5 Solutions to Bad Room Proportions in Interior Design

Luckily, you can literally solve a lot of these proportion problems from the ground up with a little help from area rugs. Here’s how to make it happen in your space:

Common room proportion issues

The first step in fixing weird proportions in any space is to understand what causes them in the first place. If you just can’t seem to make your room look quite right, these could be a few reasons why:

1. Under or oversized furniture. When furniture isn’t proportional to room size, it can really throw off the look of a space. Try not to use oversized furniture in small spaces or small furniture pieces in large spaces to keep the balance in check.
2. Underutilized spaces. Sometimes, rooms are full of empty corners or large swaths of bare floors. Even with the right furniture, these bare spaces can make a room feel off.
3. Unbalanced furniture groupings. Grouping your furnishings and other decor too close together can make everything feel claustrophobic and cramped. On the other hand, keeping things too far apart can make a room lose any sense of coziness or intimacy.
4. Ceiling height. You can't control the ceiling height in any given room, but you can plan around it. Tall ceilings can produce an almost cavernous effect, while low ceilings can make a room feel cramped and oppressive. Your design should work to counteract these effects.
5. Imbalanced visual weight. Depending on the placement of doors, furniture, windows, and accessories, one side of a room can feel “heavier” than the other. This can also happen if you place larger furniture or dark colors on one side of the room but not the other.

How to fix bad proportions in interior design

Rugs are a powerful tool for all interior designers. With the right color, size, and placement, you can create balance and really tie a room together. Here are some ways you can use rugs and other elements of interior design to account for strange proportions.

1. Oversized furniture in a small space. To keep the furniture from dominating the room, use an area rug that extends beyond the furniture. This can help create an optical illusion that the room is larger than it is. Using an area rug with a border can also help by defining the seating area without closing it off.
2. Small furniture in a large space. Try using a large rug to anchor your furniture around a unified zone. This will help prevent any lounging area from being visually swallowed up by a large room. Using rugs like this is also a great way to define sub-areas within a larger room. You can also experiment with rug layering to fill out more floor space and create dimension.
3. Empty spaces. For narrow spaces like hallways, gaps, and space behind furniture, try using a rug runner to cover the bare floor. Placing small accent rugs in corners can help turn an empty-looking space into a comfy nook. Round rugs can also help you soften spaces that look angular or bare.
4. Unbalanced furniture grouping. To combat furniture that is either too close together or too far apart, using a large area rug will visually pull the seating area together and create a more natural flow. Look for a rug that is at least 8x10 in size. You’ll want at least the front legs of each piece of furniture on the rug to bring everything together.
5. Low and tall ceilings. For low ceilings, use a light-colored or low pile rug to help elongate the room. Vertical stripe patterns also help stretch the space. For tall ceilings, lean into plush and patterned rugs to prevent a top-heavy feel in the room.
6. Imbalanced visual weight. Rugs do an excellent job of redistributing visual weight in a room. Utilize patterns and light and dark-colored rugs to extend visual weight across the floor. You’ll be amazed at how they can even out bulky areas in a room.

How to size rugs to combat bad proportion in interior design

The exact sizing of each rug you use will depend on the room. To choose the right size rug for the room, you’ll need to measure the space and then make a decision based on the specific room you are designing in. Here are some of the most popular sizes by room:

• Living room / family room - 10 x 14’, 9 x 12’, 8 x 10’, 6 x 9’
• Dining room / kitchen - 8 x 10’, 9 x 12’
• Bedroom - King size bed: 9 x 12’, 8 x 10’, Queen size bed: 9 x 12’, 8 x 10’, Twin size bed: 8 x 10’, 3 x 5’ 

Find the perfect rug to even things out

To get the best rug for any room design, you need to be able to customize the size for every space. Luckily, we have a full roster of natural fiber rugs that can be tailor made to any room in your home. Start bringing better balance to your designs with one of our many rugs here!