The most common rug mistake is buying one that's too small. It floats in the middle of the floor, the furniture sits around it instead of on it, and the room looks smaller than it is. The right size depends more on your furniture than on the room, so that's what to measure.
Standard rug sizes
| Size | Where it usually works |
|---|---|
| 60 x 240cm to 80 x 300cm | Runner for a hall or landing, or along one side of a bed |
| 80 x 150cm | Beside a bed, or in front of a fireplace |
| 120 x 170cm | In front of a two-seater sofa |
| 140 x 200cm | A small living room, or under a single bed |
| 160 x 230cm | In front of a three-seater sofa, or under a double bed |
| 200 x 290cm to 200 x 300cm | A sofa and armchairs, a king size bed, or a four-seater dining table |
| 240 x 300cm and up | Large and open-plan living rooms, or a six-seater dining table |
If you're torn between two sizes, go for the bigger one. About two in three of the rugs our customers ordered over the past year were 200 x 290cm or larger.
Living room
There are three common layouts:
- Front legs on the rug. The sofa and chairs stand with their front legs on the rug. It works in most rooms. The rug should be at least as wide as the sofa, and ideally 15cm to 20cm wider at each end. Most three-seaters are about 200cm to 230cm wide, so 200 x 290cm is the comfortable choice, especially with an armchair facing the sofa.
- All legs on the rug. Everything in the seating area stands on it. That takes 240 x 300cm or more, and suits big or open-plan rooms, where the rug marks out the seating area.
- Floating in front. Only the coffee table sits on the rug. This suits small rooms and two-seaters, with 120 x 170cm or 140 x 200cm. Keep it within about 20cm of the sofa so it doesn't look lost.
Leave around 30cm of bare floor between the rug and the walls, or it starts to look like a carpet that didn't quite fit. The vintage washable rug in the photo is laid front legs on. It comes in sizes from 90 x 150cm to 200 x 300cm, plus matching runners, and its non-slip backing is suitable for underfloor heating.
Bedroom
Lay the rug sideways across the lower two thirds of the bed, starting just in front of the bedside tables so they stay level. Aim for at least 40cm to 50cm showing on each side, so your feet land on something soft when you get up.
- Single (90cm): 140 x 200cm leaves about 55cm each side.
- Double (4ft6, 135cm): 160 x 230cm leaves about 45cm each side.
- King (5ft, 150cm): 200 x 290cm leaves about 70cm each side.
- Super king (6ft, 180cm): 240 x 340cm leaves about 80cm each side.
Those figures use the mattress width, and frames are a little wider. Our mattress size guide lists every bed size. In a tight room, an 80 x 150cm rug on each side of the bed does the same job. A bedroom also suits a softer pile, like the fluffy shaggy rug, which has a 2cm pile over a 10mm sponge layer.
Dining room
The chairs should stay on the rug when they're pulled out, or the back legs catch on the edge every time. Allow about 60cm beyond the table on every side. A four-seater table of around 120 x 80cm needs 200 x 290cm or more. A six-seater of around 180 x 90cm needs 240 x 300cm or more. Pick a low pile or flat weave so chairs slide easily and crumbs come out with the hoover.
Halls and runners
Leave 10cm to 15cm of floor showing on each side of a runner. In a hall about 90cm wide, that means a 60cm or 70cm runner. Keep it clear of where the doors swing, and choose a low pile under about 1cm thick, as many doors have only a small gap underneath.
The traditional cotton runner comes in 60 x 240cm and 80 x 300cm, has an anti-slip backing, and goes in the washing machine at 30 degrees. For a long hall, the sisal runner comes up to 90 x 500cm. Sisal and jute are hard wearing, but they don't like getting wet, so vacuum them rather than washing them.
Pile, washing and grip
Pile. Low pile rugs, under about 1cm, suit halls, dining rooms, pets and robot hoovers. The thin vintage washable rug has a 0.7cm pile, in sizes up to 300 x 420cm. Fluffy rugs feel softer underfoot but hold more dust and take longer to dry.
Washing. Machine washable usually means a cold, gentle wash and air drying. Check the listing, as some thick rugs are hand wash only, and make sure a big rug will fit your machine. Many people take large rugs to a launderette. See all our washable rugs.
Grip. On wooden, laminate and tiled floors, a rubber or dotted non-slip backing stops the rug sliding. Keep the back dry, as damp reduces the grip.
Before you order
Mark the size out on the floor with masking tape and leave it for a day. You'll soon see whether the furniture and doors work with it. Most rugs arrive folded or rolled, so expect creases at first. Roll it the opposite way or put something heavy on the crease, and they'll flatten out within a few days.
Browse all our rugs, area rugs and hall runners. Delivery is free to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and most orders arrive in 3 to 7 days.