Martha's Tried-and-True Tips for Arranging Area Rugs in Every Room of Your Home

An area rug is an essential component that can tie a room's furnishings together. But finding the right rug for your space is only half the battle—the perfect color and pattern can fall flat if your rug is not arranged the right way. To help you maximize the overall impact of a rug’s decorative qualities, Martha is sharing her best rug arranging tips.

Martha's General Arranging Tips

First things first, know that bigger is almost always better when it comes to area rugs, Martha says. An undersized rug will make your room look smaller than it is. Another general rule of thumb when arranging an area rug is to place it about 18 to 24 inches away from the base of walls or entryways. This will accentuate the finish of the exposed flooring and create a visually appealing border throughout the room. 

Tips for Arranging Area Rugs in the Living Room

If you've selected a medium-sized rectangular rug (4-by-6 feet to 6-by-9 feet), keep all furniture legs off the rug and arrange your furnishings around the perimeter, says Martha. This provides the optimal decorative balance between the color palette of the room, the rug, and the furniture.

The most popular rug size for living rooms is 8-by-10 feet. If this is the size rug you have, keep the front legs of your furniture 6 to 9 inches on top of the outer edges of the rug. This will create a look that feels harmonious and proportional.

For a rug that is 9-by-12 feet to 10-by-14 feet, keep all of the furniture legs on top of the rug. This size is ideal in family rooms or great rooms with ample space for a large-sized rug. You should leave 9 to 18 inches of the rug's pile showing behind your furniture.

Tips for Arranging Area Rugs in the Dining Room

A dining room rug should be large enough that all four legs of the chairs can rest on the rug, even when the chairs are pulled out. As a general rule, your dining room rug should extend at least 24 inches from the ends and sides of your dining table, says Martha. For small dining areas or breakfast nooks with a square table, a round rug is a great choice.

Tips for Arranging Area Rugs in the Bedroom

The bedroom can be the most difficult room when it comes to arranging an area rug. This is because most of the surface will be lost under your bed; what's more, if the rug is too small, it won’t reach far enough up toward the headboard to be practical.

A bedroom rug should be large enough to extend out at least 24 inches from the sides and foot of the bed, says Martha. While a rectangular rug is the obvious choice for a bedroom, a big square rug can also be a great option. For kids’ bedrooms with two twin beds, opt for a large rectangular rug that extends under and around both beds, which will pull the entire room together.

When choosing an area rug for your bedroom, always prioritize comfort and an option that blends into the decorative style of the room.   

Ready to put Martha's tips to the test? Shop one of the beautiful rugs from her collection with Safavieh below.