How to Choose Carpet for Living Room – Size, Style & Placement Guide

Do you feel confused about how to choose the right rug for your living room? It is the most important room when it comes to rugs, and your choice would determine everything from colour palette to style, to even the physical feel of cozying up in there! Therefore, picking the right rug is essential to have your perfect, happy home, and we are a one stop destination for you to learn this skill! So here is our answer to the question, how to choose the right rug for your living room!

How to Choose the Right Size Rug for Living Room?

Choosing rug size for the living room is often the trickiest part. That’s because rugs here do more than just add softness! They also designate the seating area and bring the entire room together. Thus, let’s look at some standard rug sizes you can approach based on the size of your room!

Rug Size Chart for Living Room

• 12’x15′: These oversized rugs might feel intimidating at first, but they are perfect for large living rooms or open-plan layouts. Every piece of furniture sits fully on this rug, creating a look of luxury and formality. This is the size to choose when you want maximum cohesion.
• 9’x12′: The standard size for most living rooms. This rug allows your sofa, chairs, and coffee table to sit comfortably on top, producing a balanced and inviting effect. If you have a sectional or a three-seater sofa with accent chairs, this is absolutely your best option.
• 8’x10′: This size is ideal for mid-sized rooms. Designers recommend placing only the front legs of your seating on the rug, leaving the back legs off. This keeps the area grounded without looking cramped. It’s also a good way to showcase patterned rugs without too much clutter.
• 5’x8′: This is the smallest living-room rug size, perfect for compact spaces or apartments. Again, only place the front legs of your sofa or chairs on the rug. Doing so makes the room feel fuller and larger, especially if the rug has light tones or simple designs.

Style Tips: How to Use Rugs in Living Room

Rugs can be both the foundation and the accent of any living room design! Every style of living room appreciates different kinds of rugs, be it for the colour, the design or even the physical texture and feel. Some iconic styles we see boasting the finest rugs are:

• Modern/minimalist living rooms: These rooms are all about neutrality and simplicity, and like their rugs to follow the same rules. Stick to clean lines, solid colors, and neutral tones like gray, beige, or soft charcoal. In addition, a monochrome palette with a pop of texture, such as a low-pile wool rug, can keep things understated yet elegant. You can find a more detailed guide for this at ‘Best Rug Colors for Neutral Interiors’.
• Classic/traditional rooms: If your living room has intricate wooden furniture or antique-inspired pieces, Persian, Oriental, or floral patterned rugs are timeless choices! Their intricate designs add richness and depth, which can create a cultured, sophisticated appearance along with a warm coziness.
• Bohemian/relaxed spaces: These rooms are all about layering textures and patterns. Kilims, tribal prints, or rugs with vibrant colors are all on the table. Be bold, layer one rug over another, for example, a jute rug as a base with a smaller patterned rug on top, and you’ll add an effect which feels both awe-inspiring and intentional!
• Scandinavian interiors: Scandinavian design favors simplicity and comfort. So go for neutral rugs in soft wool or natural jute. Light gray, cream, or off-white rugs with subtle textures work perfectly to add warmth without overwhelming the minimal aesthetic. Check out ‘How to Decorate In Scandinavian Style With Kilim And Oushak Rugs’ for further insights!

The texture of a rug matters just as much as its design. A fluffy, soft rug creates a cozy, informal vibe, while a flatweave cotton rug feels practical and airy. Our ‘Rug Materials Comparison Guide’ takes a comprehensive look at the different materials, be sure to have a look and inform yourselves on the various options!

Placement Guide: How to Choose the Right Carpet for Different Living Room Layouts

Knowing how to choose the right carpet for living room setups also means getting the placement right. Even the perfect rug will look ‘off’ if it’s not positioned correctly. Our ‘Rug Placement Guide for Every Room’ takes a close look at placement based on living room sizes. So let’s now look at the different kinds of placements you can go for!

• All Furniture on the Rug: This is the most luxurious layout and works best if you have a spacious living room. Place a rug large enough so that the sofa, armchairs, and coffee table all sit comfortably on top of it. It creates a unified, cohesive look, and ties the entire seating area together.
• Front Legs on the Rug: This is the most practical option for average-sized living rooms. Place the front legs of your sofa and chairs on the rug, while the back legs remain off. It visually connects the furniture without requiring an oversized rug.
• Coffee Table Only: In this setup, the rug sits entirely under the coffee table, with all seating around it off the rug. Clean, minimal, and budget-friendly!
• Layered Rugs: For extra character, try layering a smaller rug over a larger neutral base. Doing this adds depth, texture, and color variety. A jute rug underneath with a patterned wool rug on top is an absolute classic!
• Floating Rug: This is when the rug sits entirely in front of the sofa, not touching any furniture. It defines a space without commitment, which is great if you like moving furniture around often.

By following this guide, you can ensure that your living room rug is the right size and style, and is placed exactly where it looks best! However, remember that these are guiding ideas, not strict rules which must be maintained. Feel free to experiment, and perhaps even prove us wrong! Room decor is a form of expression, so try and choose the rug which feels perfect to you!

FAQs on How to Choose Rugs for Living Rooms

What are normal living room rug sizes?

5’x8′ for small spaces, 8’x10′ for medium to large rooms, and 9’x12′ or larger for open layouts.

How to choose the right rug for your living room?

Base your choice on three things: size (relative to your furniture), style (complementary or contrasting with your room design), and placement (all legs, front legs, or coffee table only).

How to use rugs in living room décor?

Use rugs to anchor your seating, add warmth, and tie together accent colors. They’re also great for absorbing sound in larger spaces.

What size rug is best for a sectional sofa? A 9’x12′ rug works best for sectionals, though an 8’x10′ can also suit smaller setups.

Do rugs have to match curtains or furniture?

Not at all! Rugs should complement, not match exactly. Echoing one or two colors is enough to create harmony.