How to Buy a Living Room Rug? – The Ultimate Guide

It can be a daunting task to buy a living room rug. After all, this is going to be one of the most visible pieces of furniture in your home, and you want to make sure that you choose the right one. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of choosing the perfect rug for your living room. We’ll discuss everything from size to color to material.

So whether you’re just starting to shop for rugs or you’re narrowing down your options, read on for tips and advice that will help you find the perfect addition to your living room!

Area rugs for living room

Living room rugs are important because they are often the focal point of the room and the entire house or apartment in most cases. The living room is where you entertain guests, so you want to make sure that it looks its best.

Let’s quickly get over with Cliché #1: a beautiful area rug can really tie the room together and make it look more polished and put together.

Not to mention, a living room rug can also help to protect your floor from wear and tear. If you have hardwood floors, a rug can help to keep them looking like new for longer.

Living Room Area Rug Ideas

You might be surprised to see so many traditional patterns and styles, but in fact nowadays the vibe is all about a fresh take on traditional and classic styles.

This might include a number of things, like:

• Overdyed rugs
• Distressed rugs to make them feel and look like a rug with a history
• Traditional, or traditional-looking rugs, like Oriental or Moroccan rugs (even the ones that have very little if anything to do with Morocco)
• And then there are those, who want to make a statement with their rugs, so they end up choosing a piece by women-run rug brands, they opt for fairtrade or sustainable rugs.

When choosing a living room rug, size is an important consideration. Scroll down, and we’ll discuss it at length.

You don’t want to choose a rug that is too small or too big for the space. It’s best to measure your living room before you start shopping so that you know what size range to look at.

One of the big problems of hunting for a living room rug is the overwhelming amount of products to choose from. One strategy that can work is to pick one of the few respected rug brands. Rug brands always provide a great means to navigate the market, as reputable rug brands deliver consistent and reliable quality, so there’s one less thing to worry about. They are also very up-to-date when it comes to styling. So checking out the major trusted brands is always a good place to start.

Here are a few of these brand names we personally recommend you to check out (after you’ve checked out our roundup review of the only rug brands you need to know these days, of course).

• Ruggable
  
• Safavieh rugs
  
• Surya rugs
  
• Loloi rugs
  
• Boutique rugs
  
• Rugs USA
  
• +1 For a bonus, please check out our review of the best women-run rug brands currently available. They play in their own league!

Although they don’t necessarily solve the issue of oversupply, these brand names ensure the quality of the rug, and filter everything “out there” in terms of style and value.

Another way to go about it would be to check out The Latest Rug Trends and our list of the Best Selling Rugs of 2022, and choose something other people already love.

Carpets for living room

When it comes to living room carpets, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

The first is that living room carpets are usually much larger than area rugs. This means that they will take up more space in your room and may be more difficult to clean.

Living room carpets are also somewhat outdated.

A carpet may be okay in a bedroom, but according to the latest interior design trends, if you are redoing your home in 2022, a living room area rug is the way to go.

Machine washable living room rugs

This may not be the case for all of the homes out there, but in many homes, living rooms are among the most heavy-traffic areas.

You have to keep that (the volume of foot traffic) in mind when you hunt down your next living room rug.

So, practical considerations, like how easy it is to clean that specific rug, really gain some serious traction. Fortunately for all of us, washable area rugs have by now evolved into a separate, full-fledged industry of their own, with specific rug brands specializing in washable rugs, and all others having a sizable selection of them anyways.

Obviously, there are tradeoffs, as always. Some would prefer the plush and shaggy feeling no machine-washable rug can deliver. Others will opt for luxe, natural fibers (most machine-washable rugs are made of synthetic fibers).

But if you take the practical angle, and want to make your life easier by having a washable rug in your living room, you can, by all means do that.

Washable Living room Rug ideas

Okay, we will seem and sound biased here, but all of the below recommendations come from one specific brand: our most favoritestest washable-rug brand: Ruggable. Looking through the below living room rug ideas (just to repeat: all of these are machine washable with a simple, household washing machine), I’m sure you’ll understand why we love them so much.

Living room rug size

As we mentioned before, size is an important consideration when choosing a living room rug. You don’t want to choose a rug that is too small or too big for the space.

It’s best to measure your living room before you start shopping so that you know what size range to look at.

If you have a large living room, you may be able to get away with an oversized rug. But if your living room is on the smaller side, you’ll want to stick to a more modest-sized rug.

How should a rug sit in a living room?

To come up with the appropriate size, you’ll first have to consider how you want your rug to be positioned in your living room. As with many parts of interior design, there is no one good solution, but rather a couple of ways to go about it.

First, you want to make sure that the rug is centered in the room. This will help to create a sense of balance and symmetry.

In most cases, you also want to make sure that all four legs of your sofa are on the rug. This will help to define the space and make it feel more cohesive. With that said, this rule is not carved in stone. We’ll cover a few exceptions below.

Finally, you want to leave about 18-24 inches of space between the edge of the rug and the wall. This will help to prevent your room from feeling too cramped.

Remember that you can always move your furniture around if you need to change.

The best way to make the most of your living room is to try out a few variations, live with them for a few days or weeks, and then settle on your favorite. I love how various room layouts are not at all jealous of each other.

How far under a couch should a rug go?

As a general rule, you want your rug to be under at least the first two feet of your couch. This will help to define the space and make it feel more cohesive.

In a small living room, it is even okay to have the rug completely separate from the couch. This will help avoid your room looking overcrowded with stuff.

If you have a large living room, you may be able to get away with an oversized rug. But if your living room is on the smaller side, you’ll want to stick to a more modest-sized rug.

Can a rug be too big for a living room?

Yes, a rug can be too big for a living room. If you choose a rug that is too big, it will make the room look smaller and packed.

You don’t want to choose a rug that is too small or too big for the space. It’s best to measure your living room before you start shopping so that you know what size range to look at.

You can find the rules of thumb in this blog post, and we recommend you stick with these unless you really know what you are doing.

How do you choose an area rug for hardwood floors?

Rugs are important because they don’t just look good, but also protect your hardwood floor.

But when it comes to protecting your expensive hardwood flooring, not all rugs are created equal. You should avoid rugs that come with PVC, latex, or synthetic backing, and you should go for natural fibers instead. These will surely help to protect your hardwood floor from damage.

When it comes to hardwood floors, the best rugs are those made of wool or cotton. These natural fibers are strong and durable, so they will last longer than synthetic fibers. Wool is also a great choice because it is naturally fire-resistant and anti-static.

Cotton is another good choice for hardwood floors because it is absorbent and hypoallergenic.

How do you place a rug in a small living room?

In a small living room, it’s best to leave some distance between the main furniture pieces, like sofas or sectionals, and the edge of the a living room rug. It will allow the room to appear more spacious.

This will also help to define the space and make it feel more coherent.

If, however, this scheme would result in a tiny rug, it might still be better to go for the option where the rug gets under the furniture, at least halfway.

Some online tools will help you experiment with a photo of your living room, and various sizes of living room rugs. Go for the one that suits your personal taste best.

You will be the one looking at it day in day out, after all.

Does a large living room rug make a room bigger or smaller?

In general, a large living room rug will make the room look bigger.

This is as long as the rug is not _too_ big. Because if the rug is too big, it may make the room look smaller and more crowded.

The sense of space is determined by the distance of the items you see at once.

So if there’s an appropriate distance between the edge of the rug and your walls, or the separate functional spaces within a room (considering an open-space arrangement), the room will appear bigger than it actually is.

How can I make my living room bigger with a rug?

There are a few ways to make your living room look bigger with a rug.

First, you can choose a light-colored rug. This will help to reflect light and make the space feel more open.

Second, you can choose a low-pile or flatweave living room rug. These types of rugs don’t stand up as high off the ground, so they won’t visually break up the space as much.

And last, you can choose the perfect size rug for your living room. Not too big and not too small – just right!

What size rug is best for living room?

The best size of your living room rug depends – surprise! – on the size of your living room.

If you have a small living room, you’ll want to choose a smaller rug. If you have a large living room, you can choose a larger rug.

It’s also important to leave some distance between the edge of the rug and your furniture. This will help to define the space and make it feel more open.

You can experiment with different sizes and shapes of rugs until you find the perfect one for your space. And don’t forget – you can always ask for help from a professional!

Area rug size for living room

In most cases, 9×12 and 8×10 rugs will be the best options for your living room. These are large enough to cover most of the floor space, but not so large that it will make the room feel cramped.

This size of living room rug is also a good choice if you have a lot of furniture in your living room. You’ll want to leave about 12-18 inches of space around the edge of the rug, so it’s best to measure your furniture before you shop for a 9×12 rug.

Now that you have the general rule of thumb, bear in mind that this is not a rule. It is more of a hint.

If you have an extra-large living room or want to designate a living room in an open-space setting, you might want to consider an oversized living room rug.

On the other hand, if you have a tiny living room, you don’t want to overcrowd it with a huge piece of textile. In these cases, a 5×8 or even a 3×5 rug will make a perfect living room rug for you.

Extra-large rugs for living room

If you have an extra-large living room, then you’re in luck – extra-large living room rugs can be spectacular.

They add a touch of luxury and can, ahem, really tie a room together.

However, if your living room is on the smaller side, an extra-large living room rug might make the space feel cramped and cluttered.

I can’t emphasize it enough: it’s important to strike the right balance between the size of the rug and the size of the room.

In general, extra-large rugs work best in spacious living rooms with plenty of furniture and design pieces to anchor the rug.

So if you’re considering an extra-large rug for your living room, make sure that the space is large enough to accommodate it.

Large living room rugs

Most living rooms are large enough to accommodate the standard-sized large living room rugs.

However, you have to keep in mind what else is in the living room when making your rug selection.

For example, if you have large furniture or a lot of small pieces, you’ll want to choose a rug that fits well with the existing layout.

Additionally, the style of the room should be considered when selecting a rug; a shaggy, modern rug may not be the best choice for a traditional space.

Ultimately, picking a large living room rug is mostly a matter of choosing something that is both stylish and practical. As long as you keep these factors in mind, you should be able to find the perfect rug for your space.

Big rugs for living room

Rugs are big design focus points in the living room. You want to pick an area rug that lives up to this.

When picking the pieces go from the most important to the least important, with the most important being the area rug, in other words the living room rug itself.

After choosing the area rug you can move on and select the accessories. The big area rug is the star of the show so make sure it’s a good one!

Throw rugs for living room

While we’re at stars: no great movie is complete without the appropriate cameos.

A throw rug, or an accent rug, is an additional rug that is used for adding color, texture, pattern, or flair to a room.

Throw rugs are often used in living rooms or bedrooms to add an extra layer of warmth and comfort.

Throw rugs add flavor, accent, and sparkle.

They can also be used in kitchens or bathrooms to add a pop of color or style. Throw rugs come in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures, so there is sure to be one that fits your needs.

You can inject colors, patterns, or textures with throw rugs.

Best of all, they are relatively inexpensive, so throw rugs are a great way to inject some personality into your space without breaking the bank.

Style considerations for your living room rug

Now that we’ve gone over some of the basics, let’s talk about style. When it comes to choosing a living room rug, there are endless possibilities.

A few of the styles we suggest you consider include:

• Boho living room rugs
  
• Minimalist living room rugs
  
• Machine washable rugs
  
• Teal living room rugs
  

Should the living room rug be lighter or darker than the floor?

If you want to make your room feel airy and open, lighter carpets and rugs are perfect.

If not planning on painting the walls in any color later this year but still need some atmosphere for inspiration or just have a hard time deciding what colors will work well with them – go darker!

A light-colored rug can create an inviting environment where people enjoy spending time; whereas if we were trying out brighter shades like reds blue-greens yellow orange pink purple brown etc., they might seem too much instead of making everything look garish rather than elegant which is what we’re going after here.

Related Post: The Best Minimalist White and Gray Area Rugs

When it comes to the color of the floor and the rug, it’s traditional to use moderate contrast between the two. For darker flooring, I generally recommend light rugs and vice versa.

Tone on tone (meaning the same color, or at least the same gradient of the flooring and the rug on top) can also be an option: if you go down that route I recommend you put together contrasting textures, like a hardwood floor and a shag rug.

Lounge rugs

A lounge rug is the perfect way to add a touch of luxury to your home.

These rugs are usually large and spacious, making them ideal for lounge rooms or living areas.

They also tend to be made from premium quality materials, giving them a luxurious look and feel.

Of course, lounge rugs need to match the rest of your interior in order to really work.

But if you can find one that complements your style, you’ll instantly transform your space into a lovely and indulgent lounge area.

Best rugs for living room

So, how can you find the best living room rug for you, after all?

Whether you’re looking for something contemporary to give your room a pop of color or an antique rug that will ground the space and add some sophistication, we’ve got you covered.

Be sure to check out our roundup reviews on Rug Around The Clock!

There you can find all the information you need on living room rug sizes, colors, and styles – everything to help make your decision easier, with actual recommendations that you will be able to buy with a click of your mouse.

And if you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch; we love nothing more than helping people find their perfect rug.