Selecting the Right Size of Rug
Area rugs can anchor a furniture grouping and really transform a room, making it look complete. The following are guidelines for choosing the size of rug, and will arm you with minimum and maximum measurements for your space. These are by no means "rules", because the rule in decorating is to follow your heart and choose what pleases YOU!
We already know how area rugs can anchor a furniture grouping. This means you do not have to have one big rug for one room. Because you can have a few furniture groupings in one room, you can anchor each with its own rug. Whether looking for one large rug or a few smaller rugs, a border of flooring should frame the rug. Measure the space, then subtract approximately 3 or 4 feet from the width and length. This will allow for 1 1/2 to 2 feet of floor border on all sides. The rug you find should be close to those dimensions but does not have to be exact. The smaller the rug, the less floor border you need.
You should ensure your rug flows beyond the chairs when they are pulled out from the dining table, if space allows. Measure the width and length of your dining room table, and choose a rug that is approximately 4 feet (or 3 chair depths) longer and wider than the table. This will help prevent the chairs from catching on the edge of the carpet when pulled out and in. If space is an issue and the resulting size of rug cuts into the floor border, sacrifice chair space and maintain some floor border by choosing a slightly smaller rug.
When choosing a runner, it is also important to have a border of floor around it. Measure the length and width of your hallway, and subtract approximately 2 to 3 feet from the length, and 8 to 12 inches from the width. This will ensure your rug is approximately 1 foot to 1 1/2 feet from each end of the hallway, and 4 to 6 inches from either side.
If your bed is against a wall and you want your bed to be on a large rug, try leaving the floor border near the headboard wide enough to provide a framed area for your side tables. You can use smaller area rugs such as those approximately 4x6, 3x5, or 2x4 etc. to define other areas in the bedroom such as the dressing area, bureau, vanity, sitting chair, window nook, walk-in closet, etc.