Why Rug Size Matters

One of the things that I'm very particular about in the homes I design is having the right sized rug. It's key to having a pulled-together look! In most cases, I use room-sized rugs to define a room, while still letting any gorgeous floors show around the edges and in transition spaces like doorways or cased openings.

The perfect sized rug can also help define zones in a room, like in the family room I designed above. The sitting area is "outlined" with a great striped rug, while the table in the back is obviously in a different "zone" since it's on the floor outside of the rug's area. And the secret to this great rug? It's actually two of the exact same Dash & Albert designs that I had stitched together by a rug retailer! That's a simple (and inexpensive) way to create a rug that's exactly the size you need.

Another way that I avoid having that awkward "wrong rug" in a room is to have a piece of carpet bound like a rug. You can see an example of that in the room I designed above for the Hamptons Showhouse. This is just a big piece of sisal carpet that has been bound around the edges to create a room-sized rug.

In this closer shot, you can see how a "tape" or edge has been sewn onto the perimeter of the carpet to create a nice tailored look. And I love that you can still see the gorgeous hardwood floors in the room, too!

If you use a smaller rug like this braided version, it should be big enough to define its “zone,” like the dining table and chairs in this breakfast area. Those chairs will easily move back and forth from the table without “falling off” the rug because it’s just the right size.

You can use these ideas to create great zones and vignettes in your own rooms, and to avoid that look of furniture barely sitting in a circle or square on a too-tiny rug.