Selecting a Size
Now that you know
what sizes are available, how should you decide what will work in your
home or office?
Determining the "correct" size rug(s) for your space is not an
exact science, but the guidelines below may help in your decision.
When considering a room
size rug, you should first measure the entire space. We suggest leaving
a border of floor showing around the entire room, making the room appear
larger and enhancing the look of your room. The type of room and
furniture placement will have a lot to do with what size rug(s) you
should consider. Making a rough drawing of your space, including
dimensions and furniture placement, can be very helpful.
Dining room &
Breakfast room
When selecting a room size rug for the dining room, you need to measure
the length and width of your table, adding 1'6" per chair to your
measurement. You will want the back legs of your chairs on the rug to
avoid getting them caught on the edge of the rug when you are seated.
Example: Your room is 12' x 16', your table is 6' long and 4' wide (with
each table-leaf is 1' 6''), we would suggest an 8' x 11' to 9' x 12'
size rug for your room. To accommodate your chairs and table with one
leaf in place, you would need a minimum lenth of 7' 6" and width of
10' 6". For a 15' x 20' room with the same size table and chairs we
would suggest 10' x 13' or 10' x14' rug size.
Living or Family
room
First you must decide if you want a room size rug or smaller rug(s) to
fill the space. If the furniture is placed several feet away from the
walls, we suggest that the each piece of furniture be completely on or
off the rug. If the furniture is placed around the walls, the rug can be
placed just under the front of the piece, or away from it. Example: You
have a sofa and love seat in an L-shape. One piece is up against the
wall and the other is placed in the middle of the room. The rug can be
placed just in front of both sofas or completely under the one in the
middle of the room and just under the front of the one by the wall.
Bedroom
There are two schools of thought for placing rugs in your bedroom. You
can either use one room size rug or several rugs around the bed(s). When
considering one room size rug it should be large enough for you to take
a step or two when getting out of bed. If you have one bed centered in
the room, you can place a rug at the foot of the bed and one on each
side. If you have two beds in the room, you can add one more rug in
between them.
Entrances, hallways
and stairs
An Oriental rug placed by an entrance, hallway and stairwell, protects
the floor while enhancing the decor. Consider purchasing a rug that can
handle the high traffic that will occur in these areas. Entrance area
rugs usually measure 2' to 5' x 4' to 7'. If there is a hallway off the
entrance you may consider a runner. If you have a large vestibule,
consider a rug based on its size. When measuring for hallways the rug
should continue past any side doors. When considering a runner on the
steps, measure the step and riser, counting how many of each and
calculating the rug size needed. Add an additional 12" to 18"
to the length of your calculation so both borders of the rug can be
tucked under. Runners can not be installed if you have any half steps or
if your stairwell has any curves.