Finding the right rug for your living area

Selecting the right size rug for the living or lounge area  

Regardless if the area rug will be the focal point of your living or lounge area or just the finishing piece to tie all your decorating initiative together. There are some aspects you should consider for a wow effect or tailored finish.

While a rug can be any size you like, some essential tips should help you get a good balance and a harmonious look. If your rug will be in front of your sofa, a general rule is to ensure the rug is wider than the sofa. Narrower Rugs can throw off the room’s proportions and tend to sit awkwardly with the furniture. Generally, look to more oversized area rugs – if you can plant your feet while you’re on the sofa (or any furniture, for that matter), then you’ve found a good size.

Choose a rug size that complements the furnishings in the room to create a cohesive look for living spaces. Don’t worry about whether your furniture fits on or off the rug. What’s important is that it looks right to you. Remember, it is your home.

In general, the rule of thumb is to allow roughly 18 inches of uncovered floor space around the border of a living room rug. However, the overall size and location of the room should also be taken into consideration.

Before buying a living room rug, map out your room to scale. Then consider doorways, furniture size, and exposure to the sun, among other things. Focus on the points of interest of your space and how everything will gel.

Lounge suite legs on or lounge suite legs off.

The recognised guidelines that have been around since the first rugs were introduced in homes.

• Some front legs on.
• All legs on the rug.
• No legs on the rug
• 18 inches of bare floor around the rug 
• Just a few inches of floor around the rug