Choosing the right rug and having your rug placement on point can help you to tie your rooms together beautifully. So we’ve got some recommendations for how you can use a rug to add warmth and anchor your space no matter what your style. 

Rugs can be used in more places in your home than you think. And place the right sized rug in the right spot and you can bring a room to life. You can have rugs in your living room, dining room, study nook or you can even have a rug in your bedroom or master suite.

We’ve talked about my rules for rug placement on my award-winning home, lifestyle and interior design podcast. You can listen to it here or stream At Home with Lauren Keenan wherever you get your podcasts.

Rug Placement Guide

My guiding principle when buying rugs is to always go for the biggest and best quality rug you can afford. It will add a luxurious feel to your space. And a bigger rug will always look better than something that’s a little too small.

And when you’re buying rugs from a recognised retailer, they should have options for you in a range of sizes. Or you can have rugs custom made specifically for your space. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask them directly or email me and I’ll see if I can assist you.  

In my Rug Placement Guide I’m going to focus on three main spaces – the living room, dining room and the bedroom. And while there are some rules that can be applied in any space, I do have specific recommendations about rug placement in each of these rooms.

Rugs in the Living Room

So my rug placement rules for the living room are pretty central to the idea that the rug will anchor the space. That’s why your rug needs to be big enough for the front feet of your sofa and your occasional chairs to sit on top of it. Your coffee table should sit on top of the rug too. 

For an ultra luxe look, or for larger spaces, choose an oversized rug where all your living room furniture sits on top of it. And remember, if in doubt, go bigger. Nothing looks worse than a large sofa paired with a rug that’s just too small.

Rug placement in your living space is especially important in our modern homes where the architecture and design often means these spaces are open plan. So as well as anchoring the furniture, your rug will help to create and define your living zone.

Rugs in the Dining Room

There are positives and negatives to having rugs in dining rooms. They can work well, if done right. And there is no doubt that the right rug can help take your dining space to the next level. 

I wouldn’t recommend a rug in your dining room if you have young kids, because it can be difficult to keep clean. But if it’s just you and your partner or your kids are a little older, a rug can define the space and lift that luxe under-foot feeling.

The rug needs to be a lot bigger than the table itself. Measure your table top and then add approximately 60-70cm (on each side!) to determine your perfect rug size.

As a general rule, your chair should still be on the rug when you move in and out from the table. This prevents the chair from catching on the edge of the rug and you or your guests from taking a tumble. And that’s why a rug tends to lend itself to a larger dining room or open plan space.

Rugs in the Master Suite or Bedroom

Adding a rug to your bedroom can add warmth, help you layer texture and add comfort to your master suite or bedroom. There are a few options when it comes to rug placement in your bedroom. But all of the options come down to providing a frame for your bed. 

Option 1 is to place a large rug fully under the bed. The rug will need to extend 70 – 90cm out from either side of the bed and the end of the bed. This will emphasise the scale and size of your bed and frame it nicely. 

Option 2  is similar to Option 1, but you start with the rug about a third of the way down the bed from the bedhead. You will need a smaller run and that will also make it more affordable. Offsetting the rug in this way can also be a little more interesting. 

Option 3 involves experimenting with a short hall runner either side of the bed. It’s a different take and works well in a smaller room. It allows you to have that nice cosy feeling underfoot without feeling like a larger rug is taking up the whole space. It can also be more affordable than option 1.

I hope that helps. You can hear more about my Rug Placement Guide on my podcast. And get in touch if you need a professional to help you select the right rug for your home.

More about our podcast At Home with Lauren Keenan

Our award-winning interior design podcast, hosted by Sydney interior stylist Lauren Keenan, is now in its sixth year, helping you with useful advice to help you create a home you love.  

Get in touch if you have a topic you want us to talk about on the show. Rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts. And subscribe in your favourite podcast app like Spotify or iHeartRadio so you never miss an episode. 

And if you want Lauren to get started on a project in your home, email lauren@laurenkeenan.com.au. It could be building, renovating or just updating your favourite room.

Find out more about the services we offer at Lauren Keenan Home and check out Lauren’s portfolio of work for some inspiration. And thanks for listening!