the textures for added depth. Plush rug with sleek furnishing – yes. Slender flatweaves with velvet furnishing- Yes.
4. Rotate your rugs every few months

 

Remember, as much as it is about sticking to the rules or guides to follow, decorating is also a form of self expression. So, you can always come back to consult the guide for easy tips behind rug styling but don’t hold yourself back in experimenting with designs & colors. Happy decorating!