| Small rugs and accent rugs can usually be placed | | | | chairs and perhaps a small table. A good size would |
| wherever they look good or fulfill a specific purpose, | | | | be 4 X 6 feet, 5 X 8 feet, or a 5 to 7 foot round or |
| but larger rugs look best when basic guidelines for | | | | hexagonal rug. The front legs of each chair are on the |
| placement are followed. Since a larger rug often | | | | rug and the chairs are arranged, often at a slight angle, |
| serves as an anchor for a furniture grouping or the | | | | so the people sitting there can have both feet on the |
| main floor covering in a room, proper placement is | | | | rug. It's okay to have all four legs of each chair on the |
| essential for several reasons, including a balanced look. | | | | rug if the rug is large enough. However, it is best not to |
| A typical setting for a large rug is under a coffee table | | | | have more than two feet of empty rug behind the |
| and/or in front of a sofa. The coffee table is usually | | | | chairs. |
| centered between the long ends of the rug. The rug | | | | Sometimes, a couple of things get overlooked when |
| can be along the front edge of the sofa or it can be | | | | people want to get a large rug. Think about this for just |
| placed under the sofa's front legs, 2 to 3 inches behind | | | | a moment: You know the design and color you want, |
| the front legs. The back legs of a sofa usually do not | | | | but will the rug really fit where you want it to go? If a |
| get placed on the rug unless the rug is a very large | | | | door opens over the rug, does the door have enough |
| rug. | | | | clearance? Will the rug's desired placement impact any |
| When using a large rug that covers most of a room, | | | | air vents or electrical outlets? |
| it's best to use a rug size that allows at least 8 inches | | | | I certainly don't want to throw a wrench into the cogs |
| of a hardwood or tile floor to be exposed around the | | | | of your decorating plans, but thinking ahead will almost |
| rug. Center the rug in the room as much as possible, | | | | always help you avoid unwanted "surprises." Good |
| with an equal distance from the wall to each side and | | | | placement for large rugs might not seem like such a |
| an equal distance from the wall to each end. This | | | | big deal, but poor placement can throw the look and |
| equal spacing guideline still applies if there is a feature | | | | feel of the entire room off balance. |
| (such as a closet or fireplace) that sticks out in part of | | | | You'll find that it's time well-spent to mark off the area |
| the room. | | | | for a new rug before you get the rug. This can be |
| Large rugs are often used in a home's dining area. The | | | | done with newspaper and masking tape, plus a tape |
| best size of rug to use under a dining table extends a | | | | measure. Put newspaper where you want the rug and |
| minimum of 24 inches beyond each edge of the table. | | | | hold in place with the tape. You can also use a blanket |
| This allows someone to sit down or get up from a | | | | or sheet folded to various sizes. Work with this outline |
| dining chair while the chair's back legs remain on the | | | | until the overall size looks just right. Measure the outline |
| rug. If you've ever tried to get a chair's back legs up | | | | and look for a rug that closely matches those |
| and over the edge of a rug while seated, you know | | | | dimensions. |
| how important this guideline can be. | | | | With the wide variety of rugs in every design and |
| A large room might have a sitting area that is separate | | | | color you can imagine, you'll probably be able to find |
| from the room's main area. A mid-size rug can help | | | | your favorite rugs in just the right size for each |
| define a sitting area, which could include a couple of | | | | particular placement. |