What Size Rug for Living Room is Best

There is a lot to consider when choosing an area rug for your living room. While you want to ensure the design does not clash with your interior, you also need to ensure your area rug literally fits in your space.

What size rug for living room is best for your home? It is not as simple as choosing one set measurement for your rug. You need to consider the size of your space, the furniture involved, and, of course, the rug itself.

If you feel overwhelmed, it can be helpful to consult a guide on choosing the right rug size for your living room.

Choosing The Right Rug Size For Your Living Room

Choosing the right rug size for your living room is crucial for creating a harmonious and inviting space. Here are some key points to consider:

Avoiding a Small Rug: A rug that is too small can make a room feel disjointed and uninviting. It may cause the furniture to appear disconnected, disrupting the visual flow of the space

Avoiding a Large Rug: Conversely, a rug that is too large can overwhelm the room, making it feel cramped and smaller than it actually is. It's important to leave some visible floor space around the rug to maintain balance.

Achieving Balance: The right-sized rug brings balance to your living room by anchoring the furniture and defining the seating area. It helps create a cohesive look and ties together various elements of your decor.

By choosing the right-sized rug, you can enhance the room's aesthetic appeal and create a welcoming atmosphere.

How To Determine The Rug Size For Your Living Room

There are certain rules to follow when determining the right rug size for your living room.

1. First, familiarize yourself with the four standard rug sizes: 6'x9’, 8'x10’, 9'x12', and 10'x14’. Of course, you can also consider smaller options like a 4'x6' or 5'x7' rug for your living room.
2. Next, measure your entire living room from wall to wall and between your main furniture pieces. It also helps to measure the pieces to be placed on the rug. Taking these measurements can assist you in determining the appropriate rug size and furniture arrangement.
3. Ensure there is at least 6" to 8" of space between your area rug and the floor on all sides. This way, your rug will look like it belongs in the space.
4. Place at least two legs of your main pieces of furniture on the rug. Generally, the size of your area rug and the furniture arrangement should complement each other.
5. Additionally, the rug should extend 12" to 18" from underneath all four sides of your furniture.
6. Your rug should not be so small that it goes unnoticed. If it is too small, you can layer it over a larger rug. For example, layering it over a natural fiber rug creates a subtle but stylish look.

Keep in mind that living rooms come in various sizes, designs, and styles, from small spaces to open-concept designs to living rooms with sectional couch.

Use these tips to determine the right size of a rug for your living room.

What Size Rug For Small Living Room?

When figuring out what size rug for living room to choose for your home, you want to keep the size of your space in mind. You can find an area rug for living rooms of various sizes, starting with a small living room.

In a small living room, the rug should leave about 2' of floor space on each side. For a living room measuring 11'x13' or smaller, you would typically want a 5'x7' or 6'x9' area rug.

For example, placing a 6'x9' rug under the coffee table would also cover the area between the couch and the adjoining seating, such as armchairs. This is great for creating a cozy, intimate design in a smaller space.

What Size Rug For Medium-Sized Living Room?

Similar to a small living room, you can place a 6'x9' rug in a medium-sized living room. You can even use the same arrangement of placing it under the coffee table. This setup covers the space between the couch and other seating, providing more room to create a cozy conversational area.

Another option for a medium-sized living room is an 8'x10' rug. Depending on the actual size of your space, you may be able to place this rug in a smaller living room.

Remember, you do not want an oversized rug to make your living room feel smaller. Overall, a 6'x9' or 8'x10' rug is a good choice for a medium-sized living room.

What Size Rug For Large Living Room?

When decorating a large living room, you have more space to work with, so why not add more floor coverage with a larger rug? Remember, a smaller rug might go unnoticed in a bigger living room. You also don't have to worry about a larger rug making the space feel smaller, so feel free to add more warmth to your room.

A 6'x9' or 8'x10' area rug can be sufficient for a larger space, but you might opt for a 9'x12' or 10'x14' rug in an even bigger room. With maximum floor coverage, you can easily tie the entire living room together.

You can also create cohesion by placing the front legs of your couch and other seating on the rug. These pieces should overlap the rug by at least 8" to 12". The more these pieces overlap your rug, the more you can bring the entire room together. 

When tying the room together, ensure there is at least 12" to 18" of floor space between your area rug and the wall. If this floor space creates a border around your rug, even better.

What Size Rug For Living Room With A Sectional?

When determining what size rug for living room to choose, you also want to consider the furniture in your space. Remember, your area rug helps bring your pieces, especially your main furniture, together to create the look you have in mind.

Living rooms with sectional couches have been popular for many years. The size of your area rug will depend on the size of your sectional couch, measured in width by length for this guide.

• A small sectional couch measures about 6-8'x8', so you need a 4'x6', 5'x7' or 6'x9' area rug.
• For an average-sized sectional couch, which measures about 8-10'x10', you can use an area rug of 8'x10' or 9'x12'.
• If you have a large sectional couch of about 10-14'x14', you may want to look into a 9'x12' or 10'x14' area rug for your space.
• A 9'x12' area rug is a good choice for a sectional couch with a chaise.

What Size Rug For Living Room With A Loveseat?

Instead of a sectional couch, you may have a living room with a loveseat, which is ideal for creating a cozy arrangement in a smaller space.

You might have chosen a loveseat to save space in a larger living room, or simply because it suits your personal preference. Regardless of your reason for choosing this seating arrangement, you need to choose the right rug size for a living room with a loveseat.

• A 5'x8' area rug works well in a living room with a loveseat and an armchair.
• If your living room includes a loveseat and two small chairs instead of a larger armchair, you can create a cozy space with a 5'x7' area rug.
• A 6'x9' rug may also be suitable for a living room with a loveseat, but this depends on the size of your space.

What Size Rug For Living Room With A Couch and One Armchair?

When selecting what size rug for living room that includes a couch and an armchair, it's important to consider both the size of the room and the furniture arrangement.

A 6'x9' or 8'x10' area rug is typically suitable for such setups, as these sizes provide ample coverage and help create a cohesive seating area. The choice between these two sizes depends on the dimensions of your living room.

• A 6'x9' rug works well in smaller living rooms or as an accent piece.
• An 8'x10' rug is versatile for medium-sized living rooms, anchoring the main seating area and creating a visually appealing space.

It is crucial to ensure that the rug is large enough to accommodate at least the front legs of the furniture, which helps in tying the room together and maintaining a balanced look.

What Size Rug For Living Room With A Couch and Two Armchairs?

Your living room might feature a couch paired with two armchairs, providing additional seating for everyone.

For such a setup, it's important to consider a larger rug to accommodate the seating arrangement effectively. A 9'x12' area rug is recommended for this configuration as it provides ample coverage and helps to define the seating area, creating a cohesive and inviting space. This size is particularly suitable because it allows all the furniture pieces to sit comfortably on the rug, enhancing the overall aesthetic and functionality of the living room.

What Size Rug For Open Concept Living Room?

When determining the right rug size for your living room, consider the design of your space, particularly if you have an open-concept layout.

An open-concept design, or open floor plan, removes most visual barriers between the living room, kitchen, and dining area, often featuring short walls or no walls at all.

In such spaces, area rugs can help define the living room without the need for full-size walls. They effectively pinpoint the living room within a multipurpose area.

For small to medium-sized open floor plans, a 6'x9' rug is typically sufficient to define the living area. You can position the backs of your couch and chairs just off the edge of the rug.

Larger open floor plans offer more room for movement and furniture. In these cases, a 6'x9' or 8'x10' rug placed under the front legs of your couch and chairs can tie the living room together without requiring an oversized or expensive rug. These rug sizes are also noticeable in larger open floor plans, enhancing the overall design without overwhelming the space.

Always Choose The Right Size Rug For Your Living Room

Selecting the right rug size for your living room involves several considerations. It's important to take into account the dimensions of your living room, the furniture arrangement, and the rug size itself.

Fortunately, the rules outlined in this guide can assist you in choosing a rug that complements your desired aesthetic.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can easily choose the right size rug for your living room.