Ways to Place a Rug in the Bedroom

A poorly placed rug can make your bedroom look smaller, cluttered, and even uncomfortable. Once you understand the importance of how to place a rug in the room, it comes alive and becomes more inviting and functional. The main difference between a rug that fits your space and one that's just there lies in how and where we place it. Below, we'll tell you all the ways to place a bedroom rug so you can create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, regardless of the room's size.

Why is rug placement important in the bedroom?

A well-placed rug in a bedroom is a key element that gives meaning to the room's overall decor and defines its different areas. By correctly placing a rug in the bedroom, a visual anchor is created, which is a focal point that visually organizes the space.

Furthermore, a well-placed rug provides a warm and soft surface for your feet when you get out of bed, acts as thermal insulation, and reduces footstep noise. The rug delimits spaces and creates pathways within the room. For example, it can define a resting area around the bed, a reading nook next to an armchair, or even visually separate the bedroom from a dressing room. But without a doubt, one of the most important aspects of properly placing a rug in the bedroom is the sense of order, spaciousness, and sophistication it creates.

Factors to consider before placing a rug

Bedroom size and layout

The size of your bedroom is the first factor you should consider when choosing how to place your rug. In addition to considering the dimensions, you'll need to evaluate how they fit in terms of proportionality and space distribution.

• Rectangular layout: The rug can follow the orientation of the room to reinforce the geometry of the walls, or it can be placed perpendicularly to create a greater sense of spaciousness.

• Square layout: Square rooms offer more flexibility and allow for the placement of round, square, or rectangular rugs.

The ceiling height also influences the perception of space. In rooms with high ceilings, a large rug can help visually lower the ceiling and create a more inviting feel. Conversely, in rooms with low ceilings, it's preferable to leave more clear space around the rug.

The furniture arrangement also affects placement. If you have a room with a centered bed, the rug can follow this symmetry. But if the bed is in a corner or against a wall, you'll need to adapt the rug's position to balance the composition.

Bed and furniture type

The type of bed you have largely determines the rug placement options. A single bed allows for more flexibility than a 150 cm wide bed, obviously due to proportionality. If the bed has a box spring or is very low to the ground, you'll need the rug to be sufficiently visible, as if it's completely hidden under a very low bed, it loses its decorative function. On the other hand, beds with high legs allow the rug to be more integrated into the decor.

If you have nightstands, you need to decide whether the rug should extend beneath them or not. With a dresser at the foot of the bed, you'll have to decide if you want the rug to be large enough to reach that area or if you prefer a smaller one that leaves more floor space free. If you have built-in wardrobes or dressing rooms, the rug should be placed so that it doesn't interfere with them.

Decorative style and color palette

The decorative style of your bedroom sets the guidelines for the most suitable type of placement. A minimalist or Nordic style favors the use of medium rugs, while a maximalist style allows for the placement of large rugs that cover a significant portion of the floor. Classic styles usually work best with rugs that follow symmetrical placement rules, while modern or contemporary styles allow for greater experimentation with asymmetrical positions.

The color palette influences the perception of the rug's size. Light and neutral colors tend to blend more with the floor, making the rug appear larger than it is, while dark colors create more contrast and better define the rug's boundaries.

Patterns also affect placement. Rugs with geometric patterns that follow a direction require more careful placement for the design to be best appreciated; however, plain rugs are more versatile in terms of their positioning within the room.

Rug placement types according to bed position

There are so many ways to place a rug in the room that the possibilities are almost endless. Below, we'll tell you which are the most common ways to place a rug in the bedroom, but as we said, these are not the only ones, so we encourage you to experiment and find the placement that best suits your room.

Rug under the entire bed

This involves placing a rug large enough so that the bed rests completely on it. To achieve this effect, you need a rug that is at least 60-80 centimeters wider and longer than your bed. For example, if you have a standard double bed of 150x200 cm, you need a rug of at least 200x300 cm.

This placement creates an island effect that clearly defines the sleeping area. Visually, it gives greater prominence to the bed and provides a soft surface to step on when getting out of bed from any side. The biggest advantage of this arrangement is that both the bed and the nightstands are integrated by the same rug.

Rug under the bottom two-thirds of the bed

This way of placing the rug covers approximately two-thirds of the bed's length, leaving the headboard out. The rug is positioned so that it starts roughly at the height of the nightstands and extends towards the foot of the bed, protruding about 40-60 centimeters beyond the foot of the bed. This arrangement is perfect for medium-sized rugs. Visually, this arrangement lengthens the room and gives it greater dynamism. It works especially well in medium-sized rooms.

Rug at the foot of the bed

This involves placing a rectangular rug at the foot of the bed. The rug should extend at least 40 centimeters beyond the foot of the bed to provide a comfortable space to rest your feet. This arrangement is perfect for beds against the wall or in corners, although it also works well in narrow rooms. This way of placing the rug lengthens the room.

Rugs on the sides of the bed

Use two smaller rugs, one on each side of the bed. This is a practical and symmetrical solution that works especially well in rooms where the bed is centered. Each rug should measure approximately between 60x120 cm or 80x150 cm, depending on the space and bed size. They should be placed so that they protrude slightly in front of the nightstands and extend towards the foot of the bed.

This arrangement is a good option for couples who want different rugs, as each can have their own rug adapted to their tastes. It also allows you to play with different textures or colors that complement the main color palette.

Independent rug to define spaces in the bedroom

To create this arrangement, you must place the rug in an area of the bedroom separate from the bed. For example, you can place a round rug under an armchair and a floor lamp to create a reading nook. Or use a rectangular rug to define a desk area. This arrangement is recommended in large bedrooms where there is space for multiple activities.

Tips for choosing the best arrangement

To decide which are the best areas of the room to place a rug, observe your daily routines. Which side of the bed do you get up from most frequently? Are there areas where you spend more time standing? Do you use a corner to read or relax? Do you plan to change the decor soon? If so, you might be more interested in choosing a plain rug that can adapt to different styles. These questions will help you prioritize where you need to place the rug.

These are some of the placements you should keep in mind if you want to include a rug in your bedroom. As we've seen, opting for one or another depends on different factors. Now it's time to get to work and choose the best one for your bedroom.