With Rugs - Size Does Matter
We might be biased but we really do believe every room is improved by a rug. Determining colour, pattern and scale are obviously important, proportion should also be carefully considered - a rug the wrong size seems to undo everything else.
As a guide, a rug should be large enough to anchor your furniture whilst leaving some of the floor exposed. When in doubt, go for the biggest size possible – there’s nothing worse than an undersized rug.
We are always on hand to help with any specific questions and offer the following guide as a start for helping you to measure your own space.
GETTING THE SIZE RIGHT
We might be biased but we really do believe every room is improved by a rug. Determining colour, pattern and scale are obviously important but proportion should also be carefully considered - a rug the wrong size seems to undo everything else.
As a guide, a rug should be large enough to anchor your furniture whilst leaving some of the floor exposed. When in doubt, go for the biggest size possible – there’s nothing worse than an undersized rug.
Follow our handy room-by-room guide to see our advice on measuring for your rug. We are also on hand to help so don’t hesitate to get in touch!
MEASURING GUIDELINES
Living Rooms
Use the rug to help ground the furniture. It all comes down to personal preference but we recommend that the rug extends several inches outwards from the edge of the furniture with the front legs resting on the rug. This gives a sense of coherence in the room and makes the space feel well-considered. Alternatively, placing all the feet on the rug creates more of a self-contained zone.
Dining Rooms
Low-pile rugs such as flatweaves and hand-knotted pieces with a short pile (usually 3-4mm) are best here so chairs can slide in and out without catching. The rug should also be large enough so that the chairs do not fall off the edge when pulled out. A rule of thumb is to measure the dining table and add approximately 150cm (59”) to the length and/or width, depending on the shape of the table and layout of the room.
Bedrooms
The most popular options are to either sit a large rug underneath the whole bed (bearing in mind a large proportion will be covered) or to opt for a runner on one or both sides of the bed. In either case, there should be a small gap between the side tables and the edge of the rug, still ensuring that there is some rug to land on when getting out of bed. As a relatively low-traffic area, there is an opportunity in bedrooms to use more delicate and lustrous fibres such as natural or bamboo silk to add texture and opulence underfoot.
Open Plan Spaces
Rugs are a great way of zoning an open-plan or double-fronted space into more distinct areas. Complement abstract designs with geometric, plain with patterned — or even use the same design in both areas for added impact. As long as you are working in the same tones, the space will feel cohesive overall. Scale is also especially important here in retaining the balance. Identify small, medium and large scales of pattern in the space and use them together cohesively to keep a sense of harmony.
