What is the Standard Living Room Rug Size?
What is the Standard Living Room Rug Size?
If you’re looking for a new rug for your living room, the first question you probably ask yourself is: Will a standard rug fit my space? After all, if an “off-the-shelf” size fits in your living room, you won’t have to worry about measuring either the room or the rug. You’ll be able to skip right to the fun part: arranging your space!
But, is there even a standard living room rug size? And, if so, what is it? There are two approaches to solving this riddle: a simple one and the more complicated (but more accurate) one. Let’s start simple:
What is the Standard Living Room Rug Size?
The simple answer: The most common standard living room rug size is either 8’ x 10’ or 9’ x 12’. Many of the rugs you’ll see on display in stores are one of these sizes.
As we discuss in our comprehensive guide to How to Measure a Living Room Rug, which of these two common sizes will work best for you depends on what you’re looking for.
If you want to put together an open-concept great room by arranging a sofa and multiple armchairs around your rug, then a 9’ x 12’ living room rug will probably suit you perfectly. If you want a slightly less symmetrical or central set-up, you could put an 8’ x 10’ rug in a corner or off to the side in your living room, as well. Arrange the furniture so it’s partially off the rug for a nice, casual look.
Now that we’ve settled the simple answer, let’s talk about your considerations in a bit more detail. Don’t worry: taking the time to hone in on exactly the size of living room rug you want isn’t hard or time-consuming, and it’ll be worth it.
What to Keep in Mind When Measuring for Your Living Room Rug
The accurate answer: it depends on your living room and what you want to do with the space. For example, two of the most popular living room rugs Sisal Rugs Direct weaves are 6’ x 9’ and 10’ x 14’. Neither of these sizes are the “standard” for living room rugs, but they can be perfect for the right space.
For example, 6’ x 9’ rugs are great for smaller living rooms - or just for making a smaller nook within your living room. If you arrange some furniture partially on and partially off a 6’ x 9’ rug and place it around a coffee table or off in a corner, you’ll have created a cozy side space within your main living room to enjoy.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive rug to fill your space, a 10’ x 14’ rug could be the right move. These rugs tend to be big enough for you to place several pieces of furniture on directly. For example, you could place a sofa, coffee table or end tables, and even another arm chair on this rug comfortably. Doing so would give your living room a clear “main” space to draw foot traffic and allow people to gather and lounge in comfort.
Of course, if none of these measurements work for you, you could also order a rug in a custom size. If you want a custom rug, we recommend starting by measuring your whole living room. This will give you an idea of the size of the space you’re working with - whether you want to fill it all in or not. From there, the size of the rug you choose will depend on a couple of factors, such as:
The shape of the rug you want
Most living room rugs are rectangular in proportion (a little longer than they are wide), but there’s no reason you have to stick with tradition. For example, you might want a runner rug in your living room that’s much longer than it is wide. Runner rugs help create implied walkways through your space and can be very welcoming in high-traffic areas.
How much floor space you’d like to cover up
Arguably the most common approach to placing living room rugs is to arrange them around furniture. This will leave around a fourth or a third of a typical living room’s floor uncovered and will attractively frame your furniture, creating a naturally comfortable and welcoming space.
If you want to cover up more or less of your living room floor, however, measure accordingly. Start by clearing the floor of your living room so you can visualize where you’d like to place your rug.
Next, try marking the spot where you’d like the rug with masking (or painter’s) tape. Measure the tape outline to understand how long your custom rug should be. We recommend giving yourself about a little under an inch of wiggle room in case you feel like sliding the rug around a little when you get it.
Where you want your furniture
If there is a single “rule” to placing a living room rug, it’s that you should be consistent with how you place your furniture on it. In other words, for each rug in your living room, you’ll want all the furniture near it to be either:
- Under it completely,
- Partially on and partially off of it, OR
- Not under it at all
This will create the best look for your living room and, even more importantly, keep any inconsistency from literally tripping you up. As you measure your living room for your rug, carefully consider where you’d like your furniture to go around it. You could even practice arranging your furniture around the tape outline you made to make sure it will all fit the way you want it to.
That being said, even this “rule” is really more of a guideline. After all - it’s your living room. If you want to place some of your furniture on your rug partially and some of it on the rug entirely, nobody’s stopping you. In fact, it might make for an eye-catching contrast, especially if you’re arranging pieces of furniture in varying sizes.
For example, you could try placing a small coffee table at the center of a rug and then placing arm chairs partially on and partially off that rug to create an eye-catching centerpiece in the middle or side of your living room.
Most importantly, remember that no matter what size living room rug you’re interested in, Sisal Rugs Direct can help. Our experts are ready to weave you the custom rug that will look perfect in your living room. You can get started finding that rug right now.
