There are as many ways to place a rug in the living room as there are opinions. However, knowing how to place rugs in the living room isn't as straightforward as it seems. Choosing the right location, size, shape, and style makes all the difference between a well-decorated space that reflects your personality and one lacking decorative coherence. Below, we'll tell you the most important things you need to know when placing rugs in your living room so you can finally achieve the perfect decor.
Why are rugs important in living room decor?
Are you considering placing a rug in the living room? If so, we have to tell you that they serve several important functions in addition to the decoration of the room. A well-placed rug defines spaces, especially in open-plan living rooms where it's common to see different separated areas dedicated to various uses.
But this isn't the only advantage; rugs add texture to wood, vinyl, or ceramic floors. When you step on them, they offer a pleasant sensation that invites you to enjoy the space for longer while protecting your feet from the cold. If you add to this that a rug can become the element that gives coherence to the entire living room decor by chromatically uniting different furniture, adding colour and personality to the space, and protecting the floor from scratches caused by walking, you'll understand that its presence, in addition to decorating the living room, visually articulates the space, provides comfort, decorative balance, and makes it more functional.
Factors to consider before placing a rug in the living room
Before deciding to buy a rug for the living room, stop and think about those aspects that determine its suitability for the space, as the wrong choice would not only fail to improve your living room's decor but could even harm it.
Size and proportion in relation to furniture
The basic rule you should remember is that the rug should be proportional to the area you want to cover and the furniture that is near it. For a living room of a standard size, ideally, the rug should be large enough so that the front legs of all the sofas rest on it. This arrangement creates a sense of cohesion between the different elements.
For a medium-sized living room, approximately 215-270 square feet (20-25m²), a medium rug of up to 55x79 inches or 47x67 inches (140x200 cm or 120x170 cm) can work well. For smaller living rooms, we recommend rugs that do not exceed 31x59 inches (80x150 cm), while in large or open-plan living rooms, you might need large rugs of around 79x118 inches (200x300 cm).
SEE RUGS OF 79x118 INCHES (200x300 CM)
Always remember to measure your living room. To do this, we recommend outlining the floor with adhesive tape or placing newspapers on the floor simulating the size of the rug you are thinking of buying. This will give you a clear visual idea of how the rug will look in your living room.
Shape and layout of the living room
The shape of your living room and the arrangement of the furniture influence the choice of rug.
For living rooms with a rectangular format, rectangular rugs are usually the best fit. In more square spaces, round rugs work well, as they bring fluidity to the decor and soften the angles of the living room corners. You can take advantage of them to place seating around them to help you create a perfect area to sit and chat, although they can also work wonderfully under round tables or to highlight, for example, arched windows.
Knowing how to place rugs in the living room also implies understanding that they should not hinder or obstruct passage. Ideally, you should be able to walk around the rug or completely on it, avoiding stepping on it partially.
Colours according to decorative style
The colour of your rug gives expressiveness to the space and should also fit with the colour palette and decoration of the rest of the living room. If your furniture already has prints or intense colours, you should buy a rug in neutral tones that doesn't attract too much attention. However, in living rooms with sober-coloured furniture, a rug with an intense colour can provide the touch of personality that the space needs.
Ideas for placing rugs according to the layout of the living room
The layout of your living room influences the position of the rugs to maximize both their functionality and their visual impact. Below, we tell you how to place rugs in the living room according to the type of living room you have.
Living room with L-shaped sofa
L-shaped sofas or chaise longues pose a challenge when placing rugs in this room. To do it correctly, you must balance the decoration of the living room to counteract the asymmetrical shape that the sofa itself already has.
For this type of configuration, you can do the following:
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Large rectangular rug: Place a large rug that covers the entire area of the sofa and the coffee table, if you have one.
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Custom-made or irregularly shaped rug: If no standard-sized rug fits, you can always buy a custom-made rug that fits perfectly in your living room with L-shaped sofas or use a rug with organic and irregular shapes that adapt to this layout.
Living room with separate sofa and armchairs
In this type of living room, the rug is the element that visually unites the sofa area and the armchair area. In this case, the rug should extend under all the furniture, at least partially. A common configuration is a sofa facing two armchairs, with a coffee table in the middle. In this case, the rug should be large enough so that the front legs of all the seats rest on the rug.
Keep in mind that there should be at least 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) of rug in front of the seats, that is, visible rug surface. This ensures that there is enough visible rug to generate the decorative impact we are looking for and that the feet rest comfortably on the rug when sitting down.
Open spaces: integration with dining room or hallway
Open spaces, so popular in contemporary architecture, present the challenge of delimiting functional areas without resorting to physical walls. This is where rugs become indispensable tools for spatial organization.
For living rooms that are integrated with the dining room, you can use two different rugs that maintain some related element such as the colour palette or the decorative style. You can place one under the living area and another under the dining table. If you do this, maintain a distance of approximately 24-35 inches (60-90 cm) between them to avoid visually saturating the space. If your living room flows into the hallway, another option is to use a runner rug that creates a transition between both spaces, guiding the passage from one room to another; you can complement it with a main rug in the living area.
Other ideas for placing rugs in the living room
In addition to the typical arrangements, there are other ways to incorporate rugs into the living room. These alternatives not only add character and dynamism to the space but also allow adaptation to different decorative styles and functional requirements.
Place the rug under the coffee table or nesting tables
This technique is ideal for small living rooms. It consists of using a small or medium rug under the coffee table. This arrangement works very well with designer coffee tables or nesting tables that we want to highlight in the living room. The rug is the frame that enhances these elements and adds visual warmth to the centre of the room. For this configuration to be effective, choose a rug that exceeds the size of the table by at least 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) on each side. If you have a round table, a circular rug is perfect, while if the coffee table is rectangular or square, respect the same geometry to maintain decorative coherence.
With the front legs of the sofa resting on the rug
The advantage of this configuration is that it creates a sense of connection between the elements of the living room without the need for an excessively large rug. Visually, it creates a conversation area and maintains an optimal proportion with the available space. To correctly implement this idea, the rug should extend approximately 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) beyond the edge of the seats and be perfectly centred with respect to the main sofa or the set of armchairs.
Under the dining table and chairs
In this case, the rug should be large enough so that the chairs remain supported on it even when you pull them out to sit down or stand up, that is, it should protrude at least 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) from the edge of the table on each side. If you are going to use a rug in this location in the living room, you should keep in mind the ease of cleaning, as it is very likely to end up accidentally stained.
Layering rugs
Layering rugs adds dimension, texture, and personality to any living room worth its salt. Combine different textures like a shaggy rug over a flatweave one. Something that often works is to contrast a neutral-coloured rug with one of vibrant colours or visual patterns. To do this, use a large rug as a base and add a smaller piece on top, slightly rotated to provide visual dynamism. The rug on top should have dimensions of approximately half or two-thirds the size of the base rug.
Mistakes to avoid when placing rugs in the living room
Knowing the mistakes to avoid when placing rugs in the living room will help you prevent them and achieve a result that you like. These are the 3 main mistakes you should avoid:
Choosing the wrong size
Without a doubt, the most frequent mistake when placing rugs is underestimating the necessary size. If you want to avoid it:
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Carefully measure your living room and furniture
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Use the technique of simulating the size of the rug with newspapers or adhesive tape
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It is always better to have a slightly large rug than one that is too small
Having them misaligned with the main furniture
Poor alignment of the rug is another common mistake. A crooked or off-centre rug with respect to the main furniture creates a feeling of disorder that can make the entire living room seem neglected. To achieve perfect alignment:
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Use elements such as walls or windows as references
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Align the rug with the main piece of furniture, usually the sofa
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Maintain the same distance between the edges of the rug and the furniture
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In rectangular living rooms, make sure the rug follows the same horizontal axis.
If, after following these tips, you still have doubts about whether your rug is correctly aligned, take photos of the living room from different angles, as often, misalignments become more obvious in pictures than when looking directly at the room.
Combining colours that don't match each other
Another very common mistake is choosing a rug that we like without considering the colour palette of the living room. To avoid these colour dissonances, identify the predominant colours in the living room and use the 60-30-10 rule. This rule helps to visually structure the colour palette of a space as follows:
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60% dominant colour: This represents the main tone of the space. This colour covers most of the surfaces and establishes the overall visual framework.
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30% secondary colour: This colour complements the dominant one, adds depth, and serves to contrast colours.
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10% accent colour: A vibrant or striking colour that brings energy, freshness, and personality.
And you, what type of configuration do you think would fit best in your living room? At Atticgo, we know that every living room is unique and that a rug should not only adapt to the decorative style but also to your lifestyle. Therefore, the essential thing is to think about the use you will give the rug and what you want to convey with it to create an environment that reflects your personality and where you feel truly comfortable. Give your living room a new look with our rugs!
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