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When it comes to decorating your living room, an area rug can add a lot of style and comfort to your space. However, choosing the right size of area rugs tends to be tricky. An area rug that is too small appears awkward and out of place, while a rug that is too large can overpower the room. 

In this blog, we put together a comprehensive area rug size guide to help you choose the ideal rug for your living room.

Before we dive into the specifics of area rug sizes for living rooms, it's important to consider the layout of your space. The size of your living room, the furniture you have, and the overall style of the room will all play a role in determining the size of the rug you need. The general rule of thumb is that your area rug should be large enough to anchor your furniture, but not so large that it overwhelms the room.

Factors to Consider when Choosing an Area Rug Size

When choosing area rug sizes for living room, there are several factors to consider to ensure that the rug fits the room perfectly. Let’s have a look at them.

1. The size of the living room

The first factor to consider if you want to choose the right size of area rugs is the size of the living room itself. A larger living room will require a larger rug, while a smaller living room will need a smaller rug. It is important to measure the room before choosing a rug size to ensure that the rug will fit properly and create the desired look.

2. The furniture arrangement

The furniture arrangement in your living room is another important factor to consider when choosing the ideal size of area rugs. If the furniture is arranged in a tight group, a smaller rug may be appropriate. On the other hand, if the furniture is arranged in a larger grouping or an open-concept layout, a larger rug may be necessary to anchor the space and create visual continuity. Get better insights when you read our comprehensive guide on matching area rugs with furniture.

3. The style of the living room

The style of a living room is equally important when choosing area rug sizes for the living room. If your room has a minimalist or contemporary style, a smaller rug may work well to complement the clean lines and simplicity of the space. However, if your room has a more traditional or eclectic style, a larger rug with a bold pattern or bright colors may be more appropriate.

4. The desired look and feel of the room

The desired look and feel of the living room is another factor to consider when choosing area rug sizes for living rooms. If the goal is to create a cozy and intimate space, go for a smaller rug. If the goal is to create a more open and airy space, you may need a larger rug to create a sense of flow and continuity.

Common Area Rug Sizes For Your Living Room

The rug size you choose for your living room is up to you. But these guidelines below can help you decide on an area rug that’s right for your living room. Let’s take a look.

5x7 Rugs

If you have a small living room, 5x7 rugs may be the ideal size to use. This area rug size is suitable for defining a seating area in a compact space. If you have a sofa and a couple of chairs, you can place a 5x7 rug under the front legs of the furniture, with the back legs resting on the bare floor. That will create a cozy and inviting space, without making the room feel too cramped.

8x10 Rugs

For a medium-sized living room, 8x10 rugs would be a great choice. This area rug size tends to accommodate a larger seating arrangement, such as a sectional sofa, along with additional chairs or a coffee table. When placing 8x10 rugs in your living room, make sure that they extend beyond the edges of your furniture by at least a few inches. This will create a cohesive and balanced look, while also making your space feel larger.

9x12 Rugs

If you have a large living room, 9x12 rugs may be the perfect rug size for you. This area rug size accommodates a large sectional sofa, along with additional chairs and a coffee table. When placing 9x12 rugs in your living room, ensure that they extend beyond the edges of your furniture by at least a foot or two. That will create a sense of space and balance, while also making your room feel cozy and inviting.

3×5 Rugs

The 3x5 area rug is the smallest size suitable for living rooms. Any area rug that is smaller than 3x5 rugs is only suitable for entryways, bathrooms, or kitchens. If your living room is quite small, this rug size can work perfectly. It easily fits under a rocking chair and can add warmth to the area it occupies.

12×18 Rugs

The 12x18 rug size is ideal for extra-large living rooms. It's important to note that the larger the area rug, the more expensive it will be. So, this rug size may come with a hefty price tag. You can consider a 9x12 rug instead since it can work just as well and come at a fraction of the cost of 12x18 rugs.

How To Place an Area Rug in Your Living Room

To ensure your living room looks and feels comfortable, its shape, size, and furniture placement should determine your choice of rug size and dimensions. Ideally, area rugs for living room should cover the seating area to ground your conversation space.

To prevent your living room from looking awkward, choose area rugs that are at least six to eight inches wider than your sofa piece on either side. Try these five area rug placement tips in your living room to get the most out of your area rug.

1. All Legs On

If you have enough living room space and would like to fit all your conversational furniture pieces(sofas, accent chairs, and coffee tables) on your area rug , allow for approximately eight inches between the edge of the furniture and the rug.

Additionally, leave around ten to 18 inches of space from the rug to the wall (or more if you have the space). Placing the rug too close to the wall creates an awkward "almost" wall-to-wall carpet effect. However, if your sofa is against the wall or a few inches off it, or if your space is small, you get to make an exception.

2. Front Legs Only

The front-legs-only layout is a popular choice for several reasons. It is ideal for small-sized rooms, a more budget-friendly option, and makes a small space appear larger. With this layout, only the front legs of your furniture (sofas and chairs) rest on the rug, while the back legs rest on the bare floor.

The rule of thumb is to have the area rug only go under each furniture piece for about one-third of its width. That keeps the seating area unified and creates a cohesive look without the extra expense of a larger, room-sized rug.

3. The Floating Layout (All Legs Off)

In this layout, only your coffee table or a central furniture piece rests on the area rug, while the seating area remains off the rug. This layout tends to look stylish if done appropriately. It is important to measure your seating area before buying your area rug. 

When done properly, the area rug will look intentional, and well-styled, and fill the negative space created by your furniture grouping. For the floating layout, a smaller rug size like a 5x7 rug will fit in perfectly, depending on the size of the living room. 

4. Rugs Layering

Have you found the perfect vintage 5x7 rug for your living room, but it feels a bit too small? You can place your small area rug on top of a larger one to create a unique look. The key is to choose a flatweave area rug as your base, preferably with a different color and material to add depth and texture to your space.

5. Rounded Arrangement

For a unique touch to your living room, consider a round rug to anchor your seating area. Choose a large enough rug to accommodate all your furniture pieces and leave a few extra inches around the edges. Use an area rug that is big enough to fit at least the front legs of each of your furniture pieces. A round area rug adds softness and fluidity to your room while creating an intimate seating area for entertaining guests.

Conclusion 

Choosing the right size of area rugs for your living room may not be a walk in the park but it's an important part of creating a comfortable and stylish space. Regardless of the size you choose, make sure that it fits your furniture and complements the overall style of your room. With the appropriate area rug sizes for living room, you can transform your space into a cozy and inviting area that you'll love spending time in. Shop Luxe Weavers top quality area rugs for different living room sizes today and get free shipping on orders above $100.

Sometimes, getting the perfect area rug for your space might just be the easiest way to go if you truly desire a comfortable zone.

With a 9x12 area rug, you’d introduce life, taste, color, texture, and harmony to your space. 9x12 area rugs undoubtedly give your home a distinct palatial effect – creating an environment you’d always want to come back home to.

However, choosing to buy a premium quality rug with this dimension is as important as understanding how to install it the right way.

In this guide, we’ll discuss where and how to use 9x12 rugs to redesign your home.

9x12 Area Rugs in Living Room

Just maybe you have been on a long search for accessories, but you can’t seem to figure out what to fill up the space in your living room, try a 9x12 area rug. You would quickly realize how much elegance large rugs for living rooms can introduce.

A 9x12 area rug is never a wrong call. It helps you to re-fit your living room to your desired taste without having to add to or take out any of your stuff, most especially your furniture. It gives you the liberty to be dynamic when setting up your living room. If you want your living room to appear bigger and spacious, choosing an area rug 9x12 works. Placing an area rug 9x12 partially under your furniture, spread across your room will give your living room a broad, attractive appearance.

On the other hand, placing a 9x12 area rug at the center of your living room with your coffee table nicely placed on it gives your living room a compact but unique look.

9x12 Area Rugs in Dining Room

An area rug in the dining room may not be necessary. But if you’re looking for something to complement your furniture and make the dining area more appealing, then go for an area rug 9x12.

Apart from its aesthetic qualities, 9x12 area rugs in the dining room help to muffle sounds especially since lots of movements happen in the dining room. (moving and adjusting chairs, clattering, and clanging of cutleries and other sounds that could cause distractions). A 9x12 area rug will be just perfect for your dining room as it is large enough to cover the dining area for a sizeable dining room.

To get this right, ensure to add about 60cm on each side of your dining area when measuring your dining room. This allows all four legs of each chair to sit and balance on the rug properly without having to worry about the rugs folding or the chairs staying off balance. Other things that must be put into consideration include the furniture, floor type, rug color, and the possibility of spilling food on the floor in the dining area.

9x12 Area Rugs in Bedroom

You may never know what you are missing out on until you have a 9x12 area rug in your bedroom. Area rugs 9x12 go beyond adding color, pattern, or texture to your bedroom. They generally help to increase the receptive outlook of the area. They make the area less boring and make you want to explore your bedroom more. Awesome right?

With a 9x12 area rug in your bedroom, you realize there’s more you can shape your bedroom into rather than just getting in and out of your bed.  

Another plus about having a 9x12 area rug in your bedroom is that it takes your bedroom’s privacy to a whole new level as it muffles sound, footsteps, and allows you to keep movements and activities in the bedroom private.

While creating a warm environment in your bedroom, 9x12 area rugs also create a more inviting space and provide a soft surface for your feet and your body, making it easier to get out of bed when you want to.

When installing a 9x12 area rug for your bedroom, you can either slip it underneath your bed and any furniture around it or give some space between the edge of the rug and the piece of furniture.

Some other Ways to Use Your 9x12 Area Rug

• Your office space - beautifies your work environment and makes it comfier.
• Studio apartment - it gives your studio a larger outlook and helps you maintain a functional space.
• Hallway
• Foyer - it gives it an inviting and relaxing look.
• Outdoor events décor.

Put these ideas into practice and watch as you become more dynamic in shaping your space to your desired taste. Start by exploring the Luxe Weavers' beautiful collection of 9x12 area rugs right away.